| New Study Links Toxic Pollutants to Canadian Oil Sands Mining Native Canadians living downstream from the oil sands mines in Alberta Province have long complained that their high cancer rates were related to the expanding excavation of bitumen for the production of synthetic crude. A new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is backing their position. feeds.nytimes.com |
New drug-resistant superbugs found in 3 states By MARILYNN MARCHIONE 2010-09-14T01:27:27ZBOSTON (AP) -- An infectious-disease nightmare is unfolding: Bacteria that have been made resistant to nearly all antibiotics by an alarming new gene have sickened people in three states and are popping up all over the world, health officials reported Monday.... hosted.ap.org |
Letter: Porn isn't the solution Ben Goldacre thinks evidence that watching pornography can increase men's sperm count should be considered in any reasoned response to the NHS's decision to provide porn in IVF clinics (Pornography scandalises the Sun, but it may help in IVF, 25 September). OK, but let's also factor in some other evidence. In 2007 a Ministry of Justice–commissioned report cited the following findings: a meta-analysis of 30 studies showed watching porn increased aggressive behaviour in the viewer; a second meta-analysis of 46 studies showed it made viewers more likely to commit sexual offences and experience difficulties in intimate relationships; and a third meta-analysis of nine studies showed a significant relationship between watching porn and holding attitudes supporting violence against women. Porn isn't a medical solution, it's a public health crisis.Kat BanyardAuthor, The Equality IllusionFertility problemsReproductionBiologyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Mystery Bird: Western sandpiper, Calidris (Erolia) mauri | GrrlScientist This stunning and challenging-to-ID mystery bird tells us that scientists are still learning about the mysteries of avian evolution, as made obvious by this bird's two scientific names!Leucistic (nearly totally white) western sandpiper, Calidris (Erolia) mauri, photographed at Iona Beach Regional Park on Iona Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Image: Kevan Cowcill, 15 September 2010 (You'll probably want to look at this challenging bird with binoculars).Canon PowerShot SX20IS. Probably not more than 20x magnification. Question: This stunning but challenging-to-identify shorebird goes by two different scientific names. Can you identify this bird and tell me both scientific names? Response: The western sandpiper, Calidris mauri - also known as Erolia mauri - is part of a very large group of small migratory shorebirds known in America as "peeps" and in the UK as "stints." The genus Calidris is paraphyletic, meaning that the birds in this group resemble each other closely despite not being close relatives - a stunning example of convergent evolution that anyone can see for themselves whilst walking along the beaches. It's easy to see the source of this confusion: most "calidrids" share a common colour pattern; brownish above with a contrastingly pale (usually white) belly. The sides of their breasts are almost always the same colour as their topside, and they usually have a lighter supercilium ("eyebrow") with brownish cheeks. Due to their similar habits and habitats, many of the "calidrids" are difficult to identify because of the striking similarities between species, and between their various breeding, non-breeding, juvenile and moulting plumages. More confusingly, some plovers - which are distinct enough to not be classified as "calidrids" - are also similarly patterned, especially in winter. Embedded below is a 2 minute radio programme about the Western Sandpiper, thanks to my friends at BirdNote Radio:If you have bird images, video or mp3 files that you'd like to share with a large and appreciate audience, feel free to email them to me for consideration.GrrlScientistguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Authorities probe mass bird deaths along coast The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is investigating the death of large numbers of birds on Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay island beaches. abc.net.au |