New record: Ethereal deep-sea fish lives 5 miles underwater

Scientists have discovered a new species of fish that glides gently through the water on white, translucent wings 5 miles beneath the ocean surface.It is the deepest living fish ever discovered.
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-mariana-trench-deep-sea-fish-20141219-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Deborah Netburn

Of mice and men: Researchers point to differences in cell development

Scientists say they have discovered a key factor in the lab formation of human primordial germ cells -- the precursors to egg and sperm -- and that it differs significantly from experiments involving rodent cells.http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Monte Morin

Astronomers find 'new' dwarf galaxy in Milky Way's neighborhood

Hey, neighbor! Astronomers searching the sky with NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have discovered an odd little dwarf galaxy in our very own backyard -- a mere 7 million light years away.http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Science Now by Amina Kahn

Greenland Ice Loss May be Worse Than Predicted: Study

A warming planet may lead to swifter ice loss on Greenland's ice sheet, and faster sea level rise for the rest of the world than previously predicted, scientists said Monday.
Two separate international studies raised concern about the pace of ice melt on the world's second largest ice sheet after Antarctica, and suggested that scientists may have underestimated the variable behavior of Greenland's ice. http://www.newsmax.com/SciTech/Science-Britain-US-space/2014/12/15/id/613129/ Article courtesy of The Boston Herald

Robot Tuna That Swims Like a Fish Meant for Spying, Protection

The U.S. Office of Naval Research has developed an underwater robot tuna capable of swimming into enemy territory.

The 5-foot, 100-pound robot is built to look like a Bluefin tuna as part of an operation called Project Silent Nemo.  http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/robot-tuna-fish-spying/2014/12/15/id/613204/
Article courtesy of The Boston Herald by Ken Mandel

Here's What Would Happen to Your Groceries If Bees Went Extinct

Without pollinators, say goodbye to fruit-flavored yogurt and that chocolate in your chocolate milk. Plus, plants that cows graze on would be depleted, so milk would be scarce. And it’s not just dairy; Whole Foods estimates that more than half of the produce department is dependent on bees.
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/green-living/whole-foods-groceries-honeybee-population
Article courtesy of Good Housekeeping by Megan Friedman

Peru climate change talks slowed by clashes of rich and poor nations

International climate talks in Lima, Peru, are entering their final week, with few hints of whether a newfound optimism that marked the start of negotiations will ultimately translate into an agreement that would rein in climate change.
Convened by the United Nations, the talks aim to craft the framework for an international accord to curtail heat-trapping emissions and adapt to changes already occurring on the planet. The final agreement is due to be signed in Paris next December.

That collective groan must have been overheard by Boston 2024, the group leading the charge to host the Olympics. On its website, Boston 2024 dismisses concerns over traffic congestion and public transportation overload as “myth.” http://www.boston.com/cars/news-and-reviews/2014/12/05/olympic-hype-what-the-games-could-boston-transportation/NY0WqJeZ7cB6dZAUr07KVP/story.html?p1=well_Cars_subheadline_hp

Olympic Hype? What the Games Could Do To Boston Transportation

That collective groan must have been overheard by Boston 2024, the group leading the charge to host the Olympics. On its website, Boston 2024 dismisses concerns over traffic congestion and public transportation overload as “myth.” http://www.boston.com/cars/news-and-reviews/2014/12/05/olympic-hype-what-the-games-could-boston-transportation/NY0WqJeZ7cB6dZAUr07KVP/story.html?p1=well_Cars_subheadline_hp
Article courtesy of Boston.com by Sanjay Salomon

Study Gauges Plastic Levels in Oceans

It is no secret that the world’s oceans are swimming with plastic debris — the first floating masses of trash were discovered in the 1990s. But researchers are starting to get a better sense of the size and scope of the problem.  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/11/science/new-research-quantifies-the-oceans-plastic-problem.html?ref=science&_r=0
Article courtesy of the New York Times by John Schwartz

Storm headed for Bay Area could bring 8 inches of rain and a blizzard

One of the biggest winter storms to hit the Bay Area in the last 10 years is expected to quickly dump inches of rain and blast residents with powerful winds Thursday and Friday, the National Weather Service said.  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-winter-storm-preparations-20141210-story.html
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Joseph Serna and Veronica Rocha

Peru climate change talks slowed by clashes of rich and poor nations

International climate talks in Lima, Peru, are entering their final week, with few hints of whether a newfound optimism that marked the start of negotiations will ultimately translate into an agreement that would rein in climate change.
Convened by the United Nations, the talks aim to craft the framework for an international accord to curtail heat-trapping emissions and adapt to changes already occurring on the planet. The final agreement is due to be signed in Paris next December. http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-climate-talks-20141207-story.html
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Neela Banerjee

New Fire Code Will Allow ‘Hold-Open’ Clips on Gas Station Pumps

For decades, Massachusetts drivers have been left out in the cold by state laws, but that’s about to change this winter.

According to WGBH, gas stations will be allowed to install hold-open clips on their pump nozzles starting January 1st. http://www.boston.com/cars/news-and-reviews/2014/12/05/new-fire-code-will-allow-hold-open-clips-gas-station-pumps/hsvbj51JfIUsVEeDLVuJBN/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Kelly O'Brien

‘Superbugs’ Kill India’s Babies and Pose an Overseas Threat

AMRAVATI, India — A deadly epidemic that could have global implications is quietly sweeping India, and among its many victims are tens of thousands of newborns dying because once-miraculous cures no longer work.  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/world/asia/superbugs-kill-indias-babies-and-pose-an-overseas-threat.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
Article courtesy of The New York Times by Gardiner Harris

Why More Solar Panels Should Be Facing West, Not South

For years, homeowners who bought solar panels were advised to mount them on the roof facing south. That captures the most solar energy over the course of the day, which benefits the homeowner, but does so at hours that are not so helpful for the utility and the grid as a whole.

Mount them to catch the sunlight from the west in the afternoon, and the panels’ production over all would fall, but it would come at hours when the electricity was more valuable.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/02/upshot/why-more-solar-panels-should-be-pointing-west-not-south.html?hpw&rref=upshot&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&abt=0002&abg=0

Article courtesy of The New York Times by Matthew L. Wald

Are We Missing the Big Picture on Climate Change?

To grasp climate change, you have to think in terms of species and their future. To know how things have already changed, you have to remember how they used to be, and so you may not notice birds disappearing from the skies, or hotter weather or more extreme storms and forest fires.   http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/magazine/are-we-missing-the-big-picture-on-climate-change.html?hpw&rref=magazine&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well
Article courtesy of the New York Times by Rebecca Solnit

Urban Farmers Trade Goods and Stories at "Crop Swaps"

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Bay Area is a culinary never-never land, a place where aspiring apiarists hire beekeeping coaches, and even 7-year-olds can discuss the virtues of Himalayan salt.

That is why, on a recent Sunday, a motley group of gardeners bearing windfall harvests of habanero chiles, persimmons and prickly pear cactus fruit gathered for a “crop swap,” an urban agricultural ritual in which city farmers get together to share their surplus bounty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/28/us/urban-farmers-trade-goods-and-stories-at-crop-swaps.html?mabReward=RI%3A17&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=CColumn&module=Recommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine

Article courtesy of The New York Times by Patricia Leigh Brown

The Virus Detectives -Sifting Through Genes in Search of Answers

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — An old two-story brick building in a shabby part of town, formerly a distribution center for Budweiser beer, is now the world’s most powerful factory for analyzing genes from people and viruses.

And it is a factory. At any given time, 10,000 tiny test tubes each holding a few drops of gene-containing fluid are being processed by six technicians, working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/02/science/factory-direct-virus-analysis.html?hpw&rref=health&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

Article courtesy of The New York Times by Gina Kolata