A New Dark Age Looms

Boulder, Colo. — IMAGINE a future in which humanity’s accumulated wisdom about Earth — our vast experience with weather trends, fish spawning and migration patterns, plant pollination and much more — turns increasingly obsolete. As each decade passes, knowledge of Earth’s past becomes progressively less effective as a guide to the future. Civilization enters a dark age in its practical understanding of our planet.  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/19/opinion/a-new-dark-age-looms.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-right-region&region=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region&_r=0
Article courtesy of The New York Times by William B. Gail

Study finds living near greenery may help you live longer

Having nature’s greenery outside your door might help you live longer, according to a new study.
The researchers used satellite imagery to tack the season vegetation where 108,630 women lived from 2000 to 2008, while monitoring questionnaires and information from the women about their health and lifestyle, The New York Times reports. They found the mortality rate for women living in the highest one-fifth for greeness was 12 percent lower than the women living in lowest one-fifth for greeness. Their rates for death from respiratory illness and cancer were also lower.http://www.boston.com/news/health/2016/04/15/study-finds-living-near-greenery-may-help-live-longer
Article courtesy of boston.com by Dialynn Dwyer

U.S. Issues New Rules on Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Thursday unveiled a final set of regulations on offshore oil and gas drilling that are aimed at preventing the kind of equipment failures that caused the disastrous 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/15/us/politics/us-issuesnew-rules-on-offshore-oil-and-gas-drilling.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=4&pgtype=sectionfront
Article courtesy of The New York Times by Coral Davenport

Eradicating Invasive Species One Sushi Roll at a Time

MIAMI BEACH — Plenty of chefs have burns on their forearms, but Bun Lai’s battle scars did not come from hot oven racks. His were a result of an inadvertent brush with fire coral while scuba diving for ingredients off the Florida coast.  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/dining/invasive-species-bun-lai-prey-restaurant.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=10&pgtype=sectionfront
Article courtesy of The New York Times by Florence Fabricant

Uber and Lyft have devastated L.A.'s taxi industry, city records show

The rise of Uber and Lyft has dealt a swift, brutal blow to the Los Angeles taxi industry.
Since the ride-hailing services began operating in Southern California three years ago, the number of L.A. taxi trips arranged in advance has fallen by 42%, according to city records, and the total number of trips has plummeted by nearly 30%.  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-uber-lyft-taxis-la-20160413-story.html
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Laura J. Nelson

The National Park Service is Turning 100 And You’re Invited

Big birthdays can be tough to plan, from deciding how to have fun and satisfy competing friend groups, to crafting party invitations that tactfully say, 'No, I am not too old for presents.' But the National Park Service, which will celebrate its centennial on August 25, knows there’s only one way to ensure a flawless birthday bash: don’t leave anyone out. Which is why, starting on April 16, the bureau is partnering with the National Park Foundation to host National Parks Week, when every national park will be open to the public, free of charge. The celebration, which will continue through April 24, is America's largest celebration of national heritage.  http://sierraclub.org/sierra/2016-2-march-april/green-life/national-park-service-turning-100-and-you-re-invited?suppress=true&utm_source=greenlife&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter
Article courtesy of Sierraclub.org by Dakin Hewlett

First 2 hydrogen refueling stations to open in Massachusetts next year

Vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology have been struggling to make inroads in the New England market. But a recent development by a French energy company promises to open the door to more hydrogen vehicles hitting the road. http://archive.boston.com/cars/news-and-reviews/2016/04/08/first-hydrogen-refueling-stations-open-massachusetts-next-year/2vBJsaQnEFeipxkF3gMskM/story.html
Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Sanjay Salomon

Los Angeles poised to adopt environmental protections for polluted communities

In a groundbreaking attempt to bring environmental justice to polluted neighborhoods, the Los Angeles City Council is poised to adopt new land-use restrictions to ease health risks in communities where a heavy concentration of industry operates close to homes, schools and day-care centers.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-exide-testing-20160412-story.html
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Tony Barbosa

Car-Pooling Helps Uber Go the Extra Mile

Unlike a standard Uber ride, in which a single rider starts a one-time trip, UberPool works like a party line for cars. Travis Kalanick, Uber’s co-founder and chief executive, describes it as the future of his company — and thus the future of transportation in America.  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/technology/car-pooling-helps-uber-go-the-extra-mile.html?ref=international
Article courtesy of the New York Times by Farhad Manjoo