Rebels, Oceans, Acid, and Death. The R.O.A.D. to discovery....and sadness.

Good afternoon!
Let's get our science on.
Fo' shiz.






Ecocide.
(And the people who strive to end it.)
Bluefin tuna are a largely targeted species in our society today, and trapping is a major problem.
In Europe especially, governments do virtually nothing to stop trappers going above and beyond the regulations.
This is where the awesome people come in.
It takes a lot of guts to go in and cut the lines that will destroy a population against the will of their captors, and that is exactly what is happening.
Maybe right now.
Oooo.

A Sea Shepherd cuts the line of destiny.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2012/jul/13/activists-tuna


More on ecocide:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/09/ecocide-crime-genocide-un-environmental-damage


More from excellent environmental blogger George Monbiot:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot










Well, sci-guys, prepare to be amazed.
There is a global, subsurface ocean on Titan, one of Saturn's moons.
Whoa.
But don't get too excited, Titan.
One of Jupiter's Galilean moons, Europa, had one first.
Space pwned.

http://science.kqed.org/quest/2012/07/13/deep-dark-waters-of-titan/










Yep. The oceans are getting hotter.
They're also getting more and more acidic.
This is, of course, due to human activities such as the mass burning of fossil fuels.
Bad.
Unfortunately, I could not read this entire article, due to my lack of subscription.
Eh.
You get the idea, right?

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/07/rising-acidity-brings-an-ocean-o.html










Chalk.
That most sinister of substances and dastardly of doodlers.
Meh.
Now I have more than just my weirdness to make me not want to buy chalk.
(I have never liked the stuff. It's just...so...powdery...and.... ugh. *shudder*)
Anyway.
Reading this article, I was wondering just what organism could the title have advertised?
Scrolling down, I observed a picture of a single cell.
A single, unmistakable cell.
It was EHUX, colleagues.
COCCOLITHS.
PHYTOPLANKTON.
THE VERY BUILDING BLOCK OF EVERY OCEANIC ECOSYSTEM.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Okay. I'm okay. Just...
I mean...
Ugh.
It doesn't even matter that they're dead! Why would I want to crush their poor little skeletons for my own amusement?!?
A note to my kids:
I WILL NEVER BUY YOU CHALK, DON'T ASK.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2012/07/12/156629934/thinking-too-much-about-chalk

Las ciencias!