The same folks have set-up a new camera on a nest of a pair of Bald Eagle Fledgelings. We've also included a link to another nest of Falcons and one of Seals. Click here to go back to the original Post that's been updated.
Category: Enviroment
Climate, not humans, said to have killed off mammoths
Climate, not humans, said to have killed off mammoths | Reuters.com
The Blitzkrieg, or overkill theory, said human hunters devastated most large mammal species and drove some to extinction.
"But contrary to that theory, my dates show numbers of bison and wapiti (elk) were expanding both before and during human colonisation," Guthrie explained.
His radiocarbon research, reported in the journal Nature, shows there was a 1,000-year different between the demise of the wild horse and the woolly mammoth which Guthrie said is inconsistent with other theories
Are we running out of oil?
Oil Futures – The Boston Globe
Some experts believe the age of oil is near its end. Others insist that there are trillions of untapped barrels left and that the future of oil depends more on what happens above ground than below.
We’re getting better at stretching our supply. According to Yergin, the 1970s oil shocks set off three decades of previously unheard-of energy efficiency in the US, allowing the economy to grow 150 percent while energy consumption grew only 25 percent. By the time oil production plateaus, he says, ”I think we’ll be driving cars that get 110 miles to the gallon, 120 miles to the gallon.” To assume we won’t be able to adjust in time, Yergin says, ”means you think the technological revolution that began in the 18th century is going to end.”
Yergin, however, is eager to dispel any charge of complacency. He is concerned about the future of oil, he insists, it’s just that what concerns him is taking place aboveground, not below. Today’s tightened supply, after all, is due not to geology but geopolitics the lack of foreign investment in Iran, the chaos in Iraq, the tumultuous politics of Venezuela, rebel attacks in Nigeria.
”It’s politics within countries, the timing of decision-making, the clash of nations, those are the things I worry about. Finding the oil, he suggests, is the easy part.”
Dolphins ‘know each other’s names’
Dolphins ‘know each other’s names’ – Sunday Times – Times Online
They found that dolphins responded strongly to the whistles of their relatives and associates while generally ignoring those of dolphins to whom they had no link.
Janik said: “Bottlenose dolphins are the only animals other than humans to have been shown to transmit identity information independent of the caller’s voice.”
Katrina-size hurricane would devastate South Florida, scientists say
MiamiHerald.com- Sketches of a catastrophe
One day, South Florida will be struck by a much more ferocious hurricane than those that hit last year – and experts predict potentially catasrophic results in this article.
Global warming weakens Pacific winds
Global warming weakens Pacific winds
Climate change is weakening a vast system of circulating winds that traverses the Pacific Ocean from coast to coast, say climate experts. Global warming has caused the system, which is crucial for monsoon rains in Southeast Asia and fisheries in South America, to decline since the advent of industrial times.
RealClimate » Climate Science
Thanks to an article from Bob Bopp, which pointed to this informative scientific blog, which handles the questions raised in the BBC story that we blogged on recently of the press alarmist coverage of scientififc papers and the potential public backlash.(See "How not to write a press release")
The press coverage of the paper mostly picked up on the very high end sensitivities (up to 11ºC) and often confused the notion of an equilibirum sensitivity with an actual prediction for 2100 and this lead to some pretty way-out headlines. I think all involved would agree that this was not a big step forward in the public understanding of science.
See More Seal
Live video of elephant seal family groups on Año Nuevo State Reserve off the coast of California. (Windows Media Player)
Live from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time
The deepest image of the universe
While Hubble has given us many amazing images, one of the most profound is this one from 2004, which took nearly 3 months of staring at the same spot to yield a glimpse back in time to when the universe was only 5% formed. You can enlarge the detail, by additionally clicking on the picture to see a myriad of galaxies.
Are You a Global Warming Skeptic? Part III
Are You a Global Warming Skeptic? Part III: BLOG: SciAm Observations
As promised, here is the updated list of misgivings about whether global warming is occurring and whether it is caused by human activity. I've incorporated comments from the first and second threads and from private emails, and I've reshuffled some of the categories. I've done my best to be fair in representing the variety of opinion.