The Beach, and Hardcore Science News.

My goodness.
I'm almost packed for our departure tomorrow morning...
And that means that in a little over 24 hours, I will be gazing upon Folly Beach, South Carolina.

*hyperventilates*




The South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary (or SAWS) is being voted on next Monday by the IWC.
This is a huge deal! Go Greenpeace!
This would protect the whales in the southern hemisphere from whaling.
Amazing!
Fingers crossed!

Humpback whale.

http://en.mercopress.com/2012/06/28/greenpeace-asks-iwc-for-historic-whale-sanctuary-in-the-south-atlantic







The U.S. resolves to take the lead in whale conservation?
This title's awesomeness speaks for itself.

Minke whale.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-resolves-to-take-the-lead-in-whale-conservation-2012-06-29







Scientists are just now thinking of this?
Yes, there are more fish than humans.
Yes, when they breathe they release C02 into the atmosphere.
Yes, they respirate more rapidly when they are in hotter temperatures, same as we do.
All of this information has led scientists to a rather obvious conclusion:
The fish of the world, by breathing more rapidly as a result of global warming, are making the situation worse.

Fish respiration.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120620133155.htm







GCA! GCA! GCA! GCA!
Ohhh my goodness.
The Global Conservation Act was passed today by both the House and the Senate.
This is the first global conservation strategy the U.S. has taken on.
I mean, wow.
Just wow.
Protecting our global environment is the most important thing the government could be doing, and this just makes me happy (as happy as when they passed the Shark Conservation Act in 2010).

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/global-conservation-act-introduced-on-capitol-hill-2012-06-29







Whale sharks. They're amazing.
Whoa.
Here are some pictures and information on a recent tagging expedition off the coast of Indonesia!

http://blog.conservation.org/2012/06/tagging-giants-studying-whale-sharks-in-cendrawasih-bay/







This is a (sort of) lovely tidbit from Ocean Conservancy.
If you wish, you may go and participate in their latest poll on ocean issues.
As for me, I couldn't choose...
It seems incredibly ridiculous to try and choose between "cleaning up trash", "protecting marine ecosystems like the Gulf of Mexico", "rebuilding fish populations", and "establishing marine protected areas"....
Because they are all part of the same issue:
THESE DANG HUMANS ARE DESTROYING THE OCEANS.

Baby Leatherback turtle.

http://theblogaquatic.org/2012/06/28/ocean-conservancy-wants-to-hear-from-you/







It's bad enough that there is oil drilling in the Arctic to begin with.
Now, the government is moving ahead with their offshore drilling program without properly understanding the vast and intricate ecosystem it really is.
*Sigh*

http://theblogaquatic.org/2012/06/28/now-more-than-ever-we-need-better-arctic-science/







Over 70 green sea turtles have washed up on the coast of Queensland, Australia for unknown reasons since last Friday.
62 of them were confirmed dead, and all of them were found in Upstart Bay.
No evidence of parasites or disease has been found.

http://phys.org/news/2012-06-mystery-mass-deaths-green-turtles.html






Pyura chilensis.
An interesting name for an interesting creature.
Pyura is the genus for a group of sessile ascidians (or sea squirts - a marine invertebrate that filter-feeds for sustenance) that live in low-depth coastal areas. 
This strange, rock-like sea creature is found off the coast of Chile and Peru.

http://grist.org/list/crazy-living-rock-is-one-of-the-weirdest-creatures-weve-ever-seen/

Sciiiiiience.

Big things...they keep happening.

Big things are always happening.
Whether those things are good or bad is up to us.
Seriously.
I don't mean to sound weird, but we could stop all of this bad shiz from happening to our planet.
So let's make that happen!



In other news, I'm going to South Carolina this Saturday! Huzzah!
'Twill be fun.




So yeah. Science.
The Gulf of Mexico!  That one place...that was very nearly destroyed by the Deepwater Horizon fiasco?
Whoa, yeah!
Oh, there's an act in Congress that will work towards the ultimate restoration of le Gulf?
Well, that's nifty.

Shrimp boats skimming oil after Deepwater Horizon.

http://theblogaquatic.org/2012/06/28/dont-miss-this-major-step-toward-gulf-restoration/










A trash-free lifestyle.
Sounds hard, but it's definitely worth it.
Here are some tips and inspirational examples!
Happy re-using!

http://theblogaquatic.org/2012/06/27/how-did-you-live-trash-free/










The Environmental Protection Agency really is a wondrous thing.
And what with the Court of Appeals upholding their right to regulate greenhouse emissions and all, they're definitely gaining momentum.
This is a good thing.
Applause.

http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2012/06/28/epas-co2-regulation-upheld-as-unambiguously-correct/











The Maldives may have an upcoming wonderland of marine reserves, but as of last week, Australia has the largest network of marine protected areas (44 individual areas), including the entire Coral Sea.
Ummm, whoa.
This. is. amazing.
However, where there is amazingness, there is usually some notsome.
Follow the link for pro's and con's of this miracle.
Buzzkill.
Sheesh.

Clownfish de Queensland. Daww. (:

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/oceans/big-step-forward-our-oceans-20120628











Sci-guys!
ALERT.
25 new reef fish have been discovered!
Ahhhhhgggghhhh!!!
Checkitout.

Fairy goby (:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/06/pictures/120628-coral-reefs-fish-species-new-oceans-animals-conservation-science-scorpionfish-eel-flounder











So...pollutants.
We all know that they're bad for marine life in general, right?
Please tell me you all know that.
I mean, really.
Ah, well.
Gaze upon this article if you will...learn of a certain pollutant that threatens five species of sea turtles.
Not that other pollutants don't, but... you know.
It's still bad.

Hawksbill turtle.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120628164635.htm#.T-zKboPaYC9.twitter











Gahhhhhhh.
This is literally the most adorable thing I have ever seen.
aslskjfvoijfoiuthoamchuibynoituvma,cpoei,p[iotumapoi,cncinmiumpoimv
WHOA.

Brookesia micra.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/02/pictures/120215-smallest-chameleons-new-species-madagascar-science/








Videos! My goodness!


http://vimeo.com/42619545

(Conservation)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FT9ZUL6Ls28#!

(Animal rescue)

Science.....whoa.

Whoa. Longest Post Ever.

Well, I've done it again.
With slightly different reasons, but whatevs.
So, yesterday was another day when I just saw too many cool articles to write about.
Therefore, I made the decision to do yesterday and today's posts in one big blurb.
Separated of course.
So. Without further ado, le news.


Tuesday, June 26th 2012



Dolphins.
They're incredibly intelligent, and we've known that for a while.
But is it in their genes to be so smart?

http://blogs.nature.com/news/2012/06/dolphin-genome-yields-evolutionary-insights.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+news%2Frss%2Fnewsblog+%28News+Blog+-+Blog+Posts%29







Tropical storm Debby, one of the earliest of the storm season, has weakened and turned into a tropical depression; but not before it caused damage and flooding for the Gulf coast.
Here are some photos of the damage -

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/tropical-storm-debby-heads-for-florida-slideshow/;_ylt=ApGdo1V9Tr22jUgYxX0TSCMPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTRwMzV2NDZpBG1pdANWaWRlbyBGZWF0dXJlZCBDYXJvdXNlbCBTY2llbmNlBHBrZwM1NWIzMzc4ZS02OWIyLTM3M2MtOTgyMy05YmUwZmU1OTZkN2EEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhRmVhdHVyZWRDYXJvdXNlbFRlbXAEdmVyA2U2ZmRlNjQzLWJmYzQtMTFlMS05NGJmLTQ0ZTI2YzQ0NzFjMA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFsMmxkdGs2BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3







Wow. I mean wow.
Scientists from South Carolina have done DNA work on known shark species and determined that there may be 79 new species!
That is incredible!
However, this work has also shown that many of these newbies may be endangered.
Bad.
So this is bittersweet. Extinction is not our friend.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=total-79-potentially-new-shark-species-found







A new twitter campaign attempting to save the lamprey from extinction?
Well, that's new.
If you've never heard of lampreys before, they are creepy, wiggly sea creatures that look like something out of a sci-fi movie and get most of their nutrition from eating the corpses of sea life that drifts down through the blue.
Yeah. They're pretty nasty.
But, they're also endangered.
Which is very bad, since I imagine most people prefer the ocean without loads of extra dead things in the water. Lampreys are helpful on that account.
So go to twitter.com and follow "Luna the Lamprey" to help save these fish that are so ugly they become....nearly cute.
Nearly.

http://sfist.com/2012/06/25/hideous_sea_creature_attempts_to_sa.php







Another good thing to come out of the disastrous Rio+20 summit is this stunning announcement:
All 1,192 islands of the Maldives will become a marine reserve by 2017.
Wha-WHA?
You heard me.
Largest. Ever. Marine. Reserve. 2017.
Now, I assume this includes Rubbish Island, which I did a post on a couple days ago...
I certainly hope so.
This is exciting!!

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/120620/rio-20-maldives-announces-worlds-biggest-marine-reserve







Reaffirmation that Rio+20 was an epic fail, and hope for the future.

http://www.eco-business.com/features/ocean-experts-plan-to-salvage-rio20-disappointment/







As a final memorial to Lonesome George, the last Pinta Island giant tortoise, his body is going to be embalmed and put on display on Santa Cruz Island.
He will continue to be the face of the conservation efforts in the Galapagos.

Lonesome George - removal from his enclosure on Sunday.

http://news.yahoo.com/famed-galapagos-tortoise-embalmed-displayed-161321303.html;_ylt=AsJFWiTi0TAMM_00GcFgZy0PLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTN0azhxOWZ0BG1pdANKdW1ib3Ryb24gU2NpZW5jZVNGBHBrZwNmYTE2ZDZkZS1kMDQ5LTNlMjItYjA3MC0zN2RiODAxMzkzYzEEcG9zAzIEc2VjA2p1bWJvdHJvbgR2ZXIDMTU0Y2E4YjEtYmZjYS0xMWUxLThlZmYtYTFjY2IyYzhiNjk0;_ylg=X3oDMTFsMmxkdGs2BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3







This summer as you go on ocean adventures, remember to keep the environment exactly as it was before you arrived there, for the sake of the plants and animals you encounter.
Have fun and be safe!

http://theblogaquatic.org/2012/06/21/tips-for-watching-wildlife-keeping-the-wild-in-the-experience/





Wednesday, June 27th 2012




The Arctic ground squirrel is much like a bear in the way it hibernates through the coldest months of the year and awakens perfectly healthy.
Nonetheless, scientists believe this animal can show us unique qualities about the way the brain works, and even unlock some mysteries behind our own craniums.

http://news.yahoo.com/supercool-arctic-ground-squirrel-teaches-us-brains-resilience-214600843.html;_ylt=Ar0Of0pnlXy7f8af5.mvDLkPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTNzNGsxZDNuBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YEcGtnA2VmNWNmZTdjLWZiY2YtMzAyMy04YzFlLTJmYzI1MzMwOGQ0NARwb3MDOARzZWMDdG9wX3N0b3J5BHZlcgMxNmZkMThjMS1jMDgzLTExZTEtOWZhNy1jMDUwZjlkYWQ0ZDE-;_ylg=X3oDMTFsMmxkdGs2BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3






Plants aren't usually considered the most intelligent of life on our planet, and for good reason.
They can't do anything animals can, and even have a separate cellular makeup.
A researcher is now arguing that plants can see.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up. I thought you said plants weren't as intelligent as -
You're right. I did say that.
And it's still true.
This researcher is simply saying that plants can see the difference between light and dark, and that this should count as sight.
What do you think?

http://news.yahoo.com/researcher-argues-plants-see-003508625.html;_ylt=AiwN3n_vk4qsL41g6LZiQ34PLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTNzdDZyNTA0BG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YEcGtnA2JjNjIxM2RmLTA3ZjQtM2I2Ny05NGVhLWY2MTJiY2JkYTRhZgRwb3MDNgRzZWMDdG9wX3N0b3J5BHZlcgMzYTBhMWQzMS1jMDdhLTExZTEtODQwNy00NjlhNTE4ZWFkNTA-;_ylg=X3oDMTFsMmxkdGs2BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3







The U.S. is planning to open up even more Arctic territory to gas and oil exploration...
Well this sounds like a good idea.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-arctic-drilling-salazar-20120626,0,5503849.story







A New Orleans neighborhood has a rogue animal terrorizing the residents...but it's not the kind you might think.
A rogue dolphin (male, Slidell), trapped alone in a small lake after Hurricane Katrina has bitten several swimmers in a waterfront neighborhood and is very aggressive towards anyone who gets near him.
Experts have advised people not to interact with the distressed mammal, as this may be what is causing his behavior.

http://gma.yahoo.com/rogue-dolphin-alone-katrina-menaces-lake-area-132602544--abc-news-pets.html







For those of you headed to a beach soon, check out this list of littering hotspots - make sure yours isn't on the list!
If you do see litter on the beach, be a friend and pick it up. The ocean will thank you.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/27/nrdc-beach-report-repeat-offenders_n_1628604.html?utm_hp_ref=green#slide=1149204







A rare sighting!
This has never been documented!
These pictures of humpback whales mating are the first ever(!!!) - they were taken two years ago but are finally being released to the public!
Next on the agenda?
Great white sharks.
Amazing things are amazing.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10814498







New petition from Oceana:
(Save the sea turtles!)
http://act.oceana.org/letter/l-turtles-ted/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=turtles&source=twitter

"Tough Luck, Sharks..." :[

Sad news, everyone.
The petition I posted a few days ago to end distribution of shark fins in New York was a nonvote.
This is just... very disappointing.

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/a-vote-in-albany-tough-luck-sharks/


The sharks of the world are in desperate need of help.
Please visit  http://oceana.org/en to see what you can do to help our oceans.
Get involved.
Before it's too late.



More petitions:

End seafood fraud.
http://act.oceana.org/letter/l-seafood-senate/?source=homepage

Protect dolphins and other sea life from seismic testing.
http://act.oceana.org/letter/l-seismic/?source=homepage

More Science News! (Pretend I posted the other article yesterday...)

And now for a post published when it's meant to be.
A post that just won't quit.
Seriously, I keep seeing new stories to post... jeez.
Quit being so interesting, Science!



As you know from le previous post or the news in general, a species was lost yesterday.
Here is a photo album in honor of Lonesome George.

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/species-dies-with-lonesome-george-slideshow/;_ylt=AowwfyHSA04Ec3_.shOThzIPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTRwYnFkOXBkBG1pdANWaWRlbyBGZWF0dXJlZCBDYXJvdXNlbCBTY2llbmNlBHBrZwNiYzkxMjA0ZS02MDkxLTMwZmQtYjBmZS03ZjdmMDE4YTNmYjIEcG9zAzIEc2VjA01lZGlhRmVhdHVyZWRDYXJvdXNlbFRlbXAEdmVyAzI4ZjA2ODkzLWJlY2UtMTFlMS1hODk3LWU5YTkyY2RjOWM0Yw--;_ylg=X3oDMTFsMmxkdGs2BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3








A lovely sighting of polar mesospheric clouds! On the Tibetan Plateau!
Wow!
These guys are noctilucent, or (night + light giving =) glow-in-the-dark.
Heh. Awesome.
Tidbit: at the bottom of the photo near the horizon you can see the lowest layer of atmosphere, the stratosphere, glowing red and orange.
Yeah, that was random.
These noctilucent beauties are most visible in late spring to early summer, and occur in many places around the globe.
Their cause is still debated, though they are thought to be floating rubble from meteors hitting the earth throughout history.
How ba-dass is that?

The sighting in question. Ooooo. Pretty.

http://news.yahoo.com/strange-night-shining-clouds-captured-space-station-photo-142046673.html;_ylt=AivM7X8MGtsROWUFC..5wv4PLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTN0ZWliMjA4BG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YEcGtnAzVmNjM3MDBjLTA5YTgtM2FlZS1iNmMwLWJkOTU5MmVjY2NmZQRwb3MDMTgEc2VjA3RvcF9zdG9yeQR2ZXIDNTcxODMzNTEtYmVkOS0xMWUxLWJmZjMtNTRlYjNlYmIxOTk2;_ylg=X3oDMTFsMmxkdGs2BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3








A native of New Zealand, the southern right whale seems to get it's existence trait from the fathers in the population.
Heh. See what I did there?
Anyway.
Yes. A single population of males off the coast of New Zealand seems to be responsible most of the whole population of southern right whales.
Kudos, daddies.

Southern right whale.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120622163710.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+sciencedaily/plants_animals/marine_biology+(ScienceDaily:+Plants+%26+Animals+News+--+Marine+Biology)








Pythons, not native to Florida, have been wreaking havoc on local ecology and *cough* puppies *cough* for years.
Finally, an innovative solution to the problem.
LET'S EAT 'EM.
That's right...a local cook-off in Miami is going to showcase these ghoulish fiends as the ghoulish fiends they are.
Also how tasty they are.
I must say, I don't know why this wasn't going on sooner.
Not only will it relieve some of the ecological stress, but feed the people of Miami!
(They sweat off all they eat due to southern Florida being the meteorological equivalent of hell.)
Good idea. Good idea.

An alligator struggles with an invasive Burmese python.

A Burmese Python swims through saltwater.
This is not supposed to happen.
NOWHERE IS SAFE.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-23/news/os-python-cookoff-florida-20120623_1_invasive-species-python-chefs









In other news, a shark that swims at less than 1 mile per hour is able to live on sprightly seals.
Wha-WHA-?
Yeah. Well.
This shark swims in freezing waters, so don't begrudge him a little energy conservation.
Anyhoo, the Greenland shark might be slow, but he's a cheeky little guy.
Scientists believe that although it is literally the slowest shark on earth, it is able to sneak up on the seals as they sleep.
CREEPING DEATH.



Scientists examine a Greenland shark.
Don't worry, he's cool with it.
Either that or he's too bored to try and escape.




A Greenland shark.
Uhhhm...
I think that's a bit of algae growing on his eye...


http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18531924









Last Friday, the UN had a huge meeting to work on several sustainability and international waters issues at the Rio+20 environmental summit in Brazil...
And it was a complete disappointment.
For one thing, nothing was accomplished.
It was, to put it bluntly, a meeting to schedule other meetings.
However, there may be an upside?
While policing international waters was not put to bed, policies that are indeed awesome were discussed in decent measure; among these were ending overfishing and illegal fishing, and protecting fragile marine ecosystems.
So that's good.
Overall, while few things were set in stone, the exposure ocean issues had at the summit was outstanding.
So, "ughhh," but "yaaaay!"

The older, more depressing article:

http://news.yahoo.com/rio-20-unhappy-environmental-summit-071329905.html

A more optimistic point of view:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/06/120622-rio-20-oceans/

Woot! Science!

Death, Doom and Destruction. And Plankton.

Re-entering the blogosphere....compute...compute.


Oh, goodness.
That Marley...she's just a failure.
Yes, I know.
I know that no one reads this thang anyway, but at least it functions to keep me informed...
When I do it on time.
Ah, well.




So, giant wombats.
Also known as Diprotodon.
Good or bad?
Well you don't really have to worry about that; they're all dead.
And a lovely mass grave was found recently with at least 50 of these massive marsupials.
This can reveal a lot about them not previously known, such as sociology, ecology, and other fun things.
Huzzah!

Diprotodon.



Tasmanian wombat.




http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/mass-grave-giant-wombats-discovered-australia-201621035.html;_ylt=AmaAsrALM9XhLYEI0x9nY8jtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTNxZHJyMnRrBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBPZGRVU1NGBHBrZwM4YmJlYTBhZS01NmY5LTM1M2YtYmVlZi01OGI1NzQ4Zjk1ZTYEcG9zAzkEc2VjA3RvcF9zdG9yeQR2ZXIDNDZmMTlhMjEtYmJlMS0xMWUxLWJlMzMtZmU2NWRjMzk3NTYy;_ylg=X3oDMTFtOW42ZDltBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lfG9kZARwdANzZWN0aW9ucw--;_ylv=3






From North Carolina to Boston, sea changes are more rapid than anywhere else in the world.
This is a result of none other than global warming.
In a single area in Virginia, sea levels since the 1990's have risen almost 5 inches.
I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but...
Bad.
And by 2100, estimates show that global sea levels could increase by over 3 feet.
Ocean currents may be slowing due to global warming, and this is especially evident in the Northeast.
Zis is nott gut.

http://news.yahoo.com/sea-rise-faster-east-coast-rest-globe-172002416.html;_ylt=AmpnVN367tmedTzKga12o0kPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTN0ZDdrMnI1BG1pdANKdW1ib3Ryb24gU2NpZW5jZVNGBHBrZwM0ZWJjMTExNC0wODg3LTNlZjMtYjhjZi1hOWIwMmMxNDk4NjkEcG9zAzEEc2VjA2p1bWJvdHJvbgR2ZXIDODlhOTJmMzEtYmUyMS0xMWUxLWJmZjctY2MyMmY2NmE1YjYx;_ylg=X3oDMTFsMmxkdGs2BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3






So, plankton hunting.
Not sure why it's so difficult, if they have satellites to take pictures of and track them.
Not to mention their fluorometers, which measure chlorophyll levels in the water.
All good points, all good points.
But wait, unsuspecting reader!
There are many species of plankton that can show up on these readings, not just Ehux, the specific one they are finding for viral research.
Not to mention the satellite data is usually 24 hours old, and by the time they track down the plankton blurbs, they may have drifted away.
So, kudos to anyone trying to track Ehux in a pile of the most numerous creatures in the ocean.
Kudos.

Emiliania huxleyi, or Ehux.

Ehux bloom off the southern coast of Cornwall.

http://news.yahoo.com/plankton-hunting-part-art-part-science-150000821.html;_ylt=Ao8CXli4ipMtJ68vlZdgkOEPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTNzc3ZlOG81BG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YEcGtnA2QxYjVlNWVhLTMzOGItM2ZkNS1iZDJlLWRiNDkxNDQwODY4MwRwb3MDMwRzZWMDdG9wX3N0b3J5BHZlcgMxMWFlNmYxMS1iZTI0LTExZTEtYmZlZi1mOWRiNDQ2NTY5Y2E-;_ylg=X3oDMTFsMmxkdGs2BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3


More on these lovely little creatures:

http://www.soes.soton.ac.uk/staff/tt/






The world's last Pinta Island giant tortoise, Lonesome George, died yesterday at the ripe age of more than 100 years.
The poor fellow simply couldn't find a mate, though his keepers in the Galapagos islands tried putting several mates for him (from different subspecies) in his enclosure in the hopes that he'd reproduce.
No such luck, and with his death comes the end of a species.

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/24/12386484-lonesome-george-last-of-its-kind-galapagos-tortoise-dies






Thilafushi is one of many in a small island chain known as the Maldives.
Now, before we get too far into this, know that the Maldives are gorgeous.
They are also a fragile ecosystem.
They are dangerously close to sea level, which makes life difficult if they have an influx of storms.
Therefore, when matters get worse, such as one island becoming a pile of refuse, other issues come up.
330 tons of garbage are dumped here every day, and then either burned or dumped into the lagoon (asbestos and lead are two prominent dumpees).
This...is awful.
Environmental experts have harshly criticized this, and measures must be taken against it.

Thilafushi, or Rubbish Island.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2162653/Maldives-island-paradise-Thilafushi-trashed-reduced-pile-rubbish.html

Science can save species and end pollution.
But we have to help it along. *cough* Thilafushi *cough*


Science.  Sometimes it is sad.