Recounts of introverted exploration

Methane reduces the density of water, causing ships that would normally float, to instead sink.

Methane, when in gas form, messes with the electrical components of aircraft, causing them to fail and sometimes fall right out of the sky.

the bermuda triangle

is caused

This is very concerning. 

Slowing Ocean Acidification With Kelp

Joth Davis, a senior scientist at the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, recently unspooled 150 feet of line holding thousands of tiny spores of kelp into Hood Canal in Washington State. A colleague dived underwater and affixed the line to a buoy.

It’s an unusual botany project: The bull kelp seedlings will eventually form thick, slimy ribbons of brown seaweed — and in the process take up carbon dioxide and other nutrients. The researchers hope kelp may provide offer a local strategy for easing the effects of ocean acidification. The five-year effort, involving many partners, is funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

The tension

195 countries agreed to reduce carbon emissions – but if they don’t act on it more than half of the world’s cities are at risk

After two weeks of talks and more than two decades of meetings, representatives from 195 nations approved the first-ever universal agreement intended to slow the onset of climate change on Saturday (12 Dec.) in Paris.

The Paris Agreement aims to encourage a transition of the global economy to one that’s no longer dependent on fossil fuels, and hold global temperatures to a maximum rise of 1.5°C. The global average surface temperature rose 0.6 to 0.9 degrees Celsius (1.1 to 1.6° F) between 1906 and 2005, and the rate of temperature increase has nearly doubled in the last 50 years. Temperatures are certain to go up further.

The agreement, which covers the period 2020 to 2030, is a better deal than many expected. But its fate is far from certain. The Kyoto Protocol was hailed as a dramatic turning point when it was agreed in 1997 but most now regard it as a failure.

“It’s just worthless words. There is no action, just promises,” said climate scientist James Hansen. “As long as fossil fuels appear to be the cheapest fuels out there, they will be continued to be burned.”

At least countries will have to say every five years what they are doing tackle climate change review – what will now be called their nationally determined contribution. This wording did not appear in earlier versions of the agreement, in which the language was weaker.

If they really turn out to be worthless words and we wait until 2020, it will be too late, like the climate scientist Kevin Anderson told New Scientist. Because time has nearly run out for limiting warming to 2°C.

The tip of the Atlas moth’s wing is camouflaged to resemble the head of the distinctive cobra snake. When disturbed, the Atlas moth falls to the ground and writhes about to complete the illusion. The wingspan of a female Atlas Moth can reach up to 12 inches.