OMG measurements of Greenland give us a glimpse of future sea rise.

If you meet a group of climate scientists, and ask them how much sea levels will rise by say the year 2100, you will get a wide range of answers. But, those with most expertise in sea level rise will tell you perhaps 1 meter (a little over three feet). Then, they will immediately say, “but there is a lot of uncertainty on this estimate.” It doesn’t mean they aren’t certain there will be sea level rise – that is guaranteed as we add more heat in the oceans. Here, uncertainty means it could be a lot more or a little less.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/feb/24/omg-measurements-of-greenland-give-us-a-glimpse-of-future-sea-rise
Article courtesy of The Guardian by John Abraham

EPA Removes Mentions of 'Climate Change' in Water Utilities Program

The division once known as Climate Ready Water Utilities was rebranded as the Creating Resilient Water Utilities in late December, according to archived webpages. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27022017/epa-climate-change-donald-trump
Article courtesy of Inside Climate News by Georgina Gustin

For Some Arctic Plants, Spring Arrives Almost a Month Earlier

In a new paper published in Biology Letters, researchers detail findings from a 12-year study of when plant species in the low Arctic region of Greenland first bud in the spring. Timing varied from plant to plant, but one speedy sedge species — a flowering, grasslike herb — stirred a full 26 days earlier than it did a decade ago.  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/science/arctic-plants-spring-global-warming.html?_r=0
Article courtesy of The New York Times by Steph Yin

Great potential for reverse photosynthesis!

It might seem complicated but reverse photosynthesis is pretty basic. You take the carbohydrates that plants and bacteria normally produce in photosynthesis and use light energy to convert them enzymatically into smaller products. These substances could be the most useful substances that we need in industry such as biofuels and the monomers for plastics production. It does seem that the oil industry could finally be displaced by mere enzymes.
Read more at http://www.earthtimes.org/going-green/great-potential-reverse-photosynthesis/2928/#lMsdUTzHijpGiAzP.99 

Article courtesy of Earth Times by Dave Armstrong

A tree that generates wind power

ll phone towers masquerading as trees are a pretty common sight. Iowa State University scientists have now similarly disguised wind turbines. They have made a device that mimics the branches and leaves of a cottonwood tree and generates electricity when its plastic leaves flutter in the wind. Larger, much-improved versions of the electricity-generating plant carrying thousands of leaves—could generate enough electricity for small appliances.  http://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2017/02/a-tree-that-generates-wind-power/
Article courtesy of Anthropocene Magazine by Prachi Patel

Coming soon to Dubai: A flying passenger-carrying drone

The Dubai government says it hopes to have a passenger-carrying drone buzzing through the skyline of this futuristic city-state by July.  http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2017/0214/Coming-soon-to-Dubai-A-flying-passenger-carrying-drone?cmpid=ema:nws:Daily%2520Newsletter%2520%2802-14-2017%29&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20170214_Newsletter:%20Daily&utm_term=Daily
Article courtesy of the Christian Science Monitor by Mengqi Sun

Costa Rican researchers develop new climate change-resistant beans

Researchers from the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry have begun distributing the seeds of a new variety of heat- and drought-resistant black beans — part of a broader effort to help address the impact of climate change, as well as recent droughts, on the essential crop.  http://www.ticotimes.net/2017/02/13/climate-resistant-beans
Article courtesy of the Tico Times News by L. Arias