Sunday 7 August 2011

Environment Awareness Marathon in Gurgaon-India

In wake of increasing pollution and use of plastic bags in Gurgaon, Haryana, a marathon was held on Sunday to create awareness among people to plant trees and save environment.


Oil, Gas Dilemma for Blackfeet Tribe

A dramatic expanse of snow-marbled mountains runs like a borderline along the Blackfeet Indian Reservation's western edge, where a sea of rolling foothills intersects the rugged Rocky Mountain Front.

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_51a5d936-c0ab-11e0-a26e-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1UNB9kJsK

“Hit List” of Invasive Species

A “hit list” of the ten invasive species which pose the biggest threat to native wildlife on Britain’s waterways and cost £1.7bn a year to tackle has been released by the Environment Agency.

Monday 1 August 2011

Polar Bears on the Decline

From 1981 through 1998, the condition of adult male and female polar bears has declined significantly in western Hudson Bay, as have natality and the proportion of yearling cubs caught during the open water period that were independent at the time of capture. Over this same period, the breakup of the sea ice on western Hudson Bay has been occurring earlier. There was a significant positive relationship between the time of breakup and the condition of adult females (i.e., the earlier the breakup, the poorer the condition of the bears). The trend toward earlier breakup was also correlated with rising spring air temperatures over the study area from 1950 to 1990. We suggest that the proximate cause of the decline in physical and reproductive parameters of polar bears in western Hudson Bay over the last 19 years has been a trend toward earlier breakup, which has caused the bears to come ashore in progressively poorer condition. The ultimate factor responsible for the earlier breakup in western Hudson Bay appears to be a long-term warming trend in April–June atmospheric temperatures.


Fishing Vessel Leaks Diesel

Hundreds of gallons of diesel leaked into the surf at a state park after a 40-foot fishing vessel ran aground near the mouth of Gray's Harbor, Wash.

Mangos and Almonds

The Journal Ecology Letters recently published some interesting research. Men who consume antioxidant-rich foods like carrots, sweet potatoes and mangos have healthier sperm, which can help their baby-making abilities, according to the latest research out of the University of Western Australia.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/mangos-and-almonds-can-improve-male-fertility-2317275.html

Mount Etna Erupts

The latest eruption on Mount Etna sent flames hundreds of metres into the air at the weekend, the 30th of July 2011.