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Humpback whales have ‘human-like’ brain cells

New discoveries point to the presence of more complex forms of brain cells in Humpback whales, which might explain their high levels of intelligence.

UN fails to ban bottom trawling

Warning: If you don't want to know the ending to Happy Feet, read no further.

On its opening weekend, the tap-dancing penguin raked in $42.3 million, topping the debut of the much-anticipated Bond flick Casino Royale. If you thought your eight dollars would buy an hour and a half of a warm and fuzzy penguin love story set to music, you'll be surprised by the realistic and serious tone of the film (as well as the penguins with Mexican accents ...).

Umbra on weather-stripping

Dear Umbra, With rising heating costs on the horizon, we’re looking to install a storm door, seal gaps, etc., around the house to prevent air leaks and increase efficiency before old man winter arrives. What are some good resources (how-to’s, sustainable product suppliers, etc.) for the job? Scott Roswell, Ga. Dearest Scott, Hi-dee-ho, dee-ho, to […]

Efficiency is the key

I previously noted that efficiency is essential to eliminating fossil fuel use, because non-fossil sources have an overall market price cost higher than coal, natural gas, and even oil. This is not as obvious as it seems. Up to a point, renewable energy is competitive with fossil fuels; the problem is, that point is never a majority of consumption.

Take electricity.

Population, that is

It's conventional wisdom that economic growth requires a growing population; thus the gnashing of teeth over shrinking numbers in, e.g., Italy. Last week, Fred Hiatt took a look at Japan, where the birthrate is down to 1.25 (2.1 is required to maintain a stable population) and the population shrank by about 21,000 last year.

For Every Action, There’s a Reactor

Russian spy death linked to nuclear black market, and other glowings-on Oh, nuclear — will it ever cease to amaze? As authorities probe the radiation-poisoning death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, they’ve suggested a link to Russia’s robust radioactive-materials black market. The market’s deals, said an International Atomic Energy Agency rep, “are of little […]

Nothing New Under the Sea

After days of negotiations, U.N. fails to pass high-seas bottom-trawling ban In a roughy outcome for conservationists, the U.N. failed to adopt a high-seas bottom-trawling ban supported by countries including the U.S. and Australia. The controversial fishing method, currently used by 11 countries including ban-busters Iceland and Russia, involves dragging vast nets and coral-crunching rollers […]

Pratt’s Creatures

Community organizer Sam Pratt, featured in a new PBS documentary, InterActivates Sam Pratt spent six years fighting the polluting plans of the largest cement company in the world. His story, and that of fellow citizens of Hudson, N.Y., is featured in the soon-to-air PBS documentary Two Square Miles. As InterActivist this week, Pratt speaks out […]

Thank You, Sir, May I Have Another

As climate evidence solidifies, some U.S. energy companies request regulations This climate-change conspiracy is getting elaborate: now leaders of some of the largest energy companies in the U.S. are in on it. Faced with a mish-mash of state-level regulations, behemoths like Shell Oil and Duke Energy are pushing for a federal cap on greenhouse-gas emissions, […]

One way or the other, we’re waiting for the next administration

If the Supreme Court rules that CO2 does not have to be regulated, it will give the present administration cover to do nothing for two more years. However, most serious candidates for president support action to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, so regardless, I suspect you'll see action in the next administration.

If the Supreme Court rules that CO2 can be regulated, the administration will ... do nothing for two more years. But again, the next president will likely take some action.

If the Supreme Court rules that CO2 must be regulated, the administration will drag its feet and ... end up doing nothing for two more years. But again, the next president will likely take some action.

Thus, regardless of what the court rules, we will have to wait for '09 to see any action on emissions reductions -- but we'll see action then regardless of what the court rules.