Your Water Footprint is Much Bigger than You Might Think

The average Californian uses a lot more water than just what comes from the tap. 

 

A new study measuring California's water footprint finds that an eight-ounce cup of coffee, for example, uses 35 gallons of water, counting what it takes to grow the beans and transport the coffee.

The study is from the Pacific Institute in Oakland. President Peter Gleick says it shows most of our water footprint comes from food.

 

"We may choose, for example, to buy and eat less meat. Meat turns out to be a very water-intensive product to make."

 

Gleick says he hopes the study is the first step toward helping consumers make more sustainable choices. The water footprint for the average Californian is 15-hundred gallons a day… more than 10 times what we consume directly.

 

Article courtesy of KQED Public Media For Northern California by  Caitlin Esch

 

 

 

Arctic breaks records for loss of snow and ice

A fast-changing Arctic broke records for loss of sea ice and spring snow cover this year, as well as summertime melt of the Greenland ice sheet, federal scientists reported Wednesday.

“The Arctic is an extremely sensitive part of the world,” said Jane Lubchenco, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As it warms, she said, “we see the results with less snow and sea ice, greater ice sheet melt and changing vegetation.”  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-arctic-getting-warmer-and-greener-20121205,0,253551.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Kenneth R. Weiss

 

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Energy development on public lands and waters pumped more than $12 billion into federal coffers in 2012, $1 billion more than the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-20121206-energy-income,0,4832619.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Julie Cart

 

 

California air board says DWP must control dry lake bed's dust

The California Air Resources Board has ruled that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is solely responsible for controlling the choking dust storms that arise from the dry Owens Lake bed.

The board said the DWP must take additional air pollution control measures on 2.9 square miles of the dry lake, which was drained to provide water to Los Angeles. The powder-fine dust arising from the bed often exceeds federal health standards  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1121-owens-20121121-001,0,1992213.photo

 

 

 

Climate change may explain Maya rise and fall, study says

Argument has raged for decades over what doomed the ancient Maya civilization and spurred its people to abandon their awe-inspiring temples and pyramids in the rain forests of Mexico and Central America. Warfare, disease, social unrest and over-farming have all been cited as potential factors in the decline of a culture that was scientifically and culturally advanced for 750 years.

A new study bolsters the theory that large-scale climate change was responsible for the society's demise — and argues that changes in global weather patterns were also responsible for its rapid rise. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-maya-climate-change-20121117,0,3474592.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Monte Morin

 

 

Bullet-train planners face huge engineering challenge

Civil War veteran William Hood arrived at the mosquito-infested swamps near Bakersfield in 1874 to build a rail line that would soar through the Tehachapi Mountains, linking the Bay Area and Southern California for the first time.

It's a feat no one has attempted to duplicate. Until now.

A plan as audacious in the 21st century as Hood's was in the 19th century is taking shape on the drawing boards of California's bullet train planners. The crossing of not only the Tehachapi Mountains but the San Gabriel Mountains is seizing the imagination of engineers who see it as the greatest design challenge of the $68-billion project.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-mountains-20121113,0,4082877.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Ralph Vartabedian

 

 

 

Satellites and space debris disrupted by climate change

In that region, more than 50 miles above Earth's surface, carbon emissions cause cooling rather than warming because carbon dioxide molecules collide with oxygen atoms and release heat into space. Because such cooling makes the planet's atmosphere contract, it can reduce drag on satellites and debris that orbit the earth, possibly having "adverse consequences for the orbital debris environment that is already unstable," the researchers wrote.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-satellites-debris-20121112,0,3501663.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Time/Science Now by Eryn Brown

 

 

 

Warming climate may starve bamboo-eating pandas

Already endangered by deforestation, poor reproductive rates and hunting, China's giant pandas may now face a new threat: global warming.According to a study published online Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, rising temperatures could eliminate much of the bamboo that pandas rely on for sustenance in China's Qinling Mountains. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-giant-panda-20121112,0,1607423.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Monte Morin

 

 

 

Poorest nations urge Obama to help the most vulnerable to climate change

Now, as the world?s nations prepare to meet in Qatar for annual United
Nations climate change treaty negotiations later this month, the
world?s 48 least developed countries have issued a strongly worded
letter to Obama urging him to take a leadership role in helping poor
countries prepare for climate change. Poor countries have long charged
they suffer the most from climate change brought on by wealthy
countries that are emitting the vast majority of heat-trapping gases
from power plants, cars, and industry.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/?s_campaign=cse


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Hurricane Sandy will impact New England and landfall appears likely near Delaware Bay, forecasters say

Hurricane Sandy’s latest projected path shows the storm will likely make landfall early Tuesday morning near the border of Delaware and New Jersey, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is currently 460 miles south-southeast of Charlestown, S.C., moving north at 6 miles per hour. Sandy’s sustained winds are as strong as 80 miles per hour, the Hurricane Center reported at 11 a.m.

From his office in Taunton, National Weather Service meteorologist Alan Dunham said today that regardless of where it hits the coast, New England is going to feel it.  http://boston.com/metrodesk/2012/10/26/impacts-sandy-will-felt-new-england-just-how-bad-not-yet-known-national-weather-service-says/DG4j4pMGEUbqbB66hmE8SN/story.html

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe -Metrodesk by Melissa M. Werthmann

Congress members voice doubts about BioWatch

WASHINGTON — For two years, the nationwide BioWatch system, intended to protect Americans against a biological attack, operated with defective components that left it unable to detect lethal germs, according to scientists with direct knowledge of the matter. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-biowatch-20120914,0,5355655.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by David Willman, Washington Bureau

 

Diesel fumes more polluting than gas, new California study finds

A chemical analysis of air samples taken from California's San Joaquin Valley and an Oakland traffic tunnel show that diesel fuel emissions are more polluting than previously thought, according to researchers.

The study, which appeared Monday in the journal PNAS, focuses on a specific form of pollutant known as secondary organic aerosol, or SOA. The pollutant is a major element of smog and can contribute to heart and respiratory problems. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-diesel-pollution-20121022,0,7643604.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times /Science Now by Monte Morin

 

 

 

Dolphins can remain alert for 15 days at a time, study finds

If you're the type who keeps a case of Red Bull under their desk at work for those long nights, you have a new role model: The remarkable ability of dolphins to rest only half their brain at a time allows them to remain alert indefinitely, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal PLoS ONE. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-dolphins-can-remain-alert-for-15-days-at-a-time-20121017,0,7885869.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Jon Bardin

 

Great California ShakeOut: 9.3 million to take part in quake drill

Commuting is the focus of today's Great California ShakeOut, which is being billed as the "largest earthquake safety drill in U.S. history."

Across the state in schools, offices, hospitals and -- for the first time -- Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, people will be asked to drop, cover and hold on during the annual drill. Metro trains will also slow down at 10:18 a.m. as if a real earthquake occurred.

More than 9.3 million Californians are expected to take part. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/great-california-shakeout-earthquake-drill.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%29

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-LA Now

 

 

 

Cow manure to power Killington K-1 gondola

Arizona Snowball made headlines in September when it announced plans to make artificial snow this season 100 percent from sewage, which sounds gross, but is reportedly very clean, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Well, while no Northeast resorts will employing the same tactics, waste will be a factor in how one local resort plans to power its gondola this season.

Killington Mountain Resort announced Thursday that the K-1 will be fueled by methane gas from cow manure, a process called "Cow Power."   http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/specials/ski/blog/2012/10/cow_manure_to_p.html

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Eric Wilbur

 

 

 

Earthquake rattles New England

The U.S. Geological Survey said the 4.0 magnitude quake hit around 7:12 p.m. and its epicenter was about 3 miles west of Hollis Center, Maine. It was about 3 miles deep.
Read more: http://www.wcvb.com/news/local/Earthquake-rattles-New-England/-/9848876/17020494/-/m5jjr7z/-/index.html#ixzz29YUz7vvz

Article courtesy of Boston's WCVB TV

Some climate scientists, in a shift, link weather to global warming

The worst drought in half a century has plagued two-thirds of the nation, devastating farms and stoking wildfires that scorched almost 9 million acres this year. Withering heat blanketed the East Coast and Midwest, killing scores of people and making July the hottest month ever recorded in the U.S. And in the Arctic this summer, polar snow and ice melted away to the smallest size ever observed by man. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-weather-climate-change-20121013,0,2353619.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Monte Morin

Federal plan designed to create large solar energy plants

The Obama administration has formally adopted a plan to help create large-scale solar energy plants, offering incentives for solar developers to cluster projects on 285,000 acres of federal land in the western U.S and opening an additional 19 million acres of the Mojave Desert for new power plants.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1013-solar-zones-20121013,0,2819109.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Julie Cart

Drought leads restaurants to raise prices, cut portions

The effects of the Midwest drought on prices for corn, meat and poultry are showing up on restaurant menus. Small eateries are being hit hardest.

Scorching weather this summer in the Midwest left crops parched and livestock famished. Restaurants, already struggling with high fuel costs and a sluggish economy, are starting to feel the pinch of higher food costs. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fi-drought-restaurants-20121014,0,3803482.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Taffany Hsu

Gas prices suddenly skyrocket in California

Skyrocketing gasoline prices caused some local service stations to shut off their pumps Thursday while others shocked customers with overnight price increases of 30 cents or more.

California's fuel industry isn't running out of gasoline — supplies are only 2.5% lower than this time last year — but recent refinery and pipeline mishaps sent wholesale prices to all-time highs this week. As a result, some station owners weren't buying fuel for fear they couldn't sell it. Those who did buy simply kicked prices higher and bet customers would understand.http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gas-prices-20121005,0,2326954.story

Article couresy of The Los Angeles Times by Ronald D. White and Dalina Castellanos

 

Troubled Calif. nuke plant aims to restart reactor

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The operator of California’s troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant on Thursday proposed to restart one of its twin reactors, more than eight months after the seaside facility was shut down following a break in a tube carrying radioactive water http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2012/10/04/future-damaged-calif-nuke-plant-coming-clearer/oiFAhAPYuEGuokHdmFPDPN/story.html

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Michal R. Blog /Associated Press

Burning a Forest to Save It

Controlled burning of grasslands and forests has been used for thousands of years to stimulate plant germination, replenish the ground with valuable nutrients, thin out trees and burn dry pine needles and tree limbs on the ground. When humans were not intentionally setting fires, lightning strikes completed the job.  http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/burning-a-forest-to-save-it/?ref=earth

Article courtesy of The New York Times Green Blog posted by Glenn Swain

U.S. Declares a Disaster for Fishery in Northeast

BOSTON — The Commerce Department on Thursday issued a formal disaster declaration for the Northeastern commercial groundfish fishery, paving the way for financial relief for the battered industry and the communities that depend on it.  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/us/commerce-dept-declares-northeast-fishery-a-disaster.html?ref=earth&_r=0

Article courtesy of The New York Times by Jess Bidgood and Kirk Johnson

Robo-sharks: Robots used to track movement, behavior of sharks

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Sharks are among the most mysterious and elusive creatures on earth. No one really knows how great white sharks mate, where they give birth or even why they sometimes attack humans.

But two Southern California scientists and their young students are making breakthroughs in their respective fields, and their research is revealing new insight into the behavior of sharks. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8823629

Article courtesy of KABC-TV Los Angeles by Marc Brown 

Solar Energy Farm to Transform Hackensack Brownfield

New Jersey’s Public Service Electric and Gas will invest $883 million in Hackensack to transform a former hazardous-waste storage site into a solar energy farm. The project is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfield and Land Revitalization Program. Over 225 megawatts of solar capacity will be installed, and 300 direct jobs per year will be created over the next five years.
To learn more: http://www.areadevelopment.com/newsItems/8-2-2012/pseg-solar-project-hackensack-nj-12613418.shtml#.UEFyxe5_ocQ.gmail

Article courtesy of Smart Growth online

Los Angeles Launches Fifty Parks Initiative

Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa recently announced the city’s Fifty Parks Initiative. The city is acquiring land for fifty new parks, predominantly in park-poor, population-dense neighborhoods. The new city parks will feature a number of sustainability features, including less turf, more mulch, and more permeable pavers in place of concrete.
For more information: http://la.streetsblog.org/2012/08/24/villaraigosa-announces-ambitious-initiative-for-50-new-parks/#.UDzevf0Hocw.gmail

Article courtesy of Smart Growth online

Phoenix Tests Sustainable Strategies to Mitigate Heat Waves

Planners in Phoenix are working to reduce the impacts of increasingly frequent summer heat waves. City officials hope to make Phoenix a laboratory for testing strategies to mitigate increased urban temperatures. Ideas being considered including covering 25 percent of Phoenix with shade trees, and zoning for higher and more-dense buildings.
To learn more: http://www.planetizen.com/node/58070

article courtesy of Smart Growth online

California Communities to Receive $9.3 Million for Sustainable Development

The California Sustainable Strategies Pilot Program has announced that it will award $9.3 million to thirteen California communities. Funding for each community will go to implement, test and document sustainable development strategies in the course of a specific project. Program Director Lynn Jacobs said that "This pilot program will provide valuable insights to allow the state to implement best practices and strategies as we move forward with our sustainable development goals in California."

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=vyomgzaab&v=001u9MKVAvAK1xqMUwiKMDZfCU-hFggYkqH6SBH6j7orBZZltUb-P5hNu_o6Sv8VA4UQJi1KnzDHFHSJ9JcjAsmFrzsssOKLwhy1wD_IVpEbnEE4s1GkbUOcJvtwfoz6oJB1opXBsQHz9on73oMm3X0frJFNxCY__3nDnY5JMBTzIbqSQTQHdH6whf-J8Mh0zQJG9qdiW_FL6dulgiFK5Nc65-44AiEDsnndBtcD47M8x3hAtE2jK9ieNpZXHsc6Hvu

Article courtesy of Smart Growth online

Smart Growth Curbs Car Use, Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A new study from San Francisco State University found that cities that adopt smart growth approaches could substantially reduce the number of miles that residents drive in a year. The nationwide study found that a 10 percent increase in a city's smart growth features—including housing density, jobs per capita, and public transit infrastructure—would lead to a 20 percent decrease in the number of vehicle miles traveled per household, per year  http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=vyomgzaab&v=001u9MKVAvAK1xqMUwiKMDZfCU-hFggYkqH6SBH6j7orBZZltUb-P5hNu_o6Sv8VA4UQJi1KnzDHFHSJ9JcjAsmFrzsssOKLwhy1wD_IVpEbnEE4s1GkbUOcJvtwfoz6oJB1opXBsQHz9on73oMm3X0frJFNxCY__3nDnY5JMBTzIbqSQTQHdH6whf-J8Mh0zQJG9qdiW_FL6dulgiFK5Nc65-44AiEDsnndBtcD47M8x3hAtE2jK9ieNpZXHsc6Hvu

Article courtesy of Smart Growth online

 

Johnson and Johnson to Remove Suspect Chemicals from Products

Johnson & Johnson has announced that it will stop or reduce use of several chemicals that advocates have long criticized the beauty and personal care industries for using in its products.
The global company, one of the largest of its kind, will stop or reduce the use of 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, parabens, triclosan, certan phthalates and other chemicals of concern by 2015. Johnson & Johnson products are sold under dozens of well-known brands, including Aveeno and Neutrogena, in addition to the namesake Johnson's Baby Shampoo.
Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/johnson-johnson-chemicals-2012#ixzz26qGuwmyu  Article courtesy of The Daily Green

Foods With Pesticide Residue

The benefits of eating organic food go straight to the farm, where no pesticides and chemical fertilizers are used to grow the organic produce shipped to grocers. That means workers and farm neighbors aren't exposed to potentially harmful chemicals, it means less fossil fuel converted into fertilizers and it means healthier soil that should sustain crops for generations to come.
Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods#ixzz26qFykSjB

Article courtesy of The Daily Green

Hub startup's humanoid robot has 'common sense'

A Boston startup today will unveil what it calls the world’s first humanoid robots that can apply “common sense” behavior in manufacturing situations.

Rethink Robotics’ $22,000, ready-to-use “Baxter” is four years in the making and the company’s first product. http://bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061161130&position=0

 

Drought has Mississippi River barge traffic all choked up

Drought has reduced the Mississippi to a relative trickle, and even the dozens of inches of rainfall from Hurricane Isaac will change little on the river. The best crops of corn and soybeans in a generation are awaiting shipment by Mississippi barges — and won't wait forever before spoiling. The window is about 10 days, and once it closes, consumers across the country will feel the bite of higher prices. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-mississippi-river-20120902,0,6051251.story  Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Julie Cart

Scientists find a new benefit of coffee: It reduces pain

Scientists in Norway have more good news for coffee drinkers. Researchers have already found evidence that the drink -- or the beans it’s brewed from -- can help with weight loss, reduce one’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, boost muscle growth, protect against certain types of cancers, and can even reduce one’s risk of premature death, among many other benefits.  http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-coffee-reduces-pain-20120905,0,49544.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Karen Kaplan

Greenhouse gases could lurk beneath Antarctic ice sheet

Enormous reservoirs of the potent greenhouse gas methane could lurk beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, hastening the rate of global warming if portions of the sheet collapse, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Nature. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-methane-reservoirs-20120829,0,5490124.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times/Science Now by Monte Morin

Rise of the electric car

LOS ANGELES —  After a brief reprieve, gas prices continue their inexorable summer climb, but Nathaniel Connor hardly notices.
Connor, who lives just beyond the eastern border of Santa Monica in Los Angeles, hasn’t visited the pump in the last three months thanks to his two electric vehicles and a plethora of solar panels affixed to the roof of his house that fuel them. http://www.smdp.com/rise-of-the-electric-car/111047
Article courtesy of The Santa Monica Daily Press by Ashley Archibald

Obama calls for cars to get almost 55 mpg

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration announced fuel economy standards Tuesday that would require car makers to almost double the average gas mileage for passenger vehicles to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.  http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fuel-standards-20120829,0,6043250.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Neela Banerjee-Washington Bureau

Arctic sea ice reaches its smallest area ever, still shrinking

The area of floating sea ice in the Arctic has fallen to its lowest size ever observed, researchers said Monday. Moreover, the ice is still shrinking and is not expected to reach its minimum until sometime in September. The average shrinkage of the ice has been increasing steadily since 2007, and researchers attribute the loss to global warming, which is causing warmer temperatures in the region.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-arctic-sea-ice-20120827,0,5241680.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Thomas H. Maugh II

Zipcar expands van service across continent

Zipcar Inc., the Cambridge-based car-sharing company, said it will expand its Zipvan cargo van service across North American, launching today in Seattle, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Portland, Ore.

Zipcar said it will roll out the service to its remaining metro markets throughout the country over the next 12 months. http://bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view/20220821zipcar_expands_van_service_across_continent/srvc=home&position=also

Article courtesy of The Boston Herald by Ira Kantor

AP IMPACT: CO2 emissions in US drop to 20-year low

PITTSBURGH (AP) — In a surprising turnaround, the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere in the U.S. has fallen dramatically to its lowest level in 20 years, and government officials say the biggest reason is that cheap and plentiful natural gas has led many power plant operators to switch from dirtier-burning coal.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/2012/08/16/impact-emissions-drop-year-low/InlmRZH3amdo3TuLuO5OdO/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Kevin Begos/Associated Press

 

Winds fan fires across hot, dry western states

CLE ELUM, Wash.—The extreme fire conditions across the West came to bear in a rural part of Washington state when three separate blazes were sparked in just 90 minutes.

Firefighters snuffed two quickly, but the third exploded across more than 40 square miles of grassland, timber and sagebrush on the east slope of the Cascades. It left authorities scrambling to evacuate hundreds of residents.  http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2012/08/15/it_just_shot_up_so_fast_fires_blaze_across_west/

Article courtesy of Boston.com from the Associated Press by Shannon Dininny

 

 

Perseid meteor shower peaks early Sunday

The annual Perseid meteor shower begins late Friday night, with the peak occurring in the early hours of Sunday morning local time. The number of visible meteors is generally lower than during December's Geminid meteor shower, but the Perseids are frequently more observed because they occur during warmer weather and in a vacation month. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-perseid-meteor-shower-20120810,0,2891603.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times –Science Now posted by Thomas H Maugh II

 

 

Curiouser and curiouser: Earth-like terrain in Mars rover images

Images from the latest Mars rover’s navigation cameras reveal a remarkably familiar landscape -- one that looks like the California desert.

Black-and-white photos stitched together from the Curiosity rover’s Navcams show gravelly terrain with what looks like well-cut, pyramidal mountains in the background – the kind of terrain found in the Mojave, said John Grotzinger, lead scientist for the Mars Science Laboratory mission.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-curiosity-images-mojave-nasa-jpl-20120808,0,160461.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Amina Khan

 

 

Key test set for sustained hypersonic flight

In a nondescript hangar at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, a team of aerospace engineers has been putting the finishing touches on a lightning-quick experimental aircraft designed to fly above the Pacific Ocean at 3,600 mph. A passenger aircraft traveling at that speed could fly from Los Angeles to New York in 46 minutes.  http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hypersonic-revolution-20120813,0,4998122.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by W. J.Hennigan

 

 

 

Hot summers and global warming: Another scientist's view

A report by a longtime global warming researcher has concluded that recent extreme summer weather was linked to climate change. The study by a team led by James E. Hansen, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-extreme-summer-heat-global-warming-20120808,0,2385187.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times –Science Now by Rosie Mestel

 

 

Volcano erupts with ash cloud in New Zealand park

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—A volcano quiet for more than a century erupted in a New Zealand national park, spreading thick ash for several kilometers (miles) and causing some residents to evacuate their homes. Some domestic flights were canceled Tuesday.  http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2012/08/07/volcano_erupts_with_ash_cloud_in_new_zealand_park/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by  Nick Perry Associated Press

Protonex to collaborate on underwater power systems

Protonex Technology Corp., a Southborough company that specializes in lightweight power systems to the military, said it is looking to develop oxygen generators for use in undersea power systems.

In a press release, Protonex announced its exclusive collaboration with Eric Wernimont, a former principal of General Kinetics Inc. and present owner of relevant intellectual property, on the development of oxygen generation systems based on the controlled decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. http://www.boston.com/businessupdates/2012/08/07/protonex-collaborate-underwater-power-systems/esBPPECv6Na8BYVnZJ8O6L/story.html

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Chris Reidy Globe Staff

Fish getting skin cancer from UV radiation, scientists say

Teams find cancerous lesions on the scales of about 15% of the coral trout in Austrailia's Great Barrier Reef, which is under an ozone hole.

If you're still skeptical that a tan can be dangerous, consider this: Scientists have found that wild fish are getting skin cancer from ultraviolet radiation.

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Jon Bardin

 

 

Earth sucking up increasing amounts of carbon dioxide

The Earth's ability to soak up man-made carbon dioxide emissions is a crucial yet poorly understood process with profound implications for climate change.

Among the questions that have vexed climate scientists is whether the planet can keep pace with humanity's production of greenhouse gases. The loss of this natural damper would carry dire consequences for global warming.

A study published in Thursday's edition of the journal Nature concludes that these reservoirs are continuing to increase their uptake of carbon — and show no sign of diminishing.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-land-ocean-carbon-sinks-20120802,0,1935104.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Monte Morin

 

 

FW: Greenland ice sheet undergoes worst surface melt in 132 years

During a four-day period earlier this month, 47% of the surface of the Greenland ice sheet melted, bringing the total melted area to 97% of the surface, according to NASA.

The melting is the worst that has been observed since researchers have been monitoring the ice sheet, the agency said in a statement posted on its website. According to records from ice cores, it is the worst melt since 1889.http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-greenland-ice-melts-20120725,0,6340849.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Science Now by Thomas H. Maugh II

Widespread drought threatens U.S. crops

Many cornstalks at the 1,200-acre Laird farm in Waltonville, Ill., had wilted into brown, desiccated rows by the time the governor arrived Monday to survey drought damage.

Jim Laird, 71, has been raising corn, soybeans and cattle in southern Illinois all his life, and has never seen a drought this bad. This month, his family chopped down part of the spoiled corn crop to supplement the hay they feed their 150 head of cattle — hay that has become costly because of the drought.  http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-drought-20120717,0,2272014.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Molly Hennessy

Wind, solar subsidy set for review

Program's growth spurs fairness issue

Homeowners, businesses, and municipalities connecting solar panels and wind turbines to the region’s power grid receive a little-known subsidy, and the cost is being borne by other utility customers, who may soon pay anywhere from a dime to as much as $100 more on their monthly electricity bills. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/07/23/renewable_energy_program_called_unfair_as_lawmakers_debate_its_expansion/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by David  Abel

Glacier in north Greenland breaks off huge iceberg

WASHINGTON—An iceberg twice the size of Manhattan tore off one of Greenland's largest glaciers, illustrating another dramatic change to the warming island.

For several years, scientists had been watching a long crack near the tip of the northerly Petermann Glacier. On Monday, NASA satellites showed it had broken completely, freeing an iceberg measuring 46 square miles.http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2012/07/17/glacier_in_north_greenland_breaks_off_huge_iceberg/

Article courtesy of Boston.com from the Associated Press by Seth Borenstein/ AP Science Writer

Crowds rally in Tokyo for end to nuclear power

TOKYO (AP) — Tens of thousands of people rallied at a Tokyo park Monday demanding that Japan abandon nuclear power as the country prepares to restart another reactor shut down after last year's tsunami-generated meltdown at the Fukushima power plant.http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Crowds-rally-in-Tokyo-for-end-to-nuclear-power-3709338.php#photo-3199298

Article courtesy of The Associated Press by Yuri Kageyama

Solar storm sweeps over Earth

Skywatchers keep an eye out for northern lights; no negative effects reported

Space weather experts kept track of a solar storm that swept over our planet on Saturday, representing the fallout from a powerful solar flare earlier this week.

"The impact was not as strong as forecasters expected," SpaceWeather.com's Tony Phillips wrote. "Nevertheless, the blow compressed Earth's magnetosphere and sparked a mild ... geomagnetic storm." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48183944/ns/technology_and_science-space/?__utma=14933801.760311398.1342438517.1342438517.1342438517.1&__utmb=14933801.1.10.1342438517&__utmc=14933801&__utmx=-&__utmz=14933801.1342438517.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=14933801.|8=Earned%20By=msnbc%7Ccover=1^12=Landing%20Content=Mixed=1^13=Landing%20Hostname=www.nbcnews.com=1^30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Earned%20to%20Mixed=1&__utmk=185712553

Article courtesy of MSNBC.com

 

Study links parasite in cats to suicide risk in humans

A wily parasite well known for influencing the behavior of its animal hosts appears to play a troubling role in humans, increasing the risk of suicide among women who are infected, new research shows. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-parasite-suicide-risk-20120707,0,6408832.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Jon Bardin

 

 

 

 

While Cape Wind is debated, land-based development of wind power takes off

Despite controversy that has slowed the Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound, land-based wind farms are expanding rapidly in the region.

One company alone, First Wind Holdings LLC of Boston, has installed enough turbines in the Northeast over the past few years to generate nearly as much power as the long-awaited offshore wind farm. Other companies, too, have developed wind projects in New England states. http://www.boston.com/business/news/2012/07/09/while-cape-wind-debated-land-based-development-wind-power-takes-off/K2XRBrIBXQSGWGV006WN0H/story.html

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Erin Ailworth

 

Bloomberg Announces Development, Remediation Plan For Willets Point In Queens

Sixty two acres of rough and tumble small businesses, auto repair shops and iron works in the shadow of Citi Field will be wiped off the map and replaced by a 1 million square-foot mall, hotel, market rate and affordable apartments and office space, CBS 2’s Tony Aiello reported Thursday.  http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/06/14/bloomberg-announces-development-remediation-plan-for-willets-point-in-queens/

Article courtesy of  CBS NYC by Stan Brooks

Sea level could rise 5.5 feet in California

Sea levels along the California coast are expected to rise up to 1 foot in 20 years, 2 feet by 2050 and as much as 5 1/2 feet by the end of the century, climbing slightly more than the global average and increasing the risk of flooding and storm damage, a new study says.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-sea-level-20120625,0,7840116.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza

Rising sea level threatens Boston, entire East Coast

As temperatures are projected to climb, polar ice to melt, and oceans to swell over the coming decades, Boston is likely to bear a disproportionate impact of rising sea levels, government scientists report in a new study.  http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/06/25/sea_level_rising_3_4_times_faster_along_east_coast_than_globally_government_report_finds/?p1=News_links  Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by David Abel

Study predicts more hot spells in Southern California

By the middle of the century, the number of days with temperatures above 95 degrees each year will triple in downtown Los Angeles, quadruple in portions of the San Fernando Valley and even jump five-fold in a portion of the High Desert in L.A. County, according to a new UCLA climate change study. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-heat-20120621,0,1178174.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Louis Sahagun

Searing questions on massive solar experiment in Mojave Desert

IVANPAH VALLEY, Calif. — At what temperature might a songbird vaporize?

Will the glare from five square miles of mirrors create a distraction for highway drivers?

Can plumes of superheated air create enough turbulence to flip a small airplane?

What happens if one of the Air Force's heat-seeking missiles confuses a solar power plant with a military training target?  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-heat-plume-20120621,0,917543.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Time by Julie Cart

Earth may be near tipping point, scientists warn

A group of international scientists is sounding a global alarm, warning that population growth, climate change and environmental destruction are pushing Earth toward calamitous — and irreversible — biological changes.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0607-global-tipping-20120607,0,4125302.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Bettina Boxall

Underground carbon dioxide storage likely would cause earthquakes

The notion of mitigating harmful carbon dioxide emissions by storing the gas underground is not practical because the process is likely to cause earthquakes that would release the gas anyway, according to a commentary published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-carbon-storage-may-cause-earthquakes-20120618,0,5073255.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Jon Bardin, Los Angles Times /For the Science Now blog

Fear factor seems relevant in decomposing bug's effect on soil

The next time you kill an insect, you might want to do it quickly — for the sake of the environment.

New research shows that whether an animal lives in safety or is terrorized by a predator can change the biochemical trajectory of the local ecosystem where it dies. The findings point to an expanded role for both predators and prey in their local environments, and may affect which species conservationists believe are most important to keep around. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-stressed-grasshoppers-change-soil-20120616,0,2176497.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Jon Bardin

Robot mimics infants' word learning

In an attempt to replicate the early experiences of infants, researchers in England have created a robot that can learn simple words in minutes just by having a conversation with a person http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-robot-learns-language-20120616,0,6160481.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by  Jon Bardin

Plague confirmed in Oregon man bitten by stray cat

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Health officials have confirmed that an Oregon man has the plague after he was bitten while trying to take a dead rodent from the mouth of a stray cat.

The unidentified Prineville, Ore., man was in critical condition on Friday. He is suffering from a blood-borne version of the disease that wiped out at least one-third of Europe in the 14th century — that one, the bubonic plague, affects lymph nodes. http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/2012/06/18/plague-confirmed-oregon-man-bitten-stray-cat/f54fRE3OTbTzlm3KJ8JZ0L/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Nigel Duara/Associated Press

 

New Understanding of Traffic Congestion

A new report by the Arizona Department of Transportation found that residents of higher-density Phoenix neighborhoods drive substantially less than similar residents located in lower-density suburban neighborhoods. The study found that urban dwellers drive about a third fewer daily miles than their suburban counterparts. http://www.planetizen.com/node/57017

Article coutesy of Planetizen posted by Todd Litman

T invites commuter rail riders to sign up for updates on smartphone ticket app

The MBTA’s plan to allow commuter rail customers to purchase and display tickets on their smartphones took a step closer to becoming a reality over the weekend, when the MBTA launched a website for customers to sign up for project updates. T officials said the website is the first step in a process that will also involve a pilot program this fall. http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2012/06/11/invites-commuter-rail-riders-sign-for-updates-smartphone-ticket-app/Awugi69Z6Pb8W12aT4ZjgK/story.html

Courtesy of The Boston Globe -Metro Desk by Colin A. Young, Globe Correspondent

Diesel engine exhaust linked to increased risk of lung cancer

The world’s most prestigious cancer research group on Tuesday classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans and concluded that exposure is associated with increased risk of lung cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer — part of the World Health Organization — made the announcement at a meeting in France, finding, in part, “that diesel exhaust is a cause of lung cancer, and also noted a positive association with an increased risk of bladder cancer. The Working Group concluded that gasoline exhaust was possibly carcinogenic to humans.” http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-diesel-engine-exhaust-linked-with-risk-of-lung-cancer-20120612,0,7726895.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Time –Science Now by Julie Cart

 

 

Hubway bike-sharing program is on a roll

If you’ve been seeing a lot of sturdy silver bikes rolling past lately, you’re not imagining it. The Hubway bicycle-sharing system in Boston had its busiest day yet last Sunday, recording 2,531 station-to-station trips. On Tuesday, it eclipsed the 250,000 mark for total rides.

“It’s absolutely incredible. It’s blown away what we thought projections would be for the system,” said Kris Carter, interim director of Boston Bikes, the city program overseeing Hubway. “To hit that mark this early is really phenomenal compared with [other] bike-share systems across the country.” http://articles.boston.com/2012-06-03/metro/31979067_1_bike-sharing-bicycle-sharing-stations

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Eric Moskowitzt

 

 

 

Tsunami debris: Huge dock washes up on Oregon coast

SEATTLE — Authorities have confirmed that a 66-foot-long dock that floated onto a beach near Newport, Ore., this week came from Japan — the latest in a growing wave of debris from the earthquake and tsunami that ripped through the Japanese coast in March 2011. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-huge-dock-tsunami-20120606,0,7550444.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Nation Now by Kim Murphy

MBTA to give free rides from Logan airport

Passengers taking Silver Line buses from Logan Airport will ride for free starting Wednesday, a move that also means free transfers to the subway system at South Station and appears to make Logan the first major airport to provide free public transportation for travelers heading downtown.

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Eric Moskowitz

Why don't mosquitoes die in the rain? They're too small

Mosquitoes thrive in rainy climates, even though a typical raindrop can weigh up to 50 times as much as the insect. Scientists have thus long pondered how mosquitoes can fly through a rainstorm without getting killed by such collisions, the impact of which is comparable to a human being hit by a bus. The short answer is that the mosquitoes are so light that they simply hitch a ride on the raindrop without any significant force being transferred to them  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-mosquitoes-rain-20120604,0,2743358.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Thomas H. Maugh II

 

Controversial Malibu Lagoon project to begin Friday

State contractors are to drain and reshape the polluted Malibu Lagoon. Activists, who say the project would destroy the salt marsh and flatten Surfrider Beach's waves, pledge to stand in the way. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-malibu-lagoon-20120526,0,2289147.story

Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza

SpaceX capsule completes historic mission

The Dragon capsule is recovered after splashing down in the Pacific. The SpaceX vehicle is the first privately built and operated spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station.

 

About 563 miles west of Baja California, SpaceX's Dragon space capsule successfully splashed down after spending nine days in outer space.

When the unmanned cone-shaped capsule hit the water at 8:42 a.m. Pacific time Thursday, it marked the end of a historic mission carried out by the Hawthorne company officially known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp. It was the first privately built and operated spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-splashdown-20120601,0,4389865.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by W.J. Hennigan

Pollen fallout blankets area

It falls like a snow, persistent and unforgiving. From a distance, it can resemble a cloud of smoke.

It is pine pollen, seasonal scourge of the city and suburbs, covering hundreds of cars and driveways. And this year, it’s especially intense, a gunky byproduct of a warm winter and largely dry, windy spring that conspired to bring more pollen, earlier, to New England. http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2012/05/31/pollen_plight_plagues_boston_and_suburbs_leaving_a_carpet_of_yellow_gunk/?p1=News_links

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Alejandra Matos and Colin A. Young

 

Study accuses corporations of hypocrisy on climate change

WASHINGTON -- Some major U.S. corporations that support climate science in their public relations materials actively work to derail regulations and laws addressing global warming through lobbying, campaign donations and support of various advocacy groups, according to a new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, an environmental and scientific integrity group. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-coproate-climate-control-20120530,0,2592843.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Politics Now by Neela Banergee

 

 

 

 

Planners want to make bases more 'walkable'

At military installations, suburban-style sprawl is out and walkable communities are in, under new Defense Department planning guidelines released Thursday.

The guidelines call for “compact development” that incorporates mass transit and a mix of residential housing close to shops and other businesses. Energy conservation is a key goal; trees and other greenery should be considered as well. http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/05/military-planners-make-bases-more-walkable-051912w/

Article courtesy of Federal Times by Sean Reilly

 

Amazon in danger as Brazil moves forward with bill, critics say

SAO PAULO, Brazil — The Brazilian government is pressing forward with controversial legislation that critics say will lead to widespread destruction of the Amazon rain forest.

 

The update to the country's 1965 Forestry Code would reduce both the amount of vegetation landowners must preserve and the future penalties paid for those who currently flout environmental laws. After valuable wood is sold, much of the land in deforested areas ends up being cleared for grazing cattle and agriculture. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-brazil-forests-20120529,0,2383595.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Vincent Bevins

Scientists find what made some whales the largest animals on Earth

U.S. and Canadian researchers have discovered a grapefruit-sized organ in the chin of rorqual (baleen) whales that controls the expansion of their massive jaws during feeding and that has allowed them to become the largest animals on Earth.

Rorqual whales include blue, humpback and fin whales, and the largest of them, blue whales, can grow to more than 100 feet in length and a weight of more than 150 tons.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Science Now by Thomas H. Maugh II

Commercial space race gets crowded behind SpaceX

WASHINGTON—A privately built space capsule that's zipping its way to the International Space Station has also launched something else: A new for-profit space race.

The capsule called Dragon was due to arrive near the space station for tests early Thursday and dock on Friday with its load of supplies. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. -- run by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk -- was hired by NASA to deliver cargo and eventually astronauts to the orbital outpost. http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2012/05/23/commercial_space_race_gets_crowded_behind_spacex/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Seth Borenstein/AP science writer

 

Solar plane begins 1st transcontinental flight

GENEVA—An experimental solar-powered airplane took off from Switzerland on its first transcontinental flight Thursday, aiming to reach North Africa next week.

Pilot Andre Borschberg planned to take the jumbo jet-size Solar Impulse plane on its first leg to Madrid, Spain, by Friday. His colleague Bertrand Piccard will take the helm of the aircraft for the second stretch of its 2,500-kilometer (1,554-mile) journey to the Moroccan capital Rabat. http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2012/05/24/solar_plane_begins_1st_transcontinental_flight/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Frank Jordans/Associated Press

 

 

 

EPA: Pinal County must lower dust level

 

After two years of warnings, Pinal County has been ordered to clean up its air.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared that portions of western Pinal County are violating its coarse-dust standard, which limits the amount of PM-10, particles 10 micrometers or less in diameter, present in the air.

Affected are the most populous areas of Pinal County, including the San Tan Valley area, Maricopa, Casa Grande and portions of Coolidge, Florence and Eloy.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2012/05/23/20120523epa-pinal-county-must-lower-dust-level.html#ixzz1vnG7gnyN

Article courtesy of The Arizona Republic by Lindsey Collom

 

L.A. OKs ban on plastic bags at checkout

Los Angeles became the largest city in the nation to approve a ban on plastic bags at supermarket checkout lines, handing a hard-fought victory to environmentalists and promising to change the way Angelenos do their grocery shopping.

The City Council voted 13 to 1 to phase out plastic bags over the next 16 months at an estimated 7,500 stores, meaning shoppers will need to bring reusable bags or purchase paper bags for 10 cents each.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0524-bag-ban-20120524,0,6541830.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by David Zahniser and Abby Sewell

 

 

The machine that makes recycling a game

SHANKER SAHAI, founder of Cambridge start-up Greenbean Recycle, is turning the drudgery of recycling bottles and cans into an eco-game, a sort of FarmVille of trash disposal.

The new company has created a high-tech machine that is both recycling depot and arcade game. A barcode reader counts each bottle or can, gives instant green feedback - “one aluminum can, 500 watts saved’’ - and electronically transfers the 5 cent deposit to a PayPal or other account.

Recyclers can track their progress online, compare stats with friends, and win prizes. Users can connect via Facebook, and Sahai intends to give machines Twitter accounts: “50 containers recycled today.  http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2012/05/20/the_machine_that_makes_recycling_a_game/

 

 

Arizona wildfires: Firefighters brace for swirling winds

MAYER -- Swirling winds are expected to be the biggest challenge for firefighters Thursday as they continue to battle the four forest fires burning across Arizona.

The town of Crown King has been mostly spared since the start of the Gladiator Fire Sunday. Fire crews have worked to protect the town and several of the communication towers near by.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/05/17/20120517arizona-wildfires-firefighters-brace-swirling-winds.html#ixzz1v95A2Lmu

Article courtesy of azcentral.com by Cassondra Strande and Michelle Lee=The Arizona Republic

L.A. electric car drivers differ from nation, study finds

An analysis of driving data finds that Los Angeles' electric vehicle drivers travel farther and charge more often in public and at off-peak hours.

The growing number of electric vehicle drivers in Los Angeles are behaving differently from the national norm. Not only are EV drivers in L.A. traveling farther than those in other cities, but they charge their vehicles more often at public locations and are more likely to charge at night to obtain less expensive electricity rates, according to Ecotality in San Francisco. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ev-drivers-20120517,0,159726.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Susan Carpenter