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.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
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.
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.
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