New report recommends upgrading of U.S. geodetic infrastructure and creation of a federal geodetic service.

The extraction of methane (natural gas) trapped deep in some coal beds is a common practice, especially in Western States, but carries with it the issue of what to do with the water that must be pumped out to release the methane.

In this new report, eleven strategic directions are outlined to focus research and leverage new technologies to harness the potential that the geographical sciences offer.

A new report, Understanding Climate's Influence on Human Evolution, was highlighted at a joint event with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, which just opened a new exhibition devoted to human evolution.

Methane hydrate, a resource found in underground and under-seafloor deposits, could substantially augment U.S. natural gas supplies. Challenges to realizing that potential are explored in a report released in February.

Chemical, physical, biotic, and human processes constantly reshape Earth's surface from particles to continents. Based on the report Landscapes on the Edge: a new video describes research needs to understand earth surface processes.