Scientists Unlock Record of Ecosystem Changes Frozen in World’s Glaciers
History of influence of industrial revolution hidden in glacial ice
New clues about how Earth’s remote ecosystems have been influenced by the industrial revolution have been uncovered. Until now they were locked away, frozen in the ice of glaciers.
So say scientist Aron Stubbins of the Skidaway [...]

Solved! Mystery That Stumped Ecosystem Modelers
Scientists show that predator/prey relationships make possible the rich biodiversity of complex ecosystems
As scientists warn that the Earth is on the brink of a period of mass extinctions, they are struggling to identify ecosystem responses to environmental change. But to truly understand these responses, more information is needed about how [...]

The Eco News Roundup brings stories and commentary about issues related to climate change, renewable energy and the environment.

Aging Brains Are Different in Humans and Chimpanzees
Evolution of human longevity led to both a large brain and brain shrinkage say researchers
Brains shrink in humans, potentially causing a number of health problems and mental illnesses as people age, but do they shrink to the same extent in the closest living relatives to humans–the chimpanzees?
New [...]

The Depths of Winter: How Much Snow Is In Fact On the Ground?
Will lasers and GPS technology finally enable accurate measurement of snowfall?
Equipped with specialized lasers and GPS technology, scientists are working to address a critical wintertime weather challenge: how to accurately measure the amount of snow on the ground.
Transportation crews, water managers and [...]

Time of Year Important in Projections of Climate Change Effects on Ecosystems
Results of study on prairie grasslands show differences across the months
Does it matter whether long periods of hot weather, such as last year’s heat wave that gripped the U.S. Midwest, happen in June or July, August or September?
Scientists studying the subtle effects of heat [...]

Precedent-Setting Evidence of the Benefits of Biodiversity
New evidence that biodiversity promotes water quality suggests that accelerating species losses may compromise water quality
Frequent reports of accelerating species losses invariably raise questions about why such losses matter and why we should work to conserve biodiversity.
Biologists have traditionally responded to such questions by citing societal benefits that are [...]

Carter Center Welcomes Gates Foundation, UAE, CIFF Funding to Achieve Guinea Worm Eradication
ATLANTA….$40 million in donations announced today from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) will enable a Carter Center-led eradication campaign to [...]

The Eco News Roundup brings stories and commentary about issues related to climate change, renewable energy and the environment.

Feds Approve California Sewage Ban and Create Largest Coastal No-Discharge Zone in the Nation
SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld will today sign a rule that will finalize EPA’s decision and approve a state proposal to ban all sewage discharges from large cruise ships and most other large ocean-going ships [...]