We’ve complained about nauseous smells in Long Beach coming from the harbor, the cement factories, and the dreaded petroleum refineries for some time. After years of complaints, AQMD is investigating the recurring stench.
Category: Science
When Will Trump Be Gone?
Okay, I am going to go out on a limb here, but I will make a prediction: If the Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in the midterm … [Read full article]
Silent Spring Was Published Back In 1962 — Flying-Insect & Bird Populations Have Still Fallen Precipitously Since Then
Rachel Carson’s influential book Silent Spring, which documented the effects of the indiscriminate widespread use of pesticides on the environment, was published back in 1962, nearly 60 years ago now. … [Read full article]
Teenage Mutant Ninja Enzyme Chews Through Plastic Waste
Sometimes, new products get invented by accident. Potato chips, for example. The microwave, the ink jet printer, and the implantable pacemaker are on the list. My personal favorite involves scientists … [Read full article]
Ocean Dead Zones Multiplying Rapidly, Threatening Food Source For Hundreds Of Millions
An ocean dead zone is an area where there is not enough oxygen dissolved in the water to allow aquatic creatures to breath. To put it in perspective, imagine a … [Read full article]
Motorcycles & Bicycles Really Are “Invisible” To Many Drivers
Everyone who has ever ridden a motorcycle or a bicycle is familiar with this situation. You are riding along, minding your own business and enjoying the sunshine, when suddenly a … [Read full article]
What Do You Do If Your Country Is Facing Water Shortages Exacerbated By Climate Change? Pray, Apparently — Israel’s Agriculture Minister Leads Prayers For Water
Much of the Middle East is now slated to essentially turn to desert over the coming decades and centuries owing to climate change, and exacerbated by poor human judgment and … [Read full article]
Iran’s Air Pollution Problems Are Growing Fast, As Evidenced By Recent Events
The air pollution problems facing Iran, in particular those facing the country’s populous capital Tehran, seem to be growing rapidly based on recent events. As the result of dangerous levels … [Read full article]
Vanadium Emissions Surged Last 2 Decades — Increasing Use Of Heavy Oils, Tar Sands, Bitumen, Etc.
The growing use of heavy oils, tar sands, bitumen, petroleum coke, etc., by industry since 2000 or so has resulted in rapidly surging levels of vanadium emissions, according to a … [Read full article]
Cassandra To Courts — USA’s Activist Battle To Save The Climate
With the legislative and executive branches of government firmly committed to pretending climate change doesn’t exist, will the courts act to protect the environment and the citizens of America? Don’t bet on it. Here’s why.
Mapping The Global Efforts To Restore The World’s Forests!
It is estimated that since the advent of the agricultural revolution Earth lost approximately half of its trees, and according to a recent survey as reported by Nature (the magazine), … [Read full article]
New Algorithms Improve Accuracy Of Geoengineering Projections. Is That A Good Thing?
New algorithms make it possible for scientists to predict the effect of injecting sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere to cool the planet. Is that a good thing?
Report From US Government Scientists Says Modern Climate Change Is Driven By Human Activity
A new report released by a groups of over 50 US government scientists asserts that the rapid pace at which modern climate change is occurring is almost definitely driven by … [Read full article]
US EPA To Bar Certain Scientists From Serving On Independent Advisory Boards
The US Environmental Protection Agency will begin barring select scientists from serving on independent advisory boards — a move possibly intended to clear the path towards the installation of industry-friendly … [Read full article]
Atmospheric Methane Levels Rose Rapidly In 2016, Scientists Claim To Not Understand Why
Atmospheric methane levels rose fairly rapidly in 2016, as did atmospheric carbon dioxide levels (which saw the yearly average rise up to 403.3 parts per million), according to a new … [Read full article]
+50° Celsius Heatwaves Coming For Australia?
Australia’s largest cities could begin experiencing extreme heatwaves with +50° Celsius temperatures within the relatively near term (within the next ~20 years), even if international climate change and greenhouse gas … [Read full article]
Drought In Europe — Another Effect of Climate Change
Two major drought indices in Europe are deviating from each other in a way that’s consistent with many climate change simulations — further gaining ground in the march towards the … [Read full article]
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels Grew At Record Pace In 2016, UN Says
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels grew at a record pace in 2016, to 403.3 parts per million (ppm), up from 400.0 in 2015, the UN World Meteorological Organization just revealed as … [Read full article]
Why Republican Policy Sucks
Hello, my name is Zach Shahan, and I have a problem. I’m a political nut. More seriously, I’ll admit that I’m strongly drawn to politics, follow policy & politics closely … [Read full article]
Talk About Disruption — Lab-Grown Meat Has Arrived!
While everyone is talking about electric cars and autonomy as a huge disruptor to the global economy, there is another elephant in the room that not many people seem to … [Read full article]
Untreatable Super Malaria Spreading Rapidly In Asia — How Will Convergence Of Climate Change Induced Mosquito Expansion & Drug Resistance Play Out?
The modern world has a problem of overspecialization. The limits of extrapolating generalized truths from what can be observed in limited contexts and over limited periods of times have become … [Read full article]
US EPA Approves Monsanto’s “RNA Interference” Insecticide — GMO Maize/Corn Intended To Actively Interfere With The Healthy Functioning Of Pest Genomes
When you think of insecticides you probably think of dangerous chemical compounds that allow modern industrial agriculture (and its high yields) to occur, but that also have some negative effects … [Read full article]
Cats & Dogs Create Insane Amount Of Global Warming Emissions
While many people have pointed out the reality that cutting one’s consumption of meat is a notable means of reducing one’s carbon footprint, I haven’t heard many people bring up … [Read full article]
Beans For Beef: The Climate Change Initiative That Anyone Can Do
Our #FakePresident has removed the United States for the Paris climate accords, leading some Americans to experience ecoanxiety. That’s a relatively new term that American Psychological Association used to describe … [Read full article]
Massive Dead Zone In Gulf Of Mexico Blamed On Meat Industry
A dead zone larger than New Jersey is expected to appear in the Gulf of Mexico later this year. Similar dead zones are found in the Great Lakes and the … [Read full article]
Honeybees Exposed To Real-World Levels Of Neonicotinoids Die Early, Damaging Colony Health, Research Finds
Honeybees that are exposed to field-realistic (real-world, in other words) levels of neonicotinoid pesticides die earlier than those that are not — thereby reducing overall colony health — according to … [Read full article]
Study: Over 2.2 Billion People Overweight Or Obese Worldwide
There are now more than 2 billion people worldwide who are overweight or obese, according to a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. So, to put … [Read full article]
Study: Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Protects Memory & Capacity To Learn, Protects Against Alzheimer’s Disease
Extra-virgin olive oil consumption protects against the loss of memory and lean ring capacity, and also against the formation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain (markers for … [Read full article]
Republicans Want To Rob America … To Cut Taxes On The Rich
Republican politicians are an interesting breed of liars…. Politicians are supposed to explain to the voting public why their complicated, detailed policies are worth supporting and good for the country … [Read full article]
Many Insects Resistant To Genetic Manipulation Via CRISPR Editing Tool, Research Finds
Arguments for and against the use of genetic modification techniques in the agricultural and healthcare/disease-prevention sectors typically focus on potential impacts to human health, and/or to wider ecosystems and natural … [Read full article]
On The Wrong Side Of History …
What happened with people who sided with Hitler and the Nazis in their quest to murder countless humans? As their crowd rose to the heights of power and prestige, many people … [Read full article]
Ocean Acidification To Bring Collapsing Food Web
Ocean acidification created by continuing anthropogenic climate change will result in a collapsing food web, according to new research from the University of Adelaide. The new findings are the result … [Read full article]
Humans Have Been In North America At Least 130,000 Years New Finds Show
In a bit of news that shouldn’t be all that surprising to those who have taken a real look at the evidence, new finds at a site in San Diego have … [Read full article]
Confessions Of Former Climate Change Deniers
Over 600 people responded to a question on Ask Reddit to explain why they changed their minds about the dangers of climate change.
When You Elect A Con Man, You Probably Got Conned
The United States. “We” elected a man who for decades has had a reputation as a con man. What could go wrong?… ♠ He talked about bringing all Americans health care … [Read full article]
Forest Elephant Populations Have Seen An ~80% Decline In Central Africa’s Most Important Preserve Because Of Poaching
Forest elephant populations in Central Africa’s most important nature preserve, Gabon’s Minkébé National Park, have declined by between 78^ and 81% over recent times as a result of poaching, new … [Read full article]
Giraffe Numbers Have Fallen By ~40% Over The Last 30 Years, IUCN Reports
In conjunction with the decline of practically every other megafauna animal still in the world, giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) numbers have fallen by around 40% over just the last 30 years, … [Read full article]
Ring-Tailed Lemurs Declining Rapidly, Now Fewer Than 2,500 Left, Research Finds
The iconic ring-tailed lemur of Madagascar (the only place that the primates known as “true lemurs” have ever existed) is rapidly headed towards extinction, according to new research from the … [Read full article]
Only 7,100 Cheetahs Left In The World, Study Finds
There are now only 7,100 cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) left in the world, according to a new study from the Zoological Society of London, Panthera, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The … [Read full article]
Deforestation By “Subsistence” Farmers In Congo Driven By Money-Making Not Self-Sufficiency, Only Very Small Portion Of Population Responsible For Most Deforestation, Research Finds
Despite some common presumptions on the matter, it seems that most deforestation occurring in the Congo Basin is the result of only a small share of locals, and those that … [Read full article]
Ocean Acidification May Cause Cascading Loss Of Biodiversity In Some Marine Habitats, Research Finds
The ocean acidification that’s now occurring, as a result of increasing anthropogenic levels of carbon dioxide emissions, will led to cascading losses of biodiversity in many marine habitats and ecosystems, … [Read full article]
Corals Grow To Be Much, Much Older Than Previously Assumed, Research Finds — Implications Relating To Ocean Acidification & Coral Bleaching Events
Specific coral genotypes (“individuals”) can live for more than 5,000 years (at the least) according to new research from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Penn State, and Dial Cordy & … [Read full article]
US Passenger Vehicle Emissions Comparable To 1980 Mt. St Helens Eruption Occurring Every 3 Days
The USGS estimates that 10 million tons of CO2 was released over the 9 hour eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. That’s a pretty huge number, but passenger vehicles in the USA alone emit as much CO2 as a Mt St. Helens eruption happening somewhere in America every 3 days.
Coconut Crabs Possess Strongest Pinching Force Of All Crustaceans (Greater Than Biting Force Of All Terrestrial Animals Excepts Alligators), Research Finds
The coconut crab has the strongest pinching force of all crustaceans — with the force applied during pinching actually being greater than the biting force of all living terrestrial animals … [Read full article]
Ant Species (Philidris Nagasau) On Fiji Has Been Symbiotically Farming With Epiphytes For Around 3 Million Years, Research Finds
While farming has long been a known phenomenon amongst various ant species, there’s much that remains unknown. With that in mind, new research has revealed some interesting things about the … [Read full article]
Trump Will End Politicized Climate Change Science Says Key Adviser
Bob Walker, a senior Trump adviser, says the new administration will slash funding for NASA to study climate change. He says half of all climate scientists doubt climate change is real.
Compounds That Give Plants Their Vibrant Colors Improve Brain-Functioning In Older Adults, Research Finds
Many people find the bright, vibrant colors of various fruits and vegetables to be culinarily appealing, and an apparent appetite stimulant. Interestingly, new research has suggested that these same compounds, … [Read full article]
Deforestation & Tree Deaths Can Have Significant Effects On Global Climate Patterns, Research Finds
Deforestation events and mass tree deaths — whether through drought, heat, and insect infestations — can have significant effects on global climate patterns, according to new research from the University … [Read full article]
