Fish Go Vegan

Summary of problem or issue It turns out that it's not a fish eat fish world out there. Or at least not any more. Many of the fish you and I eat every day are part of a neat little thing called aquaculture, meaning that these fish are not caught and put in a box. They are grown on little fishy farms. Sadly, for some fish that feed on other fish to survive it is a little more difficult. The aquaculturists have to go out to catch the fish for the fish to eat. The problem being that it's taking around 5 pounds of caught fish to grow the one pound of fish to eat. To solve that problem, two guys in Maine have created a completely vegetarian diet so that they do not have to fish for their food. Since this diet has been created the need to catch and use so many fish has depleted it is basically saving the fish market some major money and it is also helping out our swimming friends down under. This diet however may not work for all fish and if that is the case then it will not be to good. We might get some of those fish that are too manly to go on a vegetarian diet. I personally think that this is a great solution to this problem. I think that it is inventive enough to really help out aquaculture as a whole. I (as well as many fisheries) hope this works out.

http://phys.org/news/2013-08-scientists-key-easing-aquaculture-reliance.html 

Scientists nearly certain that humans have caused global warming

The U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is saying that there is a 95% chance that the world has been heated by humans. A new report is being made and is going to be delivered over the next year about global warming and a plan of action for it. This being the case, what are we to do? There are multiple things every person can do. Recycle, use less energy, run less water, use less fossil fuels. Only you can make a difference and every little difference helps out. People however ( I say that very generally) do not like to change and wait until the last possible second to do so. Until enough people believe in an idea or solution it will remain small and trivial to them until it affects their every day lives. Sadly we do not notice the air we breath as it becomes polluted either. I personally believe that global warming is a major problem that will have to be dealt with eventually. Reading the comments of the article however you see a different story unfold as the viewpoints lend themselves mainly to that of general disbelief in the notion of global warming. It is strange and like everything else in life completely up to you what to believe.

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scientists-nearly-certain-that-humans-have-caused-global-warming/2013/08/20/d6e4a20a-09b8-11e3-b87c-476db8ac34cd_story.html

Clams? Good Eating or Good Toxin Remover

Scientists are now finding out that clams can be used to clean water of toxins.  The clams filter toxins be absorbing them through their tissues.  Pollution in the United States lakes and streams run rapid.  So many are lakes and streams are filled with harmful substances because of our irresponsibility by putting those substances in the water ourselves.  If we place clams in those affected areas then the toxins can be filtered and taken out of our waters.  I feel bad that we are responsible for the contamination but I am happy that there is a way we can reverse it lets hope it works.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2009/0110-clam_cleanup.htm

Reducing soot and methane emissions may not make as big of an impact as we thought

The idea is that by reducing soot and methane emissions we would be helping the earth out. Two studies came out saying that because of soot and methane emissions we would save a whole degree Celsius by 2050. However, two climate analysts would argue that those reports are overly optimistic. These two gents say that a more realistic number is much lower; that getting rid of methane and soot by a certain time would only save us about 0.16 of a degree. They also argue that there is no way every single person would switch there appliances to burn cleaner and that leaky pipelines and landfills would never be able to catch all of the escaping methane. A possible solution to reducing your soot and methane output is to burn less and if you do burn using a cleaner machine. Also it could help if land fills started trying to catch some of that methane coming off of all of that trash, but that ones a little harder. It will be incredibly hard to stop all of the methane/ soot emissions so thankfully it is not as serious of an emission as some other things that have horrible emissions. My personal opinion is that everyone can help. Stop having so many fires and buy a cleaner natural gas or electric burner. Every little bit helps and is needed to turn this planet back into what it was.

http://www.enn.com/sci-tech/article/46322

Australia: natures bathtub

In 2010-11 Australia stopped the oceans' rise and actually made it go down by about 7 millimeters because 3 different weather occurrences came together at once making Australia into a giant bathtub. Australia in 2010-11 received more than a foot extra rain all together. The oceans prior to Australia’s extreme raining rose at about 3 millimeters a year. After the weird weather halted they started rising at around 10 millimeters a year. If anyone has figured out a solution to global warming then they haven’t told anybody. But this kind of weather can not be stopped or fixed. We just kind of have to roll with the punches on this one. We cannot stop weather. I personally feel like the only way we can really stop global warming would be a global initiative to work on different energy solutions/ save more energy every day. It would be like earth day every day.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130819141610.htm

Scientists Relate Urban Population to Air Pollution

Scientists are now noticing that the population of large cities has a major effect on the amount of air pollution with a catch, there are widely varying amounts of pollution depending on the region of the city. Though some cities are able to to function with less emissions the sheer amount of people still adds up. Though more research is required it is worthy to note the regional difference causing different amounts of emission. “Energy usage patterns and per capita emissions differ greatly between India and Europe," Lamsal said. "Despite large populations, Indian cities seem cleaner in terms of NO2 pollution than the study's other regions." This could be caused by many different things though. It's hard to fix something like this easily because sadly people translate to air pollution. When they burn fossil fuels the NO2 is the response. It's only dangerous if breathed in high quantities but within such a tight area as most cities are it can be a real problem which is why the amount of NO2 is used as a proxy for urban air quality. The only way to lower it is to stop burning fossil fuels but our dependence on oil and coal are just to great to stop all together. Personally I believe that cities are constantly trying to fight all types of pollution but like every other city program it is hard to get funding like that. I believe that if people work together than a lot of the pollution problems we have today can be stopped but like it was said by Professor Barnhardt in The Day The Earth Stood Still “But it's only on the brink that people find the will to change.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130819185352.htm

Climate change killing harp seal pups

 

Over the years there has been a steady decline in the sea ice levels in the northern hemisphere.  Scientists have recently discovered a direct correlation between these sea ice levels and the rising rate of “strandings” of seal pups, natives of the icy northern hemisphere.  The stability of the ice platforms are crucial in the first five years of a harp seal’s (Pagophilus groenlandicus) life.  The mothers stay with the pups until they are old enough to be on their own, generally at five years of age.  But as the ice melt increases, researchers have noticed that “vulnerable pups are left stranded on small blocks of ice isolated from their parents and eventually succumbing to starvation or the elements.”  Because the pups did not have time to reach maturity before being left on their own, did not obtain the necessary skills for survival.  In a study comparing the DNA of 106 seal pups, scientists concluded that the “odds of survival for the young pups were completely independent from their durability, strength, or adaptive capabilities.”  The reason they were dying was almost certainly due to being separated from their mothers at a young age.



  This problem is only is result of the much larger, over-arching issue of global warming and the melting of the polar ice caps.  People, and nations as a whole, have to make a conscious effort to reduce carbon waste and use more environmentally-friendly products and technology.  Many people do not make this effort because it is inconvenient, or they simply do not care to, but without the participation of the majority, it will be impossible to make a positive impact on the environment.


Source: http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/46338

 

Forest fires in Southern Europe 



Wildfires occur every year, burning many forests down to the ground. In Europe, wildfires burn down an average of 500,000 hectares each year. This total amount of hectares is twice the size of Luxemberg.  Most of the wildfires have occurred around the Mediterranean region in Europe. Most people think that only the area affect by the wildfire takes damage. Well they are wrong. Wildfires damage both the economy and the environment surrounding the area. According to the Mediterranean, the wildfire rate has increased, going over the natural rate. The excessive fires can degrade the ecosystem’s quality of resource productivity and maybe even destroy the ecosystem as a whole. This can cause a problem for humans and should be stopped. The Mediterranean area should strive to stop the wildfires as soon as they happen. To do this, they need to strengthen their firefighting methods. The firefighters would need to create a better plan of action to stop the fires from getting out of control. A barrier to this solution is that some species require the wildfires to strive and flourish. This could cause a decrease in the size of the species that require the wildfires but overall it will benefit more to stop the fires.

http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/forest-fires-in-southern-europe-destroy-much-more-than-trees

Hunting and logging threatening the Congo Forest



Uncontrollable hunts have occurred throughout the Congo Basin Rain forest  Animals such as elephants, gorillas, and antelopes have been hunted. The animal’s disappearance may not cause any trouble right away but long-term affects follow. Recently, in the past decade, the proliferation of logging roads and the creation of large urban markets has increased the commercial hunting in the region. The killing of these animals has a critical change in the rain forest ecosystem. The demand for ivory, the tusks and teeth of an animal, has made the situation even worse. The animals that are mainly hunted are seed-dispersing animals. The fewer the seed-dispersing animals present in the rain forest  the less diversity the rain forest will have. One solution to this problem is to create a season for hunting these animals. Another solution is to find an alternative animal or area to hunt. A downside to these solutions is that hunters will still hunt these animals and that cannot be controlled. If these solutions are laid out then the ecosystem of the Congo Basin Rain forest will continue to be diverse and produce for the surrounding community in the future.

http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0722-hunting-congo-forest.html

Forest fragmentation leading to higher extinction rates

Undiscovered species die every day due to forest fragmentation. For the first time researchers have looked at the effects of forest fragmentation rates to extinction rates. The forests that are mainly being fragmented are the ones we need the most. The tropical forests around the world hold a bulk of the world’s species and have been butchered down to fragments. The species that make it to this small fragment of forest have a little chance of surviving but most vanish. According to researchers, if 90% of a forest is destroyed, then half of the species will vanish over a period of time. Fragmentation is the fault of the human race. Farmers go through and plow down the trees not knowing what else they are destroying. Everyday species are becoming extinct due to fragmentation and something needs to be done. Many foundations have been formed to help protect the forest but I think they can do more. I believe that a country as a whole should get involved to saving of the forests. They do not know it yet, but we rely on every species in the world to live as an ecosystem. Take one string out and your breaking the web. A solution would be that laws protecting the forests would be created and enforced. If the laws were established the fragmentation rate would go down. If the fragmentation rate were to go down, then the extinction rate would follow.  A barrier to this solution would be if the laws were created, but not enforced correctly. 

http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0813-hance-fragmentation-extinction.html

Honey Bee Mites

The Honey Bee population has been decreasing recently and this is a bigger problem than most think. Although most people might be happy that they won’t have to worry as much about getting stung at a family BBQ, the bees play a huge role in how we go about living every day.  The honey bee affects approximately 90 crops that we eat and most people eat at least one of these on a daily basis. The reason that these bees are endangered is because during the 1980’s 2 parasites where brought over that have been feasting on the bees for many years. One of these parasites called the tracheal mite, feeds on the blood of the bees which causes infectious disease to enter a colony of bees and this could potentially kill the entire colony. Since the parasites were found, scientists have been constantly researching ways to kill the mites without harming the bees.  Miticides were used to kill the mites and were proven effective till recent years when the mites have grown immune to the miticides. Now a new breed of bees is being created to be resistant to the mites that have infested the bee population. Also, because of deforestation, bees do not have places to live sense they typically need a tree that is big enough in the middle that you could fit 10 gallons of water. I believe scientists have a great start in solving the decline of bees and if the research continues and a stronger safer miticide is developed, I believe the bee population will begin to regain its full strength. One issue with the solution of creating a new breed of bees is that the other bees will not be immune to the mites and will eventually die. We need to make sure that something is done to insure the safety of the bees already living. I think that we all need to back the scientists up to insure the safety of our future.

http://www.pbs.org

Marine litter – a growing threat worldwide

Every single day people litter into the ocean. Each day the amount of litter thrown into the world’s oceans is increasing. According to some estimates, the amount of litter in the Pacific Ocean is about the size of Europe. The health of the ocean’s ecosystem is being harmed. Many animals in the ocean come by the litter and swallow or get trapped in it. These animals either end up chocking or starving to death.  Researchers have found that globally at least 43 % of cetacean species, all species of marine turtles, approximately 36 % of the world’s seabird species and many species of fish have been reported to ingest marine litter. Some of these unfortunate animals are able to escape but others aren't so fortunate. You would think that throwing litter into the ocean would not harm the human race, but it does. The plastic decomposes in the ocean but little pieces still remain. These little remains of plastic would then be swallowed and ingested by the animals in the ocean. Sooner or later these plastics will end up in our food that we eat. This can cause much harm to the human health. I believe that people should be educated on the effects of littering in the ocean. I also think that countries should set up laws against littering into the ocean. One downside to these solutions would be if the government wouldn't enforce the laws and the education. These two ideas would help the decrease in littering into our oceans. The decrease in litter would increase the chance of ecosystem’s survival and that is very important to the human race.

http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/marine-litter-2013-a-growing

Populations of grassland butterflies decline

Beautiful grassland butterflies have been living in grasslands all around the world. The European Grassland Butterfly Industry has been observing the lives of the butterflies in grasslands around all of Europe. Starting in 1990 through 2011, seventeen different butterfly species were observed and watched. Through those few years, eight species have declined, two have stayed the same, one has increased, and six are undetermined. According to the researchers, the increase of agriculture and abandonment of grasslands has increased the disappearance of butterflies. Pesticides used for agriculture are very vulnerable for the butterflies to eat and then later die. Farmers who try and tame a grassland but fail to gain profit leave their spot to find another. Abandonment of these grasslands allows the area to become overgrown and replaced with woodlands and scrubs. These two factors force the butterflies to migrate to other habitats where they are not use to living. Many in the process will starve and die. A possible solution would be that the European Grassland Butterfly Industry would stand up and fight to make a change. They should try and set up a grassland that is untouchable to the farm industry. A downside to this solution would be to find a proper grassland and find the money to buy the area. This would allow the grassland butterflies to live, repopulate, and perpetuate the species.

http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/populations-of-grassland-butterflies-decline

Can Thunder Storms Be Linked to Asthma Attacks?

Scientist are finding out that another cause of asthma attacks could be thunderstorms. They believe that thunderstorms could circulate pollen and other air contaminants in the air causing a person to have an asthma attack.   For someone who has asthma and lives in an area where there are a lot of thunderstorms they can stay inside when they are accruing or be careful when breathing in the air.  I think it is possible for thunderstorms to trigger an asthma attack because if pollen really is circulated during a thunder storm then it is easy for a person with asthma harder to breath.  

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/0911-thunderstorms_and_asthma.htm

Sea Turtles Munching on More Plastic?

We have all heard of the effects of beach and ocean pollution on marine wildlife, especially on the various species of sea turtles, but recent studies have shown that over the past twenty-five years, more and more turtles are consuming higher amounts of plastic. An unnatural and unhealthy food source, floating plastic resembles jellyfishes to hungry sea turtles and, oddly enough, it is not old, but young, turtles that are consuming the deadly plastic, a reproductive and behavioral concern. There are several proposed solutions to this problem. One is to clean up the beaches and enforce stricter littering laws so that sea turtles will encounter less plastic to eat, but the vast amounts of pollution and ocean debris would force any contributions to be on a massive, expensive scale and oceans are much harder to rid of pollution than beaches. Another solution is to only produce biodegradable plastics monitored globally from manufacturing to disposal so that all, if any, plastic is released into the environment it will not harm the surrounding ecosystems. The obstacle in this solution is the collaboration of a “global” effort to keep beaches and oceans clean, while the amount of time and money involved in monitoring plastic use would be substantial and doesn’t necessarily address the pollution already floating in the waters. Personally, I think that known beaches of sea turtle need to be strictly protected from pollution and while cleaning all of the world’s oceans may be a tall order, beaches and shore sides should have no excuse for not staying clean and pollution-free for the sake of sea turtles and other marine life.

 

a line to the article mentioned in this blog can be found at:
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/rare-sea-turtles-eating-plastic-at-record-rate

Local Hawaiian Fisherman Feel Threated By New Seal Population

In Hawaii monk seals native to region have experienced an increase in their population.  Hawaiian fisherman fear that the new increase in the seal population will be bad for business and will lead to decrease in their money and they won’t be able to support their family.  They believe that the monk seals eat tons of fish a day and there will not be enough fish to catch.  Charles Litnan is in charge of an experiment to see if the locals’ allegations are true.  Him and his team placed critter cams on the seals and used local high school students to watch the videos that were gathered.  When the students said that with the videos they seen the monk seal did not eat tons of fish a day and that it should not affect how much fish fisherman were able to collect.  Some of the locals did not believe what the students said about the seals was true.   I can’t believe some of the locals didn’t believe the students.  They wouldn’t lie about what they seen on video with their own eyes.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/08/130819-hawaiian-monk-seal-crittercam-conservation-ocean-science/

Starbirth Surprisingly Energetic: New Insights Into Protostars

Young stairs release a material at very high speeds, and this material often crashes into surrounding gases causing it to glow and create a Herbig-Haro object.  An object similar to this situation, the Herbig-Haro 46/47 is being studied by the ALMA.  The studies show images that give great detail in two jets, one coming towards Earth and one moving away.  The ALMA allowed two astronomers to measure how fast the glowing object is moving through space.  Further research showed that the gas material carries much more energy and momentum than what was thought.  The only thing scientists can do is continue to study the Herbig-Haro 46/47.  The barriers to the research are the drastic changes occurring within this glowing gas ball.  However, ALMA has the technology to easily detect and study the object.  I am curious to see what Herbig-Haro 46/47 will become and if it could possibly become a threat to the planet Earth.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130820102434.htm

Traffic Pollution And Wood Smoke And Their Effects On Asthma

(Photo Credit: Shirley/Fotolia)

In a recent article on Science Daily it was shared that a University of Melbourne study has found that middle-aged adults with asthma can experience harshly worsened symptoms when exposed to traffic pollution and wood smoke. This study found that "adults who suffer asthma and were exposed to heavy traffic pollution experienced an 80 per cent increase in symptoms and those exposed to wood smoke from wood fires experienced an 11 per cent increase in symptoms."

The article goes on to explain that asthma affects over 300 million people world-wide. This big number makes this recent discovery all the more alarming because it affects a large chunk of people in the world.  One of the solutions to this problem the article points to is for people with asthma to not drive on busy roads or to use wood heaters.

A more effective solution, in my opinion, is to encourage people to buy more Eco-friendly vehicles (list of top 30 environmental friendly cars) and switch to greener heating solutions at home (10 environmentally friendly ways of heating your house). The only possible problem that could come from asking people to become more green is that it is not always the most affordable thing in the world to do. I think a way to solve this problem, however, is to provide discounts on environmentally friendly products for people who have been formally diagnosed with asthma so it can become more accessible to them.

Eventually, however, more and more people need to become greener to benefit society's health as a whole.

Read the entire article here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130820102516.htm

Garbage Island

In the North Pacific Ocean there is an island the size of Texas. Yet the odd thing about it is that it’s made entirely of waste. Whether it be our trash or the dead sea animals that have now been caught in it, its size is shockingly huge. Scarier yet is that it is basically stuck here! This mass, which has gained itself several names from “Garbage Patch” to “Trash Vortex”, is stuck here for an almost indefinable amount of time as most of its contents are plastic; which can take many years to biodegrade. Just North East from Hawai’i, there is an eddy that is caused by the edges of three vast currents (Each current coming from different continents). These currents pick up trash along the coast, which may have been deposited many miles inland, yet made its way here as all waterways lead to the ocean.

There is an organization called Greenpeace who is trying to combat this island’s growth first of all by just spreading awareness of it! Few people have even heard of its existence. By spreading the news, they are hoping to get donations or volunteers to help aid in its cleanup.

As always, since this cannot be seen right now, or does not directly affect humans everyday lives as of right now, most people just exclaim their shock at the magnitude of its size, but do not use it to change their lifestyle.

I believe that what Greenpeace is doing is the best possible way to treat this issue. They can just lend this image to the recycling efforts going on worldwide and hopefully this will “turn the tide.”

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/

Iron in the Deep Sea

Recently scientists have found massive amounts of iron along with some other micronutrients leaking from hydrothermal vents in the South Atlantic. This new finding is causing a frenzy within the scientific community.  Originally, it was not predicted that this much iron was being leaked from these hydrothermal vents. These iron samples were found on a route scientists took across the Atlantic that passed over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.  This is a group of valleys and mountains that stretch from the Artic to Antarctic. This is also a place of much tectonic action.

            I think this is very critical. While iron is required for life and is a very aspect, too much iron can be dangerous. Iron allows the body to create hemoglobin, but too much of it can cause serious heart problems in humans. High iron levels in the water will also affect marine life. When there is too much iron and it is not absorbed by the water fish and other marine animals cannot process it. The iron will build up in their organs and eventually cause death. While we can’t control the amount of iron that is coming from these vents , we can take it upon ourselves to better understand this release of iron.

Learn More at:http://www.enn.com/climate/article/46334

Flooding on the Coast

A recent study suggests that costal damage due to flooding could end up costing coastal cities well over one trillion dollars.  More and more floods have occurred, and are expected to occur, because of climate change.  Two other suggested causes are subsidence (the lowering, or sinking, of the land) and a rapidly growing population.  The researchers in this study focused on the one hundred thirty-six largest coastal cities in the world. "For each city we assessed the total cost of potential damages," said one of the researchers. "But we also looked at the relative losses, comparing the absolute cost to the city's gross domestic product, to give an idea of the actual vulnerability of each city."  They found that developing nations were especially prone to financial and structural damages due to floods because they do not have to resources to efficiently plan for floods.  The best way to reduce damage when floods occur is to plan cities and buildings with floods in mind.  Build structures that are able to withstand the effects of flood conditions.  But, developing countries are unable to afford the resources necessary to construct such buildings.  It is scary to think of damage being done to the coast on such a massive scale.  We can build “flood-proof” buildings for now, but as the climate continues to change and the coast continues to flood, eventually nature will outdo technology. 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.enn.com/climate/article/46329

 

Illegally captured parrots finally free to fly

African grey parrots had been the trophy prize for many smugglers in 2010. They were wanted for many reasons: they are intelligent, they have the power to impersonate human voices effortlessly, they have extensive lives, and they can be easily disciplined. In the year 2010, it was discovered that 108 of these birds were held in captivity. They suffered many hardships, ranging from being stuffed into dog cages, roughly handled by humans, and living a life that lacked their culture and environment. These birds were stacked like boxes, one on top of another. When these birds were found, researchers thought it would be best to quarantine them and incorporate them into zoo life, but over half of them died due to stress from constantly being handled and touched by human hands. A non-profit organization called the World Parrot Trust has stepped up to help these animals return to their native home and they organized a sanctuary in Uganda for these birds. About a month ago, the grey parrots that were strong enough were officially released to fly into that sanctuary. Sadly, only seventeen of them were able to make the journey, as many had died off. More birds are being rehabilitated so they can also make the journey, but for now, they are just being held in the zoo. I personally believe that not only these animals, but all animals, should be safe from illegal trading. Smugglers pick animals that are quite rare and hard to find, often making it difficult on the species. These parrots are being taken from their home and habitat, stuffed in a small cage that they can barely move around in, and are held in captivity. People need to step up and raise awareness on this issue so that it can be fixed. While this problem seems rather minor to the daily world of politics and wars, it would be nice if something can help, or even save this species. Smuggling cannot suddenly disappear over time as people make money and profits off of it. If it was known that these animals are in danger and more security is offered to stop the smugglers, maybe the lives of many can be saved.

Source: ENN

"Noise may disrupt a bat’s dinner"

Research done by Jessie Bunkley of Boise State University has proven that noise can disrupt the process in which pallid bats (Antrozous pallidus) catch and eat their food. When placed in a dark chamber with no noise, the bats were able to locate the mealworms within an average of 3.5 seconds. When recordings of compressor found at gas station and highway traffic were played in the background, it took the bats about 6 to 8 seconds to find their food.  Bunkley states that “Bats operate on a strict energy budget, so small delays for each food item could app up to nutritional stress. While I realize that bats do contribute to our ecosystem, I feel like we should contribute our time, money and energy towards bigger issues than what disrupts a bat’s feeding patterns.

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/352188/description/News_in_Brief_Noise_may_disrupt_a_bat+rsquos_dinner

New Jersey Erosion

Many years ago houses were being built on the New Jersey coast line. The sand dunes that protect the beaches were removed to provide a better view of the ocean. About four years ago people who lived on the coast of New Jersey fought to rebuild the sand dunes that were once removed. There was a 25 million dollar project to reconstruct the dunes that use to protect the shore from the water’s strength. After many battles the project was under way. It was not soon enough.  Hurricane Sandy swooped in and brought devastating winds and harsh water. The damage was devastating; however, houses on the coast that had the sand dunes rebuilt suffered much less than the ones that had no sand dunes to protect the houses from the ferocious water. After Hurricane Sandy a new idea has been uncovered. The new plan is to pay 375,000 dollars to rebuild the view and not the sand dunes. This would be a much cheaper and quicker fix.  If the reconstruction of the dunes is completed, I believe that the beach will no longer be swept into the sea.  For this solution to work, all residents must agree and the government must be willing to pay for the 25 million dollar project. In my opinion the plan will work but it relies solely on the government to be willing to pay for the project and not to take the cheaper way out.

http://www.nytimes.com 

Sandbar Shark Wrestling?

Most people go to the beach to lay out on the sand, play in the water, maybe do a little bit of surfing... but not Elliot Sudal. When Elliot goes to the Nantucket Island beach near where he lives, he wrestles sharks. That's right. He doesn't fish for them on a boat or pier, he catches them on fishing lines cast straight from the beach, and pulls them onto the shore. He then wrestles them to the sand, takes pictures and then releases them. He says he has done this over 100 times in the last 8 months or so. Some shark advocates worry about the sharks' health. Some sharks need to have water constantly moving over their gills to breath, and some sharks are so sensitive that an encounter like this with a human could cause internal bruising and bleeding, leading to the death of the shark. If this kind of activity becomes more popular, sharks in these areas could be endangered. Although it is not illegal to catch and release sharks, it is against the law to kill sand tiger and sandbar sharks and who knows whether the shark survives after it is released? I think this kind of activity should be against the law. It is unnecessary and pointless and all it does is harm the sharks.



http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/07/130717-sandbar-shark-nantucket-elliot-sudal-surf-fishing/

Trash to Gas

For years we have been attempting to find ways to efficiently turn our garbage into fuel. Several experiments have transformed waste to gas successfully, but with such high costs in energy and pollution that it became completely pointless. If someone were to find a way to gasify their garbage with little-to-no cost in energy and pollution, they would open up a whole new world in both renewable energy sources and recycling waste. Mike Hart, owner of Sierra Energy, believes he is that man.
Hart has invented something called the FastOx Pathfinder, a shower stall-like machine that creates a chemical reaction in which all waste products are melted at high temperatures without combustion. This creates hydrogen and synthetic natural gas, which can be burned to form energy or made into ethanol or diesel fuel. This gasifier system has already been sold to the US Army for $3 million, making it the first trash-to-gas system bought by the Defense Department- a very promising omen.

FastOx Pathfinder

This solution to both over-waste and the need for renewable fuel in the United States would, if made available to the general public, decrease the cost of gas as well as the cost of food items such as soybeans and corn, which are used in the process of making ethanol. This system, however, is still very new and likely will not become a widespread tool for many years, proving to be a barrier. It is also very expensive as of right now. I believe, though, that Hart's new invention is not only innovative but great for the environment, knocking out two important issues at once. With time, we could not only decrease our waste and our landfills but also have affordable, renewable, fuel. As a driver, I would very much appreciate cheap gas. I sincerely hope this will become a popular source of energy in the future.
Article- Trash Into Gas, Efficiently? An Army Test May Tell

Stop That Chicken!!!

Since 1980 the human race has been plagued with approximately three new contagious diseases every two years. This produces a significant global threat, not only to health, but to the economy as well. Each one of these has the potential of producing a pandemic of global proportions.

Of all these new threats, two-thirds of these new diseases originate in birds and mammals. In response, ongoing research has focused on early detection. For an example, the University of East Anglia conducted an investigation of Vietnam’s poultry trade. The food production industry already has a process in place known as the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points. This process was considered by the research team as a potential series of steps to address a rapid response of emerging outbreaks. They have identified key points in the process which pose a high risk for the transmission of these viruses in both the human and animal populations, as listed below:

•  Anytime when the animals are mixed together as they’re being prepared for sale
• Transportation and sale of live animals and eggs
•  Locations where purchase and slaughter is conducted
•  Product preparation for consumption.

Careful observation and testing at each of these locations would allow for an early response to an outbreak. Standardization of procedures, and enforcement through regulation could create huge gains in avoiding new infections.

Several items of common human behavior could defeat this effort. Farmers might sell sick animals to avoid economic losses, overcrowd cages to minimize space in both shipping and raising, other activities outside of commercial traffic could circumvent these safeguards. An example of this is the popularity of cock fighting in Asian countries. Anything that took the animals outside of the four steps listed above could produce a situation with the potential for outbreaks.

I believe that this is a very important element of controlling commercial behavior to protect human health. Global standards should be produced and enforced as edible products are shipped through many channels in today’s world. If we could stop the infections from materializing, we wouldn’t have to deal with the epidemics or even pandemics that could infect thousands, or even millions of humans. This also  has the possibility of making these practices more humane.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130814191645.htm