Year in Review: Science Stories of 2011
[47 min 3 sec]
Science
Calif. Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Blocked In Court
()A federal judge says the rules favor biofuels produced in the state. The California Air Resources Board adopted the first-in-the-nation mandate as part of the state's landmark 2006 global warming law.
Shots - Health Blog
Could Obesity Change The Brain?()
December 28, 2011 Pigging out for even a day causes inflammation in the brains of lab rats, and scientists think this might help explain why it's so hard for people to lose weight. If eating too much inflames human brains, too, then scientists might be able to come up with new ideas for taming obesity.
Animals
60 Years After Leaving, Porpoises Again Play In SF Bay()
December 28, 2011 KQEDHarbor porpoises are showing up in growing numbers under the Golden Gate Bridge. Six decades ago, they were driven away in part by wartime activities and poor water quality; now, researchers are trying to understand why they're returning.
Animals
Endangered Turtle Survives Trans-Atlantic Journey()
December 26, 2011 The Kemp's ridley sea turtle, which hopped a ride aboard floating seaweed, made the 4,600 mile journey from the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of Portugal in 2008. Nicknamed Johnny Vasco de Gama, after the Portugese explorer, the now-rehabilitated turtle will be reintroduced into Gulf waters Tuesday.
Research News
The Wisdom Of Trees (Da Vinci Knew It)()
December 26, 2011 Some 500 years ago, Leonardo da Vinci noted that branches on trees split with mathematical precision. Recently, physicists studying this phenomenon have discovered it has important implications for the way wind flows around and through trees.
Trees In Trouble: Grim Future For Frankincense()
December 25, 2011 The wise men would be one gift short at the manger — frankincense, one of the gifts given to the baby Jesus, is now in short supply. The trees from which the fragrant resin is produced are declining, and in 15 years, frankincense production could be cut in half.
Animals
To Flirt In Cities, Birds Adjust Their Pitch()
December 24, 2011 WAMUA big part of being a bird is singing, often to attract other birds. Sometimes it's hard to do that amid all the noise in a city, so urban birds are changing their tune.
Energy
After Fukushima: A Changing Climate For Nuclear()
December 24, 2011 Nuclear power had enjoyed 25 years of relative quiet, but the Fukushima accident reminded people that despite improvements in safety, things can still go horribly wrong. The accident is unlikely to affect U.S. nuclear policy, experts say, but countries like Germany and Japan are looking to alternatives.
Heroes Of The Taj Hotel: Why They Risked Their Lives()
December 23, 2011 When a Mumbai hotel was besieged by terrorists in 2008, something extraordinary happened: Workers didn't flee. They stayed behind to help save guests at the risk of their own lives. What could possibly explain it? A new study attempts to answer that question.
Shots - Health Blog
Critics Say Obama's Efforts To Protect Science Are Slow And Weak()
December 23, 2011 The Obama administration is trudging ahead with policies designed to protect the integrity of scientific research. But critics of the process say the policies that have been released so far don't do enough to prevent political manipulation of science.
