Water is contaminated at LAX's Tom Bradley Terminal

Something bad has been in the water at Los Angeles International Airport for the last several weeks. According to airport emails obtained by The Times, the water is brown and contains high levels of bacteria and particles of copper, brass and rust. Officials have conducted a review to see if contamination has also surfaced in the water fountains, dining concessions and restrooms used by passengers in the rebuilt terminal. http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-lax-bradley-water-20131207,0,3137637.story#ixzz2mtTwoMwg Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Daniel. Weikel

Pacific Ocean warming faster than it has in 10,000 years, study finds

Scientists have struggled to explain a recent slowdown in the rise of global surface temperatures while skeptics have seized on the 15-year lull to cast doubt on the science of climate change. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-pacific-ocean-warming-faster-10000-years-climate-change-20131101,0,2144238.story#axzz2k4Sz0UPx Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza

California must adopt aggressive climate-change policies, report says

California will fall short of its goal to slash greenhouse gas emissions by midcentury unless it adopts aggressive policies to fight climate change, a new report says. http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-1105-greenhouse-gases-20131105,0,4761079.story#axzz2k4Sz0UPx Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza

In Indonesia, Environmentalists See a Disaster in the Making

Aceh, the northern province on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, is a region made famous by separatist conflict and natural disasters, calamities that long held back economic development but helped preserve one of the world’s richest ecosystems. Now conservationists say the rapid clearing of virgin forest is paving the way for environmental catastrophe, turning critically endangered orangutans, tigers and elephants into refugees, and triggering landslides and flash floods http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/12/world/asia/in-indonesia-environmentalists-see-a-disaster-in-the-making.html?ref=science Article courtesy of The New York Times by Sara Schonhardt

Bulgaria’s Air Is Dirtiest in Europe, Study Finds, Followed by Poland

Bulgaria has the highest concentrations of the two major varieties of particulate matter, which are tiny airborne droplets or gas particles that come from smokestacks, vehicle tailpipes or a variety of other sources. They can lead to health problems from asthma to cancer. Bulgaria also has the highest concentrations of carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, according to the report by the European Environment Agency http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/15/business/international/bulgarias-air-is-dirtiest-in-europe-study-finds-followed-by-poland.html?ref=science&_r=0 Article courtesy of The New York Times by Danny Hakim

Government shutdown hits fishermen, farmers, physicists

WASHINGTON — The crabbers are getting, well, crabby. With the offices of the National Marine Fisheries Service closed because of the federal government shutdown, fishermen have been unable to get permits for the Alaska king crab season, which begins Tuesday http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-shutdown-impacts-20131012,0,1327984.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Richard Simon

California's alternative-energy program under scrutiny

California is spending nearly $15 million to build 10 hydrogen fueling stations, even though just 227 hydrogen-powered vehicles exist in the state today. It's a hefty bet on the future, given that government officials have been trying for nine years, with little success, to get automakers to build more hydrogen cars.http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-energy-subsidies-20131014,0,1024399.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Ralph Vartabedian and Evan Halper

BART unions extend talks for one day, avert Monday strike

OAKLAND – Less than 90 minutes before a midnight strike deadline for the Bay Area’s commuter rail system, union leaders agreed to extend negotiations for one more day, sparing 200,000 round-trip riders the anxiety of a scramble for alternative transportation on a Monday. The surprise twist came after a marathon weekend of negotiations in which BART management and union leaders – as well as state and local elected officials who had streamed into Caltrans headquarters to help achieve resolution – described developments as "hopeful." http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-bart-strike-averted-20131013,0,789923.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-LA NOW by Lee Romney

Rotating Dynamic Tower in London, England

This tower is not yet built, but the proposed 80-floor skyscraper (formerly planned to be built in Dubai), promises to be a marvel of efficiency. What makes this architectural design so impressive? The floors will rotate—slow enough that the tower’s occupants won’t be able to notice but fast enough to rotate turbines that will power the entire building. ARticle courtesy of The Los Angeles Times

We Know You Have a Favorite Airline

Flying has its environmental cost, but you don’t have to forgo your environmental sensibilities -- or the fun of travel altogether -- to maintain some sense of ecological righteousness. Ranking 15 major airlines, the International Council on Clean Transportation found whopping differences in the fuel efficiency of carriers, even among those flying identical routes. The most efficient airline overall, based on 2010 data, was Alaska Airlines; the least efficient, Allegiant. Alaska was 26 percentage points more efficient than Allegiant. http://sierraclub.typepad.com/sierradaily/2013/09/we-know-you-have-a-choice-in-airlines.html?utm_source=insider&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter Article courtesy of Sierra Club newsletter by Reed McManus

San Francisco Parklet Manual

A parklet repurposes part of a street into a space for people, providing an economical solution to the need for increased public open space. The San Francisco Parklet Manual is a comprehensive overview of the goals and guidelines for creating parklets in San Francisco. The Manual also serves as a resource for those outside of San Francisco working to establish parklet programs in their own cities. For more information: http://sfpavementtoparks.sfplanning.org/docs/SF_P2P_Parklet_Manual_1.0_FULL.pdf Article courtesy of Smartgrowth online newsletter

Greendot implimentation plan

On June 2, 2010, MassDOT launched GreenDOT, a comprehensive environmental responsibility and sustainability initiative that will make MassDOT a national leader in “greening” the state transportation system. GreenDOT will be driven by three primary goals: Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions Promote the healthy transportation options of walking, bicycling, and public transit Support smart growth development In May of 2012, MassDOT released a Draft GreenDOT Implementation Plan for public review. The Plan was written to embed the sustainability vision of GreenDOT into the core business practices of MassDOT. MassDOT received over 350 public comments on the draft version of the Plan. http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/GreenDOT.aspx Article courtesy of MassDOT website

The Return on Investment in Parks and Open Space in Massachusetts

A new study by the American Farmland Trust found that every $1 invested in land conservation by Massachusetts returns $4 in economic value of natural goods and services. The study also found that 12 to 14 new jobs would be created for every $1 million invested in land conservation. Conservation lands also contribute to the economic well-being of the state by supporting local farmers, forest products workers, and fishermen; and by attracting visitors who spend money in local communities. For more information: http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=6RK18QKL6WvEDmy1xEnOJA Article courtesy of Smarthgrowth online newsletter

Experts set threshold for climate-change calamity

The world's leading climate scientists have for the first time established a limit on the amount of greenhouse gases that can be released before the Earth reaches a tipping point and predicted that it will be surpassed within decades unless swift action is taken to curb the current pace of emissions. The warning was issued Friday by a panel of U.N.-appointed climate change experts meeting in Stockholm. http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0928-climate-change-20130928,0,2765027.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza

Shell Oil's Arctic drilling operations in limbo

SEATTLE — Six months after federal officials chastised Shell Oil for its faulty offshore drilling operations in the Arctic, the company has yet to explain what safeguards it has put in place or when it plans to resume exploring for oil in the vulnerable region.http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-arctic-drilling-20130926,0,4034450.story Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Maria L. La Ganga

Global warming 'hiatus' puts climate change scientists on the spot

It's a climate puzzle that has vexed scientists for more than a decade and added fuel to the arguments of those who insist man-made global warming is a myth. Since just before the start of the 21st century, the Earth's average global surface temperature has failed to rise despite soaring levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases and years of dire warnings from environmental advocates. http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-climate-change-uncertainty-20130923,0,791164.story Story courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Monte Morin

Drug-resistant superbugs multiplying: CDC report IDs 'urgent threats'

Thoughtless use of antibiotic medications continues to promote the growth of drug-resistant superbugs in the U.S., threatening doctors' ability to combat infections, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-cdc-antibiotic-resistance-20130916,0,2212114.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Eryn Brown

Kids' food allergies cost U.S. nearly $25 billion a year, study finds

Children’s allergies to peanuts, dairy and other foods cost the U.S. nearly $25 billion a year, according to the first survey to come up with a comprehensive price tag for a condition that affects 8% of American kids. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-childrens-food-allergies-cost-billions-20130916,0,5862102.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Science Now by Karen Kaplan

How a comet impact may have jump-started life on Earth -- and elsewhere

Did life on Earth come from space? The scientific evidence is mounting. A new report suggests amino acids, the chemical building blocks necessary for life as we know it, may be scattered throughout the solar system, created when high-speed comets smacked into the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and rocky planets like our very own Earth. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-comet-impact-life-20130916,0,4729019.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Deborah Netburn

Ocean species relocate in response to climate change, study finds

As climate change heats our oceans, you’d expect temperature-sensitive marine species to flee poleward to cooler waters. So why have some headed to warmer regions toward the equator? Scientists have solved the puzzle. For the most part, these animals are relocating to cooler waters. But since the effects of climate change can vary widely across regions, sometimes those cooler regions are closer to the poles and sometimes they’re closer to the equator. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-ocean-marine-species-fish-climate-change-20130913,0,2716234.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Melissa Pandika

Skyscraper accused of melting car

LONDON — Motorists may want to think twice about parking in front of the half-built London skyscraper known as the Walkie-Talkie. That’s because the glare off the skin of the new building is so intense that at least one Jaguar owner says it caused part of his vehicle to melt. And that’s not all: Locals say the building’s heat also burned a hole in the welcome mat of a nearby barber shop. http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/free/20130903britain-skyscraper-accused-melting-car.html Article courtesy of AZcentral.com by Associated Press

New walking shark discovered in Indonesia? It's not the first

Scientists have discovered the third known species of walking shark in Indonesia. Which means that there are, apparently, other walking shark species. And also, that sharks walk.http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-new-walking-shark-epaulette-bamboo-indonesia-20130830,0,7702612.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Amina Khan

Fetus in womb learns language cues before birth, study finds

Fetuses exposed to fake words after week 29 in utero were able to distinguish them after being born, according to new research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-language-fetus-learns-in-utero-mozart-effect-20130826,0,694844.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Amina Khan

He always had change for a dollar

Over an eight-year period, a parking meter mechanic stole more than $200,000 in quarters from about 75 meters in Buffalo, N.Y., and no one was the wiser, because the meters didn’t keep track of how much money was put into them. He was caught when the city switched to computerized pay stations, and officials noticed they were bringing in $500,000 more a year - See more at: http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/offbeat_news/2013/08/he_always_had_change_for_a_dollar#sthash.WjNNtj0h.dpuf Article courtesy of The Boston Herald by Mike Pingree

Japan: Nuke plant operator found leak too slowly

The Nuclear Regulation Authority's latest criticism of Tokyo Electric Power Co. came a day after the operator of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant acknowledged that the 300-ton (300,000-liter, 80,000-gallon) leak probably began nearly a month and a half before it was discovered Aug. 19. - See more at: http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/international/asia/2013/08/japan_nuke_plant_operator_found_leak_too_slowly#sthash.OoJ3eh05.dpuf Article courtesy of the Boston Herald by Associated Press

As Yosemite fire burns, San Francisco races to keep water ash-free

San Francisco officials are scrambling to send more water to the metropolitan area as the massive Rim fire near Yosemite rains ash down on a key reservoir. On Monday, utility officials monitored the clarity of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and used a massive new $4.6-billion, gravity-operated pipeline system to move water quickly to reservoirs closer to the city http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-as-yosemite-fire-burns-san-francisco-races-to-keep-water-ashfree-20130827,0,1670167.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Diana Marcum, Samantha Schaefer and Joseph Serna

Massive mirror to be cast for telescope 10 times sharper than Hubble

Technicians on Saturday will fire up a furnace in Arizona to more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit to pour glass to fabricate a mirror 27 feet in diameter that will be part of a giant telescope with 10 times the resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope. The mirror, which will weigh about 20 tons, will take a full year to polish to within 1/20 the wavelength of light, a tolerance on the scale of about 1 in 10 billion. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-telescope-mirror-20130823,0,2605489.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times/Science Now by Geoffrey Mohan

Air board will start monitoring pollution next to SoCal freeways

Air quality regulators will begin monitoring pollution levels near major Southern California traffic corridors next year, for the first time providing data important to nearly 1 million Southern Californians who are at greater risk of respiratory illness because they live within 300 feet of a freeway. http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-freeway-pollution-20130826,0,709429.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza

Colo. company tests spacecraft in Calif. desert

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — A Colorado company developing a spaceship to take astronauts to the International Space Station has run the craft through a series of tests at a NASA facility in California. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Colo-company-tests-spacecraft-in-Calif-desert-4754710.php Article courtesy of San Francisco Chronicle-SF Gate

California visitor's rare find: A star-shaped piece of benitoite

Last weekend the 21-year-old karina Ille discovered a rare star-shaped piece of benitoite in San Benito County, where this country's only mining spot for the gem is located. The mine's operators pull the rocks from their open-pit dig and charge visitors $70 each to spend the day searching for the mineral. Once suspected benitoite is discovered, visitors wash the rocks and study them under black lights in a darkened room outside of the mine. They are allowed to take home in quart zip-lock bags what they find. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rare-gem-20130818,0,3304203.story Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Bob Pool

Copper may play key role in Alzheimer's disease

New research finds that copper in amounts readily found in our drinking water, the foods we eat and the vitamin supplements we take likely plays a key role in initiating and fueling the abnormal protein build-up and brain inflammation that are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-copper-alzheimers-disease-20130819,0,5977613.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Melissa Healy

Rim fire near Yosemite grows to more than 63,000 acres

The blaze had consumed more than 63,000 acres of brush and timber in the Stanislaus National Forest, fire officials said. The cost of fighting the fire, which has been burning since Saturday afternoon, was more that $5 million. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-rim-fire-yosemite-continues-to-grow-20130822,0,2589194.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Robert J. Lopez

Kickstarter project swaps CharlieCard for rings

Sick of fishing through your purse or flashing your wallet every time you ride the MBTA? Sesame Ring is now offering RFID rings that you can tap against CharlieCard readers. http://www.boston.com/business/innovation/blogs/inside-the-hive/2013/08/22/ride-the-bling-line-kickstarter-project-swaps-charliecard-for-customized-rings/GGmrGavznhro8dO4qvzNKL/blog.html Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Michael Morisy

Southern California Braces for Record-Setting Heat

The NWS issued excessive heat warnings for most of the region from Friday morning until Sunday night.

The affected areas included the San Fernando, San Gabriel, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, as well as the valleys of the Inland Empire.

The Antelope Valley could see temperatures between 108 and 115 degrees, according to the NWS.

Other valley areas were expected to reach highs of 100 to 108 degrees, forecasters said.

Read more: http://ktla.com/2013/06/27/l-a-county-opens-colling-center-in-advance-of-heatwave/#ixzz2XRE3ml4B

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by KTLA.com  Kellan Connor

 

 

L.A. bike-sharing program hits a snag

Bike-sharing in Los Angeles has hit a roadblock.

In spring 2012, Tustin company Bike Nation predicted the first phase of its L.A. bike-share program would be up and running by summer 2013. Soon after, officials said, as many as 4,000 bikes would be available to rent by the hour, the day or the week — similar to CitiBike, the program that launched in New York City last month to much fanfare. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bike-share-delay-20130627,0,294356.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Laura J. Nelson

 

 

Mount Everest Airport Will Terrify You

LUKLA, Nepal - As soon as the decades-old Twin Otter landed at Lukla airport, passengers burst out in applause. They do that for nearly every safe landing at the often terrifying airport at the gateway to Mount Everest.

At an altitude of 2,843 meters (9,325 feet), the small airstrip here has earned a reputation as one of the most extreme and dangerous airports in the world. The single runway is narrow, short and sloped. Miss the runway by a few meters (or feet) and the plane would hit a mountain. http://www.weather.com/travel/mount-everest-airport-will-terrify-you-photos-20130618

Article courtesy of weather.com by Associated Press

World's largest solar-powered boat sails into Boston

The MS Tûranor PlanetSolar arrived in Boston this weekend for a brief stay to show off the unusual engineering and design that makes it the world's largest solar-powered boat. The ship is on a scientific mission, led by one of the world's leading climate scientists, traveling along the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic to gather data about the ocean and the atmosphere. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2013/06/23/world-largest-solar-powered-boat-sails-into-boston/uD1gEPTRRPblnQAoh3LAmO/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Gail Waterhouse

Vt. and Quebec announce electric car corridor

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Starting this fall, people who drive electric vehicles should be able to travel the 138-mile route between Burlington and Montreal without worrying they'll run short of a charge thanks to a planned electric vehicle charging corridor, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and Quebec Premier Pauline Marois announced in Montreal.  http://www.boston.com/cars/news-and-reviews/2013/06/18/and-quebec-announce-electric-car-corridor/dygs5GtAc0r7TQe0raWo4M/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Associated Press

California leads U.S. in record first quarter for solar installation

The U.S. had a record quarter in solar installation during the first three months of the year, installing 723 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity for a 33% increase over the same period last year. That represents nearly half of all new generation capacity installed in the U.S. during the first quarter of this year, and puts the solar industry on pace for its best year to date.http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-california-first-quarter-solar-20130612,0,7386012.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Catherine Green

 

 

Cheetah's acceleration power key to their success

WASHINGTON (AP) — Everyone knows cheetahs are blazingly fast. Now new research illustrates how their acceleration and nimble zigzagging leave other animals in the dust and scientists in awe.

Researchers first determined that cheetahs can run twice as fast as Olympian Usain Bolt on a straightaway. Then they measured the energy a cheetah muscle produces compared to body size and calculated the same for Bolt, the sprinter. They found the cheetah had four times the crucial kick power of the Olympian.  http://www.boston.com/news/science/2013/06/12/cheetah-acceleration-power-key-their-success/fZh3Vq1x3QB1HYCcquYcOL/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Seth Borenstein/AP Science Writer

Transit set to offer Wi-Fi on trains, at stations

NJ Transit rail riders might soon be going wireless.

The agency's board is set to vote Wednesday on an agreement to provide free Wi-Fi on trains and at rail stations.  http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/06/nj_transit_trains_to_offer_wi-.html#incart_river

Article courtesy of NJ.com by The Associated Press

 

 

Gritty wharf at Port of L.A. will become marine research center

Daniel Pondella, director of the Southern California Marine Institute, walks along 100-year-old City Dock 1 at the Port of Los Angeles, which will be transformed into a research center containing laboratories and classrooms, fish hatcheries and berths for research vessels. His institute will be the new center's first tenant. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marine-research-20130610,0,4884192.story

 

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Louis Sahagun

Turning cow dung into electricity

Dairy farmer Ron Koetsier's 1,200 cows produce roughly 90 tons of manure daily, and for the last three decades, he has tried unsuccessfully to turn the stinky dung into energy to power his 450-acre farm in Visalia.

He installed a nearly $1-million renewable energy system in 1985 that used the methane from manure to create electricity for his farm. In 2002, he replaced that system with newer technology, but he hit a snag when air-quality standards called for expensive retrofits to reduce air pollution; he eventually shut down the system in 2009. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-dairy-digester-20130609,0,878419.story

Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Ricardo Lopez

 

 

 

Flooding in Europe

The Danube River reached its highest level in 500 years. The Elbe, Rhine, and other rivers and tributaries are cresting high as well as swathes of central Europe lie inundated by floodwaters that have killed 12 and displaced tens of thousands. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic have been severely affected, as Hungary prepares for the swell of water. Gathered here are images of the flooding and people affected in the last several days.

 

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2013/06/flooding_in_europe.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com-The Big Picture posted by Lane Turner 

 

Scientists hope lab program saves Fla. butterfly

MIAMI (AP) — The fate of an endangered butterfly species in the Florida Keys may rest on the fragile wings of a single female Schaus swallowtail and a handful of caterpillars captured in Biscayne National Park, according to University of Florida researchers hoping they have a second chance to save it from extinction.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Scientists-hope-lab-program-saves-Fla-butterfly-4571742.php#ixzz2VAvCE2YB

Article courtesy of The San Francisco Chronicle by Jennifer Kay /Associated Press

Scientists warn Atlantic puffins in peril in US

PORTLAND, Maine — The Atlantic puffin population is at risk in the United States, and there are signs the seabirds are in distress in other parts of the world.

In the Gulf of Maine, the comical-looking seabirds have been dying of starvation and losing body weight, possibly because of shifting fish populations as ocean temperatures rise, according to scientists.  http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/national/northeast/2013/06/scientists_warn_atlantic_puffins_in_peril_in_us

Article courtesy of The Boston Herald by The Associated Press

New Mexico county first in nation to ban fracking to safeguard water

Wells are only source of water for everyone  in Mora County, which is why last month this poor, conservative ranching region of energy-rich New Mexico became the first county in the nation to pass an ordinance banning hydraulic fracturing, the controversial oil and gas extraction technique known as "fracking" that has compromised water quantity and quality in communities around the country.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fracking-ban-20130529,0,4631146.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Julie Cart

Pedicabs are finding a place in the Southland transportation mix

Now the next big thing in bikes is slowly riding in on three wheels.

Pedicabs will hit the streets of Santa Monica this summer, and city officials hope the service will offer people on bustling Main Street a way to get around without their cars. Santa Monica will join San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Huntington Beach and Long Beach, where the human-powered taxis already roam the streets.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pedicabs-20130527,0,5710671.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Matt Stevens and Marisa Gerber

NYC launches bike share program, largest in nation

NEW YORK (AP) — The nation’s biggest bicycle-sharing program got rolling Monday, as thousands of New Yorkers got their first chance to ride a network billed as a new form of public transit in a city known for it.

The privately financed program — called Citi Bike, after lead sponsor Citigroup Inc. — kicked off with 6,000 bikes at more than 300 stations. Plans call for expanding it to 10,000 bikes docked at 600 places in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Riders now can unlock the three-gear, cruising-style bikes from any station, take them for 45-minute rides and return them to any rack.  http://www.boston.com/travel/destinations/2013/05/28/nyc-launches-bike-share-program-largest-nation/qjTsi85JwariXpn3oHXyiJ/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Jennifer Peltz/Associated Press

Chile, Argentina on Red Alert Over Copahue Volcano

SANTIAGO, Chile — Chilean and Argentine officials issued a red alert Monday for the increasingly active Copahue volcano bordering the two countries and ordered the evacuation of about 3,000 people.

Chilean Interior and Security Minister Andres Chadwick said the increased activity could lead to an eruption and officials would soon begin evacuating 2,240 people, or 460 families, within a 25-kilometer (15.5-mile) radius.  http://www.weather.com/news/chile-volcano-alert-20130527

Article courtesy of weather.com by Luis Andres Henao/Associated Press

State to vote on plan for 'Boston Landing' commuter rail station near New Balance project in Brighton

A key state Transportation Department panel voted unanimously Tuesday to support a plan for new commuter rail station in Brighton, which New Balance would pay to construct and to operate for at least the first decade after the station opens.

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/allston_brighton/2013/05/state_to_vote_on_plan_for_bost.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Matt Rocheleau, Town Correspondent

A powerful use for spoiled food

What happens to the 40% of food produced but never eaten in the U.S. each year, the mounds of perfect fruit passed over by grocery store shoppers, the tons of meat and milk left to expire?

At Ralphs, one of the oldest and largest supermarket chains on the West Coast, it helps keep the power on.

In a sprawling Compton distribution center that the company shares with its fellow Kroger Co. subsidiary Food 4 Less, organic matter otherwise destined for a landfill is rerouted instead into the facility's energy grid. Though many grocery stores have tried to cut down on food waste and experiment with alternative energy, Kroger says it's the first supermarket company in the country to do both simultaneously. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ralphs-energy-20130516,0,7330815.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Tiffany Hsu

 

 

Light rail disrupted over suspicious package in downtown Phoenix

Phoenix light rail is running again after services were disrupted for a short time over a suspicious pacakge.

The intersection near First and Washington streets was shut down for investigation, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

Jefferson Street was also closed. Authorities deemed the package to be harmless

Article courtesy of AZcentral.com by Domenico Nicosia/The Arizona Republic

Wearable robots getting lighter, more portable

CHICAGO (AP) — When Michael Gore stands, it’s a triumph of science and engineering. Eleven years ago, Gore was paralyzed from the waist down in a workplace accident, yet he rises from his wheelchair to his full 6-foot-2-inches and walks across the room with help from a lightweight wearable robot. http://www.boston.com/news/science/2013/05/09/wearable-robots-getting-lighter-more-portable/eLAezsQ9JCcBHGxXnqVK3O/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Carla K. Johnson/AP Medical Writer

Study of shipping routes maps delivery of invasive organisms

When giant container ships sail into major ports like Los Angeles and Long Beach, it's not just clothing and cars that they deliver. They also carry critters.

The specimens — microscopic algae cells or larger castaways, such as eggs of fish or crustaceans — float about in the thousands of tons of water the boats use as ballast. When the ships dump their ballast at port, the species can establish a foothold in foreign lands, often with detrimental consequences to native wildlife http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-invasive-species-ships-20130505,0,4077154.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Eryn Brown

Florida fights stucco-eating African snails

An epic battle is raging in South Florida: man against snail.

The state is struggling to contain an invasion of the giant African land snail, a species that thrives in hot and wet tropical climates. These gooey and destructive mollusks grow up to 8.5 inches long, feast on 500 different types of plants and nibble on calcium-rich stucco, which they use to construct their cone-shaped shells.

The snails are originally from East Africa but can now be found throughout the world. Aside from destroying plants and buildings, they can also be carriers of a type of meningitis. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-giant-snails-20130504,0,732437.story

Story courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Deborah Netburn

Air-breathing snakehead fish has N.Y. environmental officials on alert

The northern snakehead is an invasive predator fish that can perform all kinds of non-fish-like feats -- like breathing only air for up to four days and even using its fins to crawl across land to get to a body of water.

And this weekend, environmental officials in New York will be checking to see if any of these super-fish are lurking in Harlem Meer, a man-made lake in Central Park.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-snakehead-fish-central-park-20130430,0,3373090.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Science Now posted by Deborah Netburn

A cardboard 'bot from Cambridge makes it big at the Tribeca Film Festival

At the DIY Days conference last Saturday in Manhattan, I ran into MIT Media Lab alum Alexander Reben and his little cardboard buddy, BlabDroid.

Reben was in town for the Tribeca Film Festival; he had deployed 20 BlabDroids there as robotic documentarians, asking questions of random people and recording their answers. (BlabDroid also won the Creative Sparks competition at DIY Days, earning Reben some free office space in New York and a "micro-grant" of $500. I served as a judge.) http://www.boston.com/business/technology/innoeco/2013/05/a_cardboard_bot_from_cambridge.html

Article courtesy of the Boston Globe-Innovation Economy posted by Scott Kirsner

Innovative airbag helmets could be the next big thing in cycling

A new Swedish helmet, complete with airbags and fashionable enough to be a scarf, is a radical departure from familiar, bulky biking helmets on the market today.

But research shows that innovations in cycling gear could be very trendy in the near future. The inflatable Hovding Helmet, which is worn around the neck and is specifically designed for the cycling commuter, is already selling in Europe and is coming soon to North America.  http://www.boston.com/ae/radio/edging_the_xtreme/2013/04/commuting_cyclist_now_have_an.html

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe from BDC Radio posted by Dan Egan

FW: Verizon Launches Green Energy Project to Power 19 Company Facilities Across the Country

NEW YORK – Verizon announced today that it will invest $100 million in a solar and fuel-cell energy project that will help power 19 of its facilities in seven states across the country.  When completed next year, the project will enable Verizon to annually generate more than 70 million kilowatt hours of its own green energy -- enough to power more than 6,000 single-family homes a year -- while eliminating more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide -- enough to offset the annual CO2 emissions from more than 1 million gallons of gas. http://newscenter.verizon.com/corporate/news-articles/2013/04-30-green-energy-project/

 

 

 

 

Verizon Launches Green Energy Project to Power 19 Company Facilities Across the Country

NEW YORK – Verizon announced today that it will invest $100 million in a solar and fuel-cell energy project that will help power 19 of its facilities in seven states across the country.  When completed next year, the project will enable Verizon to annually generate more than 70 million kilowatt hours of its own green energy -- enough to power more than 6,000 single-family homes a year -- while eliminating more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide -- enough to offset the annual CO2 emissions from more than 1 million gallons of gas.

 

 

 

20-foot boat that drifted to California is tsunami debris

The barnacle-covered boat with Japanese lettering spent 758 days at sea before it drifted onto a Northern California beach.

Nearly three weeks after the 20-foot boat washed ashore in Crescent City, about 20 miles south of the Oregon border, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration determined it was from the 2011 tsunami, the first confirmed debris to reach California. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tsunami-debris-20130427,0,3140009.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Kate Mather

 

Supersonic flight brings Virgin Galactic closer to space tourism

With a sonic boom that resounded above the Mojave Desert, a rocket plane belonging to British billionaire Richard Branson's commercial space venture Virgin Galactic got one step closer to carrying tourists into space.

On Monday the company's SpaceShipTwo ignited its rocket motor in mid-flight for the first time and sped to Mach 1.2, faster than sound, reaching about 56,000 feet in altitude. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-virgin-galactic-20130430,0,507052.story

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

 

 

Details about new plan for San Gabriel Mountains raise questions

The Interior Department announced Wednesday that it is recommending to Congress that the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service collaborate in the region, which includes a portion of the Angeles National Forest stretching from Sylmar to roughly five miles west of Interstate 15.

Under the proposal, the region essentially would remain national forest land managed by the cash-strapped Forest Service. But it would draw upon the National Park Service for additional law enforcement, signage, trail maintenance and services such as trash pickup

Article courtesy of Los Angeles Times by Louis Sahagun

 

 

Officials battle giant, rat-sized snails in Florida

Florida has a snail problem. And it's a big one.

The southern part of the state is being invaded by the giant African land snail, a species of snail that can grow up to 8.5 inches in length and that snacks on stucco, car tires and 500 types of plants.

"Just about anything you grow in the garden is on their menu," said Denise Feiber, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-giant-african-land-snail-20130415,0,2472882.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Deborah Netburn

 

New teaching standards delve more deeply into climate change

The Next Generation Science Standards, developed over the last 18 months by California and 25 other states in conjunction with several scientific organizations, represent the first national effort since 1996 to transform the way science is taught in thousands of classrooms. The multi-state consortium is proposing that students learn fewer concepts more deeply and not merely memorize facts but understand how scientists actually investigate and gather information. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0410-schools-science-20130410,0,6820335.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Teresa Watanabe

 

 

And Guess What's Down?

The good news just keeps coming, because the answeris “driving.” For the eighth year running, individualsare driving fewer miles, per a Federal Highway (FHWA) Administrationstudy. The average American drove 37 fewer miles in 2012 than in 2011—a .4% drop. (Overall traffic didn’t go down,however, because population increases meant that total vehicle miles traveled roseslightly, by .3%.)

The FHWA says people are driving fewer miles due toa variety of factors, including high gas prices, a faltering economy and a younger generation that’s less interested in driving.

Article courtesy of Commute Smart News April edition

Proximity to Public Transit Boosts Home Values

According to a new study from the Center for Neighborhood Technology, property values for homes located near public transportation weathered the housing bust much better than homes without easy access. The study found that residential property values performed 42 percent better on average if they were located within a half-mile of public transportation with high-frequency service — called the "public transit shed" — underscoring that homes closer to public transportation hold their value better.  http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/NewRealEstateMantra.pdf

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Online from a report

 

COMMISSIONED BY AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

PREPARED BY THE CENTER FOR NEIGHBORHOOD TECHNOLOGY

In Many Markets, Rail Beats or Competes With Air Travel

Intercity rail is gaining market share from air travel on many routes between 100 and 500 miles in length. Commuters are finding that train travel can actually be faster when total travel time is considered, including passing through security, waiting to board, taking off and landing, and commuting from an airport to downtown

 

http://streetsblog.net/2013/03/22/in-many-markets-rail-beats-or-competes-with-air-travel/#.UU0QRntDruk.gmail

Article courtesy of Smart Growth online -Streetsblog.net posted by Angie Schmitt

Nobody is declaring a state of drought in California, but ...

When snow surveyors headed into the Sierra Nevada on Thursday for the most important measurement of the season, they found only about half the snowpack that is normal for the date.

It could have been a lot worse — considering that the last three months in California have been the driest of any January-through-March period on record, going back to 1895. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-water-dry-20130329,0,2408609.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Bettina Boxall

 

 

 

 

The Air We Breathe

Anyone who lives in metro Phoenix has seen the brown cloud that drapes the horizon on a still day.

The pollution is more than what can be seen. Valley air carries bits of dirt, toxic metals, ammonia from farm fertilizer, ozone that irritates nasal tissues. Freeways spew a mix of exhaust and dust, putting anyone who lives nearby at an increased risk.

A day with bad air takes its toll first on those who are already ill. A heavily polluted day sends children to emergency rooms. People with respiratory problems are forced indoors. But a lifetime with bad air takes a toll on each one of us. People who live in bad air live shorter lives.  http://www.azcentral.com/news/air-quality/

Article courtesy of The Republic by Mark Henle

Quasar discovery a milestone that revealed a violent universe

Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the quasar — an extremely bright object powered by matter falling into a super-massive black hole lying in the heart of a galaxy.

First found in 1963, these strange sources of radio waves initially stumped astronomers: They shone as sharply and intensely as nearby stars, but they appeared to be moving away from Earth far too fast to be in our own Milky Way. Scientists called them quasi-stellar radio sources — or quasars for short.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-quasar-anniversary-20130316,0,968215.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Amina Khan

Study: Plankton's absorption of CO2 higher than assumed

A study into the chemical composition of marine plankton is challenging a long-held assumption on how much carbon dioxide the organisms consume.

The study, published online Sunday in Nature Geoscience, calls into question the textbook ratio of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous contained in all plankton. This so-called "Redfield ratio," named for oceanographer Alfred Redfield, holds that those compounds are fixed at 106:16:1 units respectively.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-plankton-carbon-ratio-20130315,0,78136.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Science Now- bly Monte Morin

California may start huge water project before knowing if it'll work

The goal is to partially restore the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta environment and stop waterexports from shrinking. But uncertainty over how much water the delta can spare is likely to last years.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-delta-plan-20130315,0,2729393.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Bettina Boxall

 

 

EPA threatens to sue fuel-storage facility in San Pedro

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has notified the owners of a 40-year-old San Pedro tank farm, which has up to 25 million gallons of highly flammable butane, that it is prepared to sue to ensure compliance with federal law.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-epa-suit-20130318,0,5593381.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Louis Sahagun

GREEN TIPS

By making simple changes in our everyday lives, we can improve the planet we all share. To help, EarthShare provides free green tips, categorized by season. EarthShare offers these green action tips as a public service to individuals and companies interested in finding ways to protect the Earth.

http://www.earthshare.org/green-tips.html#tp

Article courtesy of EarthShare

 

Two new solar power plants approved for federal land in California

Salazar announced two solar projects in California — the 750-megawatt McCoy Solar Energy Project and 150-megawatt Desert Harvest Solar Farm, both in Riverside County. Interior also approved the 200-megawatt Searchlight Wind Energy Project in Clark County, Nevada. 

The McCoy project, near Blythe, would occupy 4,394 acres and would be the world's largest, in terms of power production. Desert Harvest, six miles north of Desert Center, would occupy 1,208 acres. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-renewable-energy-20130313,0,3126195.story

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

 

 

Coastal panel rejects Navy's plan to boost underwater blasts

SAN DIEGO — Citing the danger to whales and other sea life, the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously Friday to reject the Navy's plan for increased use of sonar and underwater explosives for training off Southern California.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-navy-whales-20130309,0,1038169.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Tony Perry

NASA probes find new radiation belt circling Earth

A pair of NASA probes has discovered a previously unknown ring of radiation blanketing the Earth, upending a long-standing scientific theory about how charged particles coalesce around the planet, scientists reported Thursday.

Just four days after the twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes were launched in August, NASA scientists looked on in amazement as instruments revealed a third belt of high-energy particles between the planet's inner and outer radiation belts, known as the Van Allen belts. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-earth-radiation-belt-20130301,0,7766658.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Joseph Serna

Imperial County betting its future on renewable energy

Spurred by a state mandate that requires utilities to get a third of their electricity from green sources by 2020, renewable energy companies are leasing or buying thousands of acres in Imperial County to convert to energy farms providing power for coastal cities — bringing an estimated 6,000 building jobs and billions in construction activity to the county.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-imperial-energy-20130227,0,497876.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angles Times by Shan Li

Sahara Desert dust affects California water supply, study finds

High-altitude dust blown thousands of miles across the Pacific from Asian and African deserts can make it rain and snow in the Sierra Nevada, according to new research that suggests tiny particles from afar play a role in California's water supply.

The study, published Thursday in the online edition of the journal Science, grew out of researchers' questions about two similar Sierra storms in winter 2009. Even though the storm systems carried the same amount of water vapor, one produced 40% more precipitation than the other. When scientists analyzed ground samples of the rain and snow dropped by the wetter storm, they found an abundance of Asian dust.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-water-dust-20130301,0,4934653.story

Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Bettina Boxall

 

Radioactive tuna from Fukushima? Scientists eat it up

Marine biologist Dan Madigan stood on a dock in San Diego and considered some freshly caught Pacific bluefin tuna. The fish had managed to swim 5,000 miles from their spawning grounds near Japan to California's shores, only to end up the catch of local fishermen.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-fukushima-radiation-20130225,0,3785100.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Eryn Brown

Report: CDC not properly securing bioterror agents

Laboratories at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been repeatedly cited in private government audits for failing to properly secure potential bioterror agents such as anthrax and plague and not training employees who work with them, according to “restricted” government watchdog reports obtained by USA Today.

“These weaknesses could have compromised (the CDC’s) ability to safeguard select agents from accidental or intentional loss and to ensure the safety of individuals,” according to a 2010 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/20130225report-cdc-not-properly-securing-bioterror-agents.html

Article courtesy of AZCentral.com by Alison Young /USA Today

Cuomo Seeking Home Buyouts in Flood Zones

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is proposing to spend as much as $400 million to purchase homes wrecked by Hurricane Sandy, have them demolished and then preserve the flood-prone land permanently, as undeveloped coastline.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/04/nyregion/cuomo-seeking-home-buyouts-in-flood-zones.html?_r=3&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1361370143-PLi5ctogCefM9dPOP+cSPA

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Online by Thomas Kaplan New York Times

 

Increasing Parking Space may Decrease Downtown Businesses, People

New research results from the University of Connecticut suggest that increasing car parking space in cities may lead to more cars, less people, and less economic development. In cities that significantly increased parking, the number of people and jobs dropped by as much as 15 percent and the median family incomes fell by 20 to 30 percent. However, in cities that limited parking, the number of people and jobs climbed upward, as did incomes. Less parking has meant more space for shops, restaurants, and jobs, according to the research study authors. http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/02/cars-and-robust-cities-are-fundamentally-incompatible/4651/

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Online by chris McCahill and Norman Garrick

 

In-state oil fields don't all met standard

Environmentalists often call oil from Canada's tar sands the dirtiest fuel on Earth, because the complex process of extracting it spews huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the air.

But by that standard, some of the crude oil pumped in California is just as dirty. In a few cases, it's even worse.

Several California oil fields produce just as much carbon dioxide per barrel of oil as the tar sands do, state data show. A handful of fields yield even more.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/In-state-oil-fields-don-t-all-meet-standard-4267131.php#ixzz2Kz78CKjM

Article courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle by David R. Baker

Boxer's push is a twist on carbon tax

Washington -- Sen. Barbara Boxer plans Thursday to co-sponsor a radical plan to control carbon dioxide emissions modeled on Alaska's rebates of oil royalties to residents.

The California Democrat is a marquee draw for an otherwise obscure bill by Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont liberal and independent. Called "fee and dividend," the legislation is an unusual variant on a carbon tax. It would impose a fee on carbon emissions at their source, such as coal mines, raising the price of fossil fuel

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Boxer-s-push-is-a-twist-on-carbon-tax-4277210.php#ixzz2Kz5ywmYf

Article courtesy of The San Francisco Chronicle by Carolyn Lochhead

Obama vows action on greenhouse gases

An emboldened second-term President Obama made it clear Tuesday that if lawmakers don't tackle climate change, he will do an end run around Congress and use his executive powers to curb greenhouse gas emissions, which are linked to global warming.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Obama-vows-action-on-greenhouse-gases-4273678.php#ixzz2Kz1OFB3T

Article courtesy of The San Francisco Chronicle by Jennifer a. Dlouhy

500 injured by blasts as meteor falls in Russia

The Russian Academy of Sciences said in a statement that the meteor over the Chelyabinsk region entered the Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of at least 54,000 kph (33,000 mph) and shattered about 30-50 kilometers (18-32 miles) above ground.

The fall caused explosions that broke glass over a wide area. The Emergency Ministry says more than 500 people sought treatment after the blasts and that 34 of them were hospitalized.  http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/2013/02/15/injured-blasts-meteor-falls-russia/3AmzS7cxfntDkpWrCo8i7I/story.html

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Jim Heintz of the Associated Press

Durham speed limit change decision due

DECISION DUE: Councillors are set to decide whether to reduce the speed limit on a road where a teenager died next month. Durham County Council consulted the public on cutting the speed limit on the A690 between Durham City and the A1(M) at Carrville last year, after 13-year-old Brandon Nugent, of Gilesgate, was hit by a car as he crossed the road in March 2011. Brandon was knocked over on a crossing point on the busy dual carriageway. A council highways committee is set to discuss proposals to reduce the speed limit from 70mph to 50mph during a meeting at County Hall, Durham, on Friday, March 8, at 10am. http://www.durhamtimes.co.uk/news/10229941.Durham_speed_limit_change_decision_due/

Article courtesy of Durham Times by Mark Tellentire

NJ Transit customers' days of getting dollar coins back as change to end

New Jersey Transit customers won't need to worry about getting a pocket full of dollar coins back when they buy their transit tickets.

The agency is installing bank note recycler technology starting with its ticket vending machines at Newark's Penn Station that will dispense change in paper bill form. It will be available at all 674 terminals system wide by the end of the year.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/nj_transit_customers_days_of_g.html#incart_river

Article courtesy of New Jersey News by Associated Press by The Star Ledger

USC research on cold sensitivity could help control pain in future

Researchers at USC have made mice insensitive to near-freezing temperatures by deactivating select neurons, a development that could one day lead to new treatments for pain in humans.

In a study published Tuesday in the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers used a bacterial toxin to kill neurons equipped with so-called TRPM8 channels, cellular structures that help relay sensations of cold. (The pathway is also responsible for sensing menthol, the cooling component of mint.) Neurons that sense heat and mechanical pain were left intact, however

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-cold-sensation-20130212,0,5137235.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angels Times-Science Now by Monte Morin

Some plastics should be classified as hazardous, scientists say

Less than half of the 280 million metric tons of plastic produced each year ends up in the landfill.  A fair bit of the rest ends up littering the landscape, blown by the wind or washed down streams and rivers into the sea.

So far Americans spend $520 million a year to clean up plastic litter washing up on West Coast beaches and shorelines. Efforts to clean up the oceans' enormous swirling gyres of garbage has an incalculable cost. Thus, much of the focus has been on how to stop the river of trash from entering the ocean. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-some-plastics-should-be-classified-as-hazardous-scientists-say-20130212,0,7219100.story?track=rss

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

A Silver Lining

A bold transit experiment over at Logan International Airport seems to be working.

Starting last June, the MBTA stopped collecting fares from arriving air passengers boarding Silver Line buses at the airport. The change had two positive impacts at Logan:  Passengers could board buses at the airport much more quickly and they could get to South Station and other points on the MBTA system for free. As a result, ridership on Silver Line buses traveling from the airport to Boston is up about 18 percent.

Article courtesy of Commonwealth Magazine

Sunlight stimulates release of carbon dioxide in melting permafrost

Ancient plant and animal matter trapped within Arctic permafrost can be converted rapidly into climate-warming carbon dioxide when melted and exposed to sunlight, according to a new study. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-carbon-sunlight-permafrost-20130211,0,5550833.story?track=rss

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

 

 

Space Age Transit System to Debut in Tel Aviv

Source: Israel21C
If all goes as planned, within two years Israelis will be the first people to try out a futuristic rapid transport system designed by NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California. The skyTran uses two-person modules that drive along a guide rail suspended from existing power lines. Magnets in the vehicle create a magnetic field around the metal coil inside the rail, causing the vehicle to lift up and glide 60 miles per hour on a cushion of air. The system uses very little energy and potentially could be powered entirely by solar panels. The space-age skyTran combines aspects of public and private transportation. "People often don't use mass transit because they don't like to share vehicles, they don't like having to get to a station and they don't like to follow someone else's schedule," says CEO Jerry Sanders. The cost of implementing skyTran is estimated at $9 million per mile, as opposed to $100 million per mile for a light rail system and $20 million per lane for buses. https://netforum.avectra.com/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=ACT1&WebCode=ACTeNews

Article courtesy of ACT newsletter

Too bad Zipcar isn't taking over Avis

If Zipcar were buying Avis, instead of the other way around, the Cambridge-based car-sharing company's fans would be happier today than they are.

This should be good news. The car rental giant's $500 million purchase of Zipcar is great for stockholders, since Avis is offering 49 percent more per share than Zipcar's closing price Friday. In theory, the takeover is also a half-billion-dollar validation of the idea of car sharing; what once seemed like a utopian social experiment increasingly looks like a mainstream, even essential service for city dwellers who only drive every so often. It should help that Avis buys a lot of cars; Zipcar will be able to buy vehicles more cheaply and make more of them available at peak times. Avis, in turn, gains a foothold in a growing business that archrival Hertz is also pursuing aggressively. http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/blogs/the_angle/2013/01/too_bad_zipcar.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com-The Boston Globe-The Angle posted by Dante Ramos

 

 

 

 

New Lake Tahoe plan to allow higher density development

Lake Tahoe towns will grow taller and denser under a new regional plan that supporters hope will quell a rebellion by Nevada against land use regulations that have restricted development in the basin.

The new plan is intended to rid the area of some of its midcentury strip development and turn town centers into more inviting, greener destinations that will revive the area's ailing economy. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lake-tahoe-20121225,0,1292195.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Bettina Boxall

 

 

 

 

GM salmon: FDA's assessment of environmental risks

Genetically modified salmon moved closer to the market last week with release of draft documents from the Food and Drug Administration that assessed the environmental risks posed by AquAdvantage salmon, which grow faster than regular Atlantic salmon. http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-aquabounty-salmon-fda-assesses-risks-20121224,0,2554480.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Booster Shots by Rosie Mestel