Polar bears can be saved by emissions cuts, study says

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11986236

So, even though greenhouse gas emissions put the Artic cap and the polar bear on its way to extinction, scientists are now propsing "emission cuts" to save them. These rapid cuts would help preserve ice cover. Dr Amstrup and colleagues say that the irreversible loss of the Arctic might be avoided if industrial societies act quickly to cut emissions. They claim we have not reached the "tipping point" for the Arctic. Now, they are also finding crossbreeding between grizzly bears and polar bears? Dr Kelly suggests that as the ice cap melts and polar bears go ashore, the natural barrier between the bear populations will fall, and such hybrids, dubbed "pizzly bears" by some, might become more commonplace. I honestly can't even say whether or not this is a good thing or a bad thing.

An Alert on Ocean Acidity

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/an-alert-on-ocean-acidity/?ref=science

Okay obviously no one is understanding the seriousness of this situation. Maybe this can help open people's eyes now. According to a new United Nations report, Carbon dioxide emissions from man-made sources are causing the acidity levels in all the world's oceans to skyrocket. This rate is the fastest it has been in 65 milion years. Roughly 25 percent of the carbon dioxide generated by the combustion of fossil fuels enters the oceans, and as the gas dissolves in seawater it changes into carbonic acid. The report also states that at current emissions rate, ocean acidity could be 150 percent higher by the end of the century. Also, the acidity of the ocean has grown 30 percent since the Idustrial Revolution. According to Carol Turley, senior scientist at Britain’s National Oceanography Center, marine life and coral reefs have already shown vulnerability to rising levels of acidity, and the changes expected in coming decades are severe enough that they could have a serious impact on the ability of people around the world to harvest needed protein from the seas. Even though some corals will learn to be more tolerate of these acids, the damage that will be done will be permanent and irreversible. The fact that this affects people and their "harvests", maybe people will want to help lower these emissions because right now the rates are only increasing not decreasing.

World AIDS Day: New treatments help HIV/AIDS patients live longer, causing surge in patients over 50

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_localnyc/world-aids-day-new-treatments-help-hivaids-patients-live-longer-causing-surge-in-patients-over-50?bouchon=501,ny

Well, we have found a way deal with HIV/AIDS even more. Now people are living longer with this disease. Here is a shocking statistic: Of the 107,177 New Yorkers living with HIV or AIDS, 75% of them are 40 and older. Some 37% are 50 and older, the Health Department says. They are finding however, doctors are seeing an increase in diabetes and heart disease, cancers at a younger age, more brittle bones, and peripheral neuropathy - nerve damage that causes burning foot pain. They do not know why this is happening. Also, the "life saving drug" has unknown long term effects and side effects as of now. I felt like this connected to the topic we are doing about population. We are finding ways to treat these diseases and even though that is a very good thing, we are not helping the population issue with this.

Nations Face Off Warily on Bluefin Tuna

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/nations-face-off-warily-on-the-bluefin-tuna/

It is great and all that people are trying to save the Bluefin tuna from extinction but if no one wants to compromise than we are going to get nowhere. Officials were to gather for 10 days in Paris under the auspices of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, a regional fisheries management organization. Scientists in this organization say the blue tuna is near extinction and the ICCATS itself has been ineffective in controlling overfishing. For conservationalists, this means the quota should be zero because they are fed up with the commisions inability to actually help stop the decline of the tuna's population. They argue that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico heighten the need for action. The entire congressional delegation of Massachusetts, a key bluefin fishing state, called on NOAA to reject a proposal by the Center for Biological Diversity to have the bluefin treated under American law as an endangered species like the bald eagle. They say how we should be helping the fisherman get back on their feet. ...Are they kidding me? Well in my opinion, they are going to need a lot of help if they bring the tuna to extinction. Japan officials, the country with the largest consumption of the tuna, have said they will support a fishing moratorium if ICCAT nations call for it. I guess we will have to see where this situation leads us.

Birds' beak deformities increase in Northwest

http://www.app.com/article/20101109/INSIDE/101109020/Birds-beak-deformities-increase-in-Northwest-

Studies have shown in Alaska and the Northwest that beak abnormalities in wild bird populations is at its highest rate. For this study, they used Alaska crows in six coastal locations. These beak deformities follow a trend that was found earlier in Alaska's black-capped chickadees. The cause of this disorder is called avian keratin disorder. The keratin layer of the beak becomes overgrown, resulting in elongated and often crossed beaks. It shows up in adult birds sometimes causing elongated claws, abnormal skin or variations in feather color as well. Even though the chickadee and the crows live in different habitats and eat different things, they are still being affected by this same deformity. These birds usually need to rely on humans and bird feeders to eat now. Scientists say beak deformities can be caused by environmental contaminants, nutritional deficiencies, and bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections. This deformity is spreading and there isn't much at all we can do about it.

Jellyfish cells 'diagnose' cancer, York scientists say

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-11667447

Look at that, another organism that helps humans medically. Scientists have found that the green florecent protein (GFP) in jellyfish are able to reveal cancer in the body. GFP enables the jellfish to glow in the dark so this protein targets the cancerous cell allowing them to be spotted with a special camera. Scientists also say that this will help detect cancer earlier on which is crucial. When the cells flare up from the protein, its called Virmaging. I think that this can help treat cancer because it allows doctors to know where it is early and therefore they can treat it.

Navajos Hope to Shift From Coal to Wind and Sun

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/science/earth/26navajo.html?_r=1&ref=science

Finally! Some people are wanting some change! The Navajos are starting to rebel against the use of coal and go back to their traditional values which would hopefully result in the beginning of reversing the environmental degradation. Earl Tulley, who is running for vice president of the Navajo nation, represents the movement that is embracing environment healing and relying on the sun and wind. In their culture, it is said that digging up the earth to recieve resources is the same as cutting into the skin and betrayal of duties to protect the land. I think the rest of us should follow these people and start to make a change; wanting with all our hearts to at least reduce the environmental degradation if not reverse it.

How did Leopards get their spots?

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/10/20/how-did-the-leopard-get-his-spots-scientists-explain/?hpt=C2

Scientists have discovered the reason for leopard's spots. Will Allen has studied 35 of these big cats and details of their habitats, hunting styles and when they went on the prowl. His results: big cats with irregular markings, such as the spotted leopard, lived in dense, dark forests and hunted at night. Their coat color is so they can blend in in places where there is dappled light. Cats that hunt during the day have coat colors that need to camouflage tend to have plain-light colored coats. There was a story by Rudyard Kipling where an Ethopian hunter painted spots on the leopards so it could blend in with the forest. Even though this guy wasnt COMPLETELY correct, he still had the idea!
I just thought this article kinda fit what we were talking about where natural selection can help animals live with their environment and their lifestyles so they are able to prosper in nature

Giant moon collision 'may have formed Saturn's rings'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11488797

An unknown wonder has now, maybe, finally been discovered. Saturn's rings may have been formed when a large moon with an icy mantle and rocky core spiralled into the planet. This theory helps explain the rings' mainly water-ice composition which has puzzled researches. The scientist with this new theory, Dr. Canup, says the rings must have formed essentially as pure ice. Professor Carl Murray had two other theories that Dr. Canup disagreed with. One ivolved an icy comet breaking up in the Saturn's vicinity and the other theory said a small moon was pulled in by the planet's gravitational field. Dr. Canup believes that as this "huge moon" was about to hit Saturn, the planet's tidal forces could have This mission to figure out the true theory is the Cassini mission which is planned to continue to 2017.

Mysteries That Howl and Hunt

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/science/28coyotes.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hpw

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/09/27/science/1248069099875/coyote-comeback.html

Coyotes, in the past, have been seen as "God's dog." However, nowadays coyotes are very misunderstood. It is true that they have now been able to expand from basically coast to coast. This bothers humans to the point where coyotes are now shot on sight because of the danger they threaten to livestock and crops. They are despised, feared and hunted by humans. However, they have drawn so much attention that some scientists are now dedicated to them. These scientists have found wolf DNA mixed with the coyote in the Northeast. This explains the irregular largeness in the coyotes in the east and the new coat colors than the coyotes in the west. Studies have also shown that the coyotes are able to team with other species such as the badger. These two species work together to hunt. They are very smart and adaptable creatures and people need to realize that they are here to stay.

74 whales beached in northern New Zealand

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/22/74-whales-beached-in-northern-new-zealand/

The rough seas and gusting winds are throwing these whales into rocks, injuring them where they need to be euthanized on land. Most of them are drowning in the surf while around 8 were able to be cared for on the beach. 25 have already died, while more whales are in danger just offshore. More have died as well in another part of northern New Zealand but the reasons for the beached whales are a mystery. Theories have been made about herd behavior and interference from human sonar. Personally I think it could be a little of both or the changing affects of the ocean. If the waves are getting rougher causing the whales injuries, this is becoming a problem. Further investigation should be taken especially if an abundance of beached whales are showing up in other places.

U.S. Meat Farmers Brace for Limits on Antibiotics

This article flat out sickens me. The fact that there is a debate going around whether or not antibiotics should be given to healthy animals that we slaughter is disgusting. If we were really afraid of getting diseases like E.coli and salmenla, then don't eat the meat. Or, if the antibiotics are really causing a threat to our health then they should just be stopped. It is not making a difference in the animals to begin with. So it is making them grow a little faster...big deal. I guess the faster they can kill the poor pig for a profit the better.