Environment
Birds seeking safety of alligators
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on March 25, 2016 I came across this neat video summarizing a study that found some birds build nests near alligators to protect themselves from other predators. But the protection is not without a price.
An Open Letter from Peter Gleick: My Transition at the Pacific Institute
Posted by Peter Gleick on March 25, 2016 As readers of this column may already know, earlier this week the Pacific Institute and I announced an important and exciting change: on July 1st after 28 years as co-founder and President of the Institute, I will be moving to a new position as President Emeritus and Chief Scientist. A wide search for a new president…
“Sorry it took so long”: OSHA issues rule to protect workers exposed to silica dust
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University on March 24, 2016 JT Knuckles was 58 years old when he died from silicosis in 1998. I’m remembering him today as OSHA announces a new regulation to protect silica-exposed workers.
Yearning for the footnotes: OSHA report on amputations, severe injuries
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University on March 21, 2016 A new OSHA report recaps the agency’s first year receiving reports of amputations and hospitalizations. OSHA shields the companies from scrutiny by not mentioning their names.
An Nasty Surprise in the Greenhouse
Posted by Greg Laden on March 21, 2016 
Remember that movie, The Day After Tomorrow? Check out this (not too new but still very current) video by Greenman3610, with
Palm Oil Non Sequitur
Posted by Martin R on March 19, 2016 Weird argument in the World Wildlife Fund’s magazine for why Swedes shouldn’t avoid buying palm oil. “Sweden has such a small population that it doesn’t matter to the environment whether we buy environmentally destructive palm oil or not. The big markets are in other parts of the world. But if we buy environmentally certified palm…
People finally concerned about climate change
Posted by Greg Laden on March 18, 2016 
Though not enough. And for the wrong reasons. But this is still good news. Somewhere around 1990, but you could justify an earlier date if you like, science knew enough about global warming, the increase in the planet’s surface temperatures caused by human release of greenhouse gas pollution and other human effects, to have initiated…
El Nino Effects For This Spring in the US
Posted by Greg Laden on March 18, 2016 
The US NOAA has this video summarizing what they expect for weather in the US as the result of the current, winding down, El Nino: 2016 Spring Climate and Flood Outlook As a near-record El Niño begins to wind down, NOAA issued its spring seasonal outlooks for flooding, drought, precipitation, and temperature. Flood risk is…
Obama’s regulatory czar and (sort of) transparency
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University on March 17, 2016 President Obama’s regulatory czar testified before Congress on Tuesday and proclaimed the transparency of his office’s operations. His claims about disclosures of private meetings don’t jive with my experience.
Pesticide confuses bees
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on March 16, 2016 A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Guelph found that the use of certain pesticides impacts wildflower pollination by bees. According to a quote by study author Nigel Raine, published in CBCNews, the use of neonicotinoid-type pesticides “modify the way in which information flows through the nervous system.” The research team found…
