| How much in subsidies do fossil fuels get anyway? At least some members of the Obama Administration plan to call for an end to fossil fuel subsidies as part of next week's G20 economic leaders summit, citing positive impacts ranging from improved energy security to combating climate change. But how much does the U.S. government pay? Well, according to a new analysis from the Environmental Law Institute released today, roughly $72 billion between 2002 and 2008. [More] rss.sciam.com |
One for the Ages: Bristlecone Pines Break 4,650-Year Growth Record Bristlecone pine trees dot the White Mountains in eastern California, giving the stark and rocky landscape one of its few highly visible signs of life. These gnarly-barked trees can survive at altitudes of up to 3,470 meters, although their growth rate at these heights is limited because of cold temperatures. But those limits have been loosening lately. In the past 50 years, as regional temperatures have warmed, the growth of bristlecone pine trees at high altitudes has been accelerating, whereas that of trees lower down the slopes has not, according to the results of a study published November 16 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . [More] rss.sciam.com |
In a Hurry? New Battery Recharging System Promises Quicker Turnaround for Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles When plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) start hitting the road later this year, most drivers will plug into a normal 110-volt outlet when not driving in order to trickle charge life back into their car's battery. Whether this is a feasible model is an open question, with some consumers concerned that trickle charging may not be fast enough to sufficiently recharge batteries between trips. Without a charged battery, PHEVs rely on their internal combustion engines, something hybrid drivers aim to avoid. [More] rss.sciam.com |
Spare Times for Children A guide to events for and by children and families in the New York area. nytimes.com |
Population crash in Kenya: Rare bird gets much, much rarer--but why? One of the world's most critically endangered birds, Kenya's taita apalis ( Apalis fuscigularis ), has suddenly and inexplicably become much, much rarer , according to BirdLife International.The organization, which has funded research into the species through its Preventing Extinctions Program , says that field work conducted in 2009 and 2010 found almost no taita apalis remaining in Kenya's forests. With sightings of the bird down nearly 80 percent compared with 2001, BirdLife now estimates the species's population at somewhere between 60 and 130 individuals. Previous estimates from just nine years ago placed the population at between 300 and 650 birds. [More] rss.sciam.com |