Level 6 Alert? and Stabilize Warming and More for Monday, May 4, 2009

Pinus ponderosa image licensed under Creative Commons by cm195902

WHO head indicates full flu pandemic to be declared


http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre5431di-us-flu-who-pandemic/


More than 1,000 swine flu cases worldwide: WHO


http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/05/04/swine-flu-world-health119.html



Swine Flu Update: At Least 18 Countries Affected; Human-to-Pig Infection Reported In Canada


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090503190223.htm


Halving Carbon Emissions To Stabilize Warming?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090502092019.htm

Potentially Harmful Chemicals Found In Forest Fire Smoke

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430091057.htm

Pinus ponderosa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponderosa_Pine

Alkaloid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaloid

Climate Change Threatens Unique Ecosystems of World's Largest Lake, Lake Baikal

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090501090925.htm

Lake Baikal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Baikal

Global Warming Data Buried in Mud

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7454828

Researchers flag increasing levels of fresh water in Labrador Sea

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/05/04/labrador-sea-504.html

Labrador Sea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrador_Sea

Brain Can Recognize Objects Much Faster

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090429132231.htm

Man chooses grizzly bear as 'best man' at wedding

http://www.yahoo.com/s/1066923

Ursus arctos horribilis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursus_arctos_horribilis

Wolves come off endangered species list in northern Rockies

http://www.yahoo.com/s/1066925

Canis lupus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canis_lupus

Mummified puppy found in Egyptian tomb

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30519834/

Isolated Birds Evolve 'Normal' Species Song

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090503132617.htm

Mexico to review flu restrictions

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8032582.stm

China denies flu discrimination

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8032157.stm

Mexicans defy swine flu advice

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8032248.stm

Swine flu: mapping the outbreak

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8021547.stm

China bans Alberta pork after virus infects pig herd: media report

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/05/03/china-haltspork.html


Can masks help stop flu spread?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8024605.stm

Rare raccoon roundworm blinds teen

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30558815/

Procyon lotor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procyon_lotor

Toxocaridae (Raccoon roundworm)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxocaridae

Matrix Protein Key To Fighting Viruses

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090429091336.htm

Toxic mercury levels in seal meat linked to melting Arctic ice

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/05/04/tech-090504-seal-meat-mercury.html

How Mercury Emissions Reach Tuna And Other Seafood, And Why Mercury Contamination Is Likely To Worsen

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090501195628.htm

Thunnus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunnus

Mercury

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(element)

New Southern California Beetle Killing Oaks

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090501154147.htm

Agrilus coxalis

http://cisr.ucr.edu/goldspotted_oak_borer.html

Quercus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_(genus)

Date Palm Genome Drafted

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090501162809.htm

Phoenix dactylifera

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_dactylifera

Why Invasive Plants Take Over

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090502082952.htm

Euphorbia esula

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafy_spurge

Pueraria lobata

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudzu

New Technique For Modifying Plant Genes Developed

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090429132233.htm

Analysis Finds Strong Match Between Molecular, Fossil Data In Evolutionary Studies

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090428171004.htm

Backyard scientists use Web to aid research

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/05/04/citizen.science.climate.change/index.html

Ducklings tour White House

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2009/05/03/vonat.white.house.ducklings.cnn

Dinosaur-Bird Link is Real and More for May 1, 2009

Image licensed under Creative Commons by eschipul

Today, May 1, 2009, is the day Natural History changed. The dinosaur-bird link is real and was proven by 80 million year old soft tissue. 80 million years old. The editors are in a state of awe.

Dinosaur-Bird Link: Ancient Proteins Preserved In Soft Tissue From 80 Million-Year-Old Hadrosaur

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430144528.htm

Mary H. Schweitzer, Wenxia Zheng, Chris L. Organ, Recep Avci, Zhiyong Suo, Lisa M. Freimark, Valerie S. Lebleu, Michael B. Duncan, Matthew G. Vander Heiden, John M. Neveu, William S. Lane, John S. Cottrell, John R. Horner, Lewis C. Cantley, Raghu Kalluri, and John M. Asara. Biomolecular Characterization and Protein Sequences of the Campanian Hadrosaur B. canadensis. Science, 2009; 324 (5927): 626 DOI: 10.1126/science.1165069

Brachylophosaurus Canadensis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachylophosaurus_canadensis

Tyrannosaurus rex

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannosaurus_rex


Swine Flu Or Bird Flu: Scientist Warns Of Six-month Time Lag To Manufacture Pandemic Flu Vaccine

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090427193234.htm

Vaccine pursued as U.S. swine flu cases top 100

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30471035/

Many states lack drugs to treat swine flu

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30511446/

Mexico shuts down to control flu

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8028169.stm

1918 Flu Resulted In Current Lineage Of H1N1 Swine Influenza Viruses

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430111640.htm

Pandemic Study Of 1918-1919 Outbreak Provides Background And Death Rates For 14 European Countries

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430101453.htm

1918 flu pandemic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic

Lessons from past pandemics

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/30/swine.flu.1918.lessons/index.html

‘Pandemic’ means pay attention, not panic

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30500863/

World fights new flu virus with latest science

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre5400wc-us-flu-science/

New flu virus may be a real mongrel, study shows

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre5400qi-us-flu-genetics/

Hong Kong's doctors prepare for battle

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/05/01/1917199.aspx

Bardot slams planned pig cull in Egypt

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090501/wl_mideast_afp/healthfluegyptfrancebardot;_ylt=ArGul0isJpL6Q8AP2ip_6d4PLBIF

Brigitte Bardot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigitte_Bardot

Species at Risk Act lacks teeth, conservationists say

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/05/01/species-risk-conservation.html

Species at Risk Act

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/s-15.3/text.html

Obama Restores Endangered Species Act

http://news.yahoo.com/s/oneworld/20090430/wl_oneworld/world3621191241124253;_ylt=AkojviUj4jXKEaoivGa73g8PLBIF

Endangered Species Act

http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa/content.html

Dolphins Keep an Eye Out While Sleeping

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090501/sc_livescience/dolphinskeepaneyeoutwhilesleeping;_ylt=AlexQpkR98vmA43VTJmkFYkPLBIF

Video evidence of birds' remarkable talent for dancing

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8026592.stm

Some Vocal-mimicking Animals, Particularly Parrots, Can Move To A Musical Beat

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430121936.htm

Dogs Are Aggressive If They Are Trained Badly

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090424114315.htm

Canis lupus familiaris

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canis_lupus_familiaris

Forest Service tries to halt spread of bat fungus

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090501/ap_on_re_us/us_bat_die_off;_ylt=Av2eTVPTT_B01gPWRdSvN34PLBIF

White nose syndrome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_nose_syndrome

Fish May Actually Feel Pain And React To It Much Like Humans Do

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430161242.htm

Fish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish

US: Air Dirty Enough To Endanger Lives

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090429131158.htm

Cousin Of The 'Ice That Burns' Emerges As Greener New Way To Fight Fires

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090427091548.htm

Fire Extinction Using Carbon Dioxide Hydrate

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ie8019533

Why plants can survive cold, heat, drought

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/05/01/plant.stress/index.html

Plantae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant

Fertilisers 'reducing diversity'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8026552.stm

Lithium in water 'curbs suicide'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8025454.stm

Lithium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium

FDA announces recall of popular diet pill

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30518843/

Hydroxycut

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxycut

Africa's genetic secrets unlocked

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8027269.stm

Africa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa

China database to track children


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8028256.stm

First edition of Darwin's Origin of Species fetches $60K

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/04/30/darwin-origin-auction-london.html

More on the Pandemic with the Potential for Food Riots and More for Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Yes, we know some of the media attention to the Pandemic is overblown, and we voted as such on CNN.com's website today. But, our senior editor did happen to lose an aunt during the 1918 flu pandemic - whom he was too young to know, and consequently never met. But the impact of the swine flu is very real, and pandemics present a very real issue of mass fatalities - sometimes in the millions. Supposedly, the 1918 pandemic took 25 million lives, maybe more, maybe less. We're hoping this flu mutates quickly into a non-lethal version (see the link below), and peters out with minimum loss of life. But, pointedly, Dr. Fukuda - is his amazingly boring public statement on the level 4 Pandemic - did not mention that possibility. Or was that simply left out?

Of course, as pointed out by Jack Cafferty on CNN yesterday (sigh, we admit to actually watching Mr. Cafferty from time to time, out of shear boredom...) that 36,000 deaths/fatalities occur each year due to the flu out of an infection rate of some 200,000/annum. The point being, we guess, that the situation is serious, not dreadful. But then, we keep reviewing in our mind, Dr. Fukuda's utterly dreadful video presentation of yesterday regarding the level 4 alert. And we wonder, does the WHO know something we don't?

But, something else that really troubles us is the potential for food riots in the near term. Is the world actually facing a $ 100 million (+ or -) shortfall in world food supplies? Will the pandemic balance out this problem? Or, what exactly should we be hoping for? Remember the news/media stories on food shortages before the global economy went bust? That story just didn't go away - it is still a very serious, real issue.

Swine Flu: Public Health Emergency Declared

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090427155739.htm

Public Health Emergency (United States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_health_emergency_(United_States)

Canadian health officials warn against travel to Mexico

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/04/28/health-canada-mexico865.html

Best swine flu strategy: Stay away, everyone

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30442914/

U.S. flu victims may not just be travelers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/

Health chief to be confirmed amid crisis

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30450143/

Kathleen Sebelius

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Sebelius

More Countries Confirm Swine Flu

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8022437.stm

As Swine Flu Scare Unfolds, Virologist Underscores Need For Research On Animal Pathogens

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090427170304.htm

NZ reports first swine flu cases

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8021915.stm

UK prepared for swine flu - Brown

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8021916.stm

Europe braced for spread of flu

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8022958.stm

Israel finds first swine flu case

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8022340.stm

Swine flu spreads to Asia, Middle East

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/

Some Mexican ill say doctors turned them away

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30434921/

N.B. not prepared for swine flu pandemic: Moncton microbiologist

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2009/04/28/nb-pandemic-microbiologist-548.html

Mathematical Model Used To Explain Viral Extinction

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090424073905.htm

Salmon Virus With Potential For Change

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090421091737.htm

Infectious salmon anaemia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infectious_salmon_anaemia

DNA Of Uncultured Organisms Sequenced Using Novel Single-cell Approach

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090422103739.htm

Engineered maize's vitamin boost

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8020925.stm

Zea mays

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zea_mays

Science cash 'to beat food riots'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8020589.stm

Food security

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_security

UK funds sea acidification study

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8021459.stm

Ocean acidification

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_acidification


How Ear Translates Vibrations Into Sounds

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423132955.htm

Human ear

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_ear


Biological Basis For The Eight-hour Workday?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423132952.htm

Eight-hour workday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-hour_day

Oldest known Sumatran tiger dies at zoo

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30386447/

Panthera tigris sumatrae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthera_tigris_sumatrae

Identifying Hyenas By Their Giggle

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090426094329.htm

Crocuta crocuta

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocuta_crocuta

Large Sponges May Be Reattached To Coral Reefs

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090427144825.htm

Anthozoa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthozoa

Porifera

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porifera

Live-in Domestics: Mites As Maids In Tropical Rainforest Sweat Bee Nests

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090420121348.htm

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_mite

Chihuahua blown one mile by wind gust

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30448774/

Chihuahua

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chihuahua_(dog)

Cell phone found in belly of 30-lb cod

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/04/28/klekamp.cod.cell.news12nj

Gadus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadus

Zero Emissions Motorcycle Gears Up For The Big Race

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090424073909.htm

Zero emissions vehicle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-emissions_vehicle

Swine Flu 2009 and More for Monday, April 27, 2009

U.S. advises against travel to Mexico as swine flu spreads

http://www.yahoo.com/s/1063663

American swine flu cases climb to 40

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/

Mexico closes schools as deaths climb to 149

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30434921/

Swine Flu Outbreak 2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_swine_flu_outbreak

Swine flu case confirmed in Spain

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8020552.stm

Asia on high alert for flu virus

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8019907.stm

Swine flu cases confirmed in UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8020222.stm



Kenya poachers admit ivory haul

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8021094.stm

Poaching

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poaching

Gray whales granted rare reprieve

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8017291.stm

Eschrichtius robustus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Whale

Cow genome 'to transform farming'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8014598.stm

Rare albino buffalo seen in Kenya

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8017328.stm

EU acts to save 'hungry vultures'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8018115.stm

Shark fins protection welcomed

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8018284.stm

'Bleach bath' benefit for eczema

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8015995.stm

Eczema

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eczema

Type Of Vitamin B1 Could Treat Common Cause Of Blindness

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423180237.htm

Adding Walnuts To Good Diet May Help Older People Improve Motor And Behavioral Skills

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090419201207.htm

Juglans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juglans

How Plants Protect Us From Disease

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090419202029.htm

Search For Alien Life Gets A Hand(edness)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423105846.htm

'Super Reefs' Fend Off Climate Change, Study Says

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423132612.htm

Anthozoa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthozoa

Sea shells used to clean up heavy metals

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30435640/

'Moderately Large' Potential For Red Tide Outbreak In Gulf Of Maine Region

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090422085146.htm

Red tide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tide

Greenhouse Gases Climb Despite Economic Slump

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090424195920.htm

Blood Testing, Mosquito Style

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090424114218.htm

Could Climate Change Worsen Lyme Disease?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090426182944.htm

Lyme disease

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease

Computational Biology Illuminates How Cells Change Gears

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090420182226.htm

Most Distant Detection Of Water In The Universe

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090422085756.htm