The recession took its toll on the area, as well.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

The 1986 Chernobyl leak caused few deaths initially, but resulted in the forced relocation of more than 100, 000 Ukrainians from an area near the plant and the true human toll is still debated.

FORBES: Japan's Nuclear Crisis Puts Markets In Panic Mode

The death toll in Friday's explosion in a predominantly Somali area of the Kenyan capital Nairobi has risen to five, police say.

BBC: Nairobi's Somali area Eastleigh hit by fatal blast

Covering the largest area to be impacted since 1956, these conditions are taking a heavy toll on crop yields.

FORBES: The Ethanol Mandate: Drought Only Compounds Inherent Catastrophic Consequences

Spanning the San Francisco Bay Area Region, the new Smarter Traveler research initiative collects and analyzes traffic data generated from existing sensors in roads, toll booths, bridges and intersections.

ENGADGET: IBM shows off Smarter Traveler traffic prediction tool