BBC Nature - Fossil 'is first pregnant lizard'
21 July 2011Last updated at 04:58 By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC Nature The lizard was just days from giving birth when it died and was buried A 120-million-year-old fossil is the oldest pregnant lizard ever discovered, according to scientists. The fossil, found in China, is a very complete 30cm (12in) lizard with more than a dozen embryos in its body. Researchers from University College London, who studied the fossil, say it was just days from giving birth when it died and was buried during the Cretaceous period. The team reports the findings in the journal Naturwissenschaften. The fossil is especially interesting to scientists because it is a reptile that produced live young rather than laying eggs. Only 20% of living lizards and snakes produce live young, and this shows it is an ancient, if unusual, trait. "I didn't think much of the fossil when I first saw it," said Prof Susan Evans, joint lead author of the paper, from University College London.
Voters Overwhelmingly Support EPA Air Pollution Rules
A new, nationwide poll shows that by a wide margin, voters of both political parties and in all regions of the U.S. disagree with Congress’ anti-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agenda and support the EPA’s new rules to limit air pollution from coal-fired power plants. A new, nationwide poll shows that by a wide margin, voters of both political parties and in all regions of the U.S. disagree with Congress’ anti-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agenda and support the EPA’s new rules to limit air pollution from coal-fired power plants. Two-thirds of the respondents – 67 percent – oppose Congress delaying implementation of the air pollution rules, according to the national survey of 1,400 voters conducted by Hart Research Associates and GS Strategy Group and sponsored by Ceres. “American voters, both Democrats and Republicans, are unified in backing prompt EPA action on the clean air rules,” said Ceres president Mindy Lubber. Among the poll’s key findings: Key Regional Findings
BBC Nature - Sepia cuttlefish videos, news and facts
House Passes Bill to Delay EPA Clean Air Rules - Coral Davenport
The House on Friday passed the first in a planned series of Republican bills to effectively block the Environmental Protection Agency from reining in toxic pollution under the Clean Air Act. The measure, which passed 233-180, largely along party lines, would delay the EPA from moving forward on a new rule scheduled to be rolled out in November requiring coal plants to slash 90 percent of their mercury emissions. That rule is required under the terms of the 1990 Clean Air Act, and has been delayed for more than 20 years. The bill also would keep the EPA from moving forward with a rule known as the cross-state air rule, which would require coal plants to limit toxic emissions that cross state lines and contribute to health and environmental damage. The “Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation”—which Republicans call the “TRAIN” act— has no chance of passing the Democrat-controlled Senate. But enacting legislation isn’t the point. Rep.
BBC Nature - Plant evolved a bat beckoning beacon
29 July 2011Last updated at 02:29 By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC Nature The dish-shaped leaves emit a powerful echo that helps the bat locate the plant A rainforest vine has evolved dish-shaped leaves to attract the bats that pollinate it, scientists have found. Tests revealed that the leaves were supremely efficient at bouncing back the sound pulses the flying mammals used to navigate. When the leaves were present the bats located the plant twice as quickly as when these echoing leaves were removed. A team of scientists in the UK and Germany reported its findings in the journal Science. The study is the first to find a plant with "specialised acoustic features" to help bat pollinators find them using sound. Most bats send out pulses of sound to find their way around; the way they sense objects in their environment by sensing how these pulses bounce off them is known as echolocation. "What we've found is the echolocating equivalent to colourful flowers.
House passes bill to block EPA clean air rules
Stray labrador rescues blind pooch by becoming first canine-to-canine guide dog
By Hannah Rand Published: 16:10 GMT, 29 April 2012 | Updated: 16:23 GMT, 29 April 2012 A lucky homeless dog has been given a whole new lease of life by another stray mutt. Two-year-old Tanner was born blind and has a seizure disorder. He was sent to Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue organization, Oklahoma City, after his owner died. Scroll down for video Guide dog: Tanner, a blind two-year-old golden retriever who was nearly put down because of his fits, has been given a new lease of life by a one-year-old black labrador called Blair Due to the stress of his loss, his seizures became worse, making him hard to look after as he would defecate and urinate when fitting. Local vet, Mike Jones of Woodland West Animal Hospital, Tulsa, told ABC News he even recommended putting the dog down, to relieve Tanner of his - and his caretakers' - misery. Fortunately for young Tanner, Blair, a one-year-old black labrador, has shown uncanny empathy for his new friend and now has taken the role as his guide.
Lamar Alexander Bucks GOP by Supporting EPA Rule on Clean Air
By Humberto Sanchez Roll Call Staff Nov. 7, 2011, 9:50 p.m. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) took on the leader of his party tonight by opposing a GOP proposal to overturn an Environmental Protection Agency rule on clean air. Alexander directly challenged an effort by the junior Senator from the neighboring state of Kentucky, the home of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. “Tennesseans admire much about our Kentucky neighbors — their bluegrass, basketball and distinguished United States Senators,” Alexander said in a statement announcing opposition. The display of independence follows Alexander’s announcement in September that he plans to step down from the No. 3 spot in the Republican leadership. Republicans have been critical of the EPA, which they believe to be an overzealous regulator throwing up impediments to small businesses and preventing them from recovering from the economic recession.
DOCUMERICA: Images of America in Crisis in the 1970s - Alan Taylor - In Focus
As the 1960s came to an end, the rapid development of the American postwar decades began to take a noticeable toll on the environment, and the public called for action. In November 1971, the newly created Environmental Protection Agency announced a massive photo documentary project, called DOCUMERICA, to record the adverse effects of modern life on the environment. More than 100 photographers were hired not only to document specific issues, but to capture images showing how we interacted with the environment. Use j/k keys or ←/→ to navigate Choose: Water cooling towers of the John Amos Power Plant loom over a home located across the Kanawha River, near Poca, West Virginia, in August of 1973. One of four bicyclists holds her ears against the roar of the jet taking off from National Airport in Washington, D.C., in May of 1973. Clark Avenue and Clark Avenue bridge, looking east from West 13th Street, obscured by industrial smoke, in Cleveland, Ohio, in July of 1973.
