Wide Angle: Japan in Crisis : Discovery News

Drifters Could Monitor Ocean Radiation From Japan

The ocean-going floats could track radioactive material as it approaches Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast.

Body of California Tsunami Victim Found in Oregon

The body of a man swept away by the tsunami waves that hit California following the March 11 Japanese earthquake has been found.

Japan Raises Nuclear Disaster to Chernobyl Level

Japan upgraded its month-old nuclear crisis to a maximum seven on the international scale of atomic disasters Tuesday, placing it on a par with Chernobyl.

New Aftershock Strikes Japan As Evacuation Zone Widens

Japan on Monday widened the evacuation zone around a stricken nuclear plant exactly a month after the crisis began and as another 7.1 magnitude quake and tsunami alert strained nerves anew.

Japan Plugs Radioactive Leak from Nuclear Plant

Plugging the water leak boosts efforts to contain the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

Japan Sets Radiation Safety Limits for Fish

The stricken nuclear power plant needs to dump 11,500 tons of radioactive water to continue with repairs.

Fear Over Radiation Contamination Escalates

Radiation concerns are escalating, causing medical risks to evacuees in Japan. Meanwhile milk is still safe to drink in the United States.

Japan on 'Maximum Alert' Over Nuclear Plant

Japan said on Tuesday it is on "maximum alert" over a crippled nuclear plant where highly radioactive water has halted repair work and plutonium has been found in the soil.

Radiation Release: How Bad Could It Get?

Officials believe, but can't confirm that containers holding the radioactive fuels at Japan's damaged plant remain intact.

Rain in U.S. Carrying Traces of Japan Radioactivity

The levels detected are about one-tenth that of natural background radiation, experts estimate.

No Long-Distance Risk From Monster Quakes

Although they're unlikely to trigger quake in distant regions, massive quakes can trigger more seismic activity along the same fault.

Radiation From Japan Plant Seeping Into Pacific

Seawater north of the plant was found to have 1,150 times the legal limit of iodine.

Reactor Breach Feared at Nuclear Power Plant

As workers continue efforts to control a steady radiation leak, the death toll from the disaster tops 10,000.

After the Tsunami, 'To Be Alive Is Enough'

Ian Ash visits the tsunami-hit city of Ishinomaki, Japan, to meet some of the people trying to rebuild their lives amongst the devastation.

Japan Nuclear Plant Workers Rushed to Hospital

As fire and army crews race to prevent catastrophe, the disaster takes its toll on three workers.

Despite Radiation Fears, 'I'm Not Leaving Tokyo'

Ian Thomas Ash, originally from New York, is a freelance documentary filmmaker who has lived in Japan for 10 years. Here's his unique view of the ongoing crisis from the nation's capital city.

Radiation-Tainted Food Detected Leaving Japan

A shipment of fava beans had been contaminated, officials report, as smoke drove workers from the country's overheating nuclear plant.

Radiation Worrying You? Take a Vitamin

With astronauts facing risks from radiation on long-duration space missions, NASA has recommended a simple solution.

Japan Crisis: Your Questions Answered

Here at Discovery News, we understand the crisis in Japan is confusing. Our experts are on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Japan's Nuclear Crisis

Japan's triple crisis of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear instability has gripped the world over the past week. Learn more about the nuclear situation in our quiz.

Japan Dead, Missing Near 21,000 Amid Atomic Crisis

The worst natural disaster to hit Japan since 1923 continues to take its toll on the Japanese people.

Japan Raises Nuclear Threat Level

As Japan wrestles with an escalating nuclear crisis, the humanitarian crisis is as difficult as ever.

Mounting Japan Crisis Sparks Warnings to Leave Tokyo

Army helicopters have dumped tons of water on the damaged nuclear reactors in a desperate attempt to cool radioactive fuel, but the crisis continues to escalate.

Radiation: Assessing the Risk in Japan

Past events have helped researchers pinpoint when radiation exposure gets dangerous.

Why Meteorologists Say West Coast Is Safe

Officials assure the public that they have little to worry about from the plume of radiation coming off the crippled nuclear power plants in Japan -- but is anybody listening?

Could U.S. Nuclear Plants Withstand a Tsunami?

In the wake of the crisis gripping Japan, should we take a second look at nuclear plants closer to home?

Nuclear Crisis Update: No Water to Cool Spent Fuel Pool

With no water to cool the fuel rods, they could just get hotter and eventually melt down.

Nuclear Reactors: A Look Inside: Slide Show

Ever wonder how a nuclear reactor works? Find out here.

Nuclear Workers Brave Crisis to Avert Catastrophe

With the crisis escalating in Japan, a grateful and anxious nation is hoping nuclear engineers can prevent a meltdown.

Contamination Cleanup a Daunting Prospect

As workers struggle to contain Japan's nuclear disaster, a vast cleanup task lies ahead.

Japan Nuclear Reactor Container Feared Breached

Workers have returned after a temporary evacuation from the Fukushima power plant.

Japan Nuclear Disaster Moves Up Nuclear Event Scale

The Japan nuclear disaster rates between Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania and Chernobyl.

U.S. Relief Effort in Japan: Slide Show

Since the 9.0-magnitude quake and resulting tsunami devastated Japan, rescue workers have been pouring into the island nation.

US Navy Crew Exposed to Radiation in Japan

Low levels of radioactivity have been detected on 17 USS Ronald Reagan helicopter crew members on returning from disaster relief missions.

Measuring Nuclear Disasters

Nuclear accidents are measured in their severity with the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. Jorge Ribas explains how it works.

Where the Winds Blow: Experts Ponder Fallout Risks

Meteorologists say that contaminated dust from Fukushima could disperse in wide patterns.

What Makes New Nuclear Reactors Safer

Nuclear reactors planned for the U.S. are safer and more efficient than the 40-year-old Japan facility that has suffered explosions and leaks.

Japan Search and Rescue : Slide Show

Japanese emergency response teams assisted by international aid and survivors caring for each other continue massive recovery efforts following the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami.

U.S. West Coast: On Frontline From Nuclear Cloud?

Radioactivity could reach the U.S. West Coast but officials say levels would not be dangerously high.

Japan's 'Cat Island' Survived Quake

In a rare bit of good news, both the human and feline residents weathered the disaster.

Japan Nuclear Danger Is No Chernobyl

The 1986 Chernobyl accident was the worst nuclear accident in history. The situation at the nuclear power plant in Japan isn't nearly as severe.

Japan's Nuclear Crisis Escalates With Blasts, Fire

Tokyo residents are stocking up on face masks and emergency supplies amid heightening fears of radiation headed their way.

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: Before and After

Satellite images of coastal communities in Japan show details of the devastation from Friday's earthquake and tsunami.

Japanese Radiation Victims Offered Worthless Treatment

An alternative medicine group is advising Japanese radiation victims to use unproven and worthless treatments.

Tsunami Follows 8.9 Earthquake in Japan : Slide Show

Photos of the tsunami and fire damage following the Japan 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.

Massive Quake Unleashes Tsunami on Japan

The disaster has claimed hundreds of lives and the extent of the damage has yet to be fully assessed.

US Deploys Nuclear Experts to Japan

Japanese engineers continue work to avoid meltdown at two nuclear power stations.

Japan Struggles to Manage Nuclear Leaks

The operator of an earthquake-hit Japanese nuclear plant said Sunday that the cooling system of another reactor was not working and risked a possible explosion.

The Day the Earth Sped Up

Mother Nature tweaked time by speeding up Earth's spin a bit in response to the killer earthquake.

How You Can Help with Relief Efforts

Looking to help the victims of the disaster in Japan? Make your contribution to GlobalGiving's relief fund here.

Top Five Cities on Faults: Slide Show

The tragedy in Japan is a reminder of the potential devastation facing large cities along major fault lines.

Japan's Tsunami Wave Hits Sendai Airport: Video

Watch and see photos of the tsunami destruction following the 8.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of Japan today.

Japan Evacuates Space Station Control Center

The center is believed to have sustained significant damage following the 8.9-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami.

Pacific Ocean Floor Guides Tsunami

See how the Pacific Ocean floor basin affected how the Japan tsunami traveled.

Why Surfing A Tsunami Wave Won't Work

The physics of riding such a wave make it impossible even for a professional surfer.

World's Most Damaging Trans-Oceanic Tsunamis

Humanity has a long and sad history of losing to tsunamis. Take a look at our timeline of the world's worst.

Top Six Ways to Make a Tsunami

Larry O'Hanlon counts off the top tsunami makers. Be happy if you are only exposed to one or two of them. Keep in mind: Almost no one is entirely free of the tsunami threat.

The Indian Ocean tsunami was the largest in recent history and deadliest ever, but only one of many tsunamis that happen every year.

Chasing Tsunamis for Science

Tsunami researcher Jose Borrero chats about his work studying the wakes of tsunamis around the world, including Indonesia, after the 2004 tsunami.

Planet 'Restlessness' May Predict Big Quakes

Do mega-quakes announce they're coming? A new study links planetary seismic activity to the largest earthquakes.

Are Tsunamis Predictable?

Forecast models depict the size and number of tsunami waves, approximate arrival time, where the waves will make landfall, and how far inland they will reach.

Tsunami Threat Looms Over Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest needs to brace itself for a massive tsunami that will likely destroy homes, hurl cars against buildings, and threaten the lives of tens of thousands of people, experts say.

Chasing Tsunamis for Science

Tsunami researcher Jose Borrero chats about his work studying the wakes of tsunamis around the world, including Indonesia, after the 2004 tsunami.

Video: Tsunami Warning Center Uses Top Technology

The Washington state coastline is the most tsunami-prone area in the United States. Kasey-Dee Gardner reports on one of the most sophisticated tsunami warning systems in the world.

Are Volcanoes and Earthquakes Related?

Just as thunder precedes lightning, earthquakes often foretell volcanic activity.

Japan 7.2 Offshore Quake Brings Small Tsunami

The earthquake triggered alerts and swayed Tokyo buildings, but caused no damage.

Pacific Northwest Megaquake Imminent

New research shows the Pacific Northwest faces high probability of a mega-earthquake in the next 50 years. Discovery News' Kasey-Dee Gardner finds out what this means for cities like Seattle.

Earthquake Shake Table Rocks Buildings

Building designs are put to the test on the University of California-San Diego shake table, where engineers recreate destructive earthquakes to help make our structures safer and survivable.

Wide Angle: Japan in Crisis

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