Velocity of Climate Change Varies from Mountain to Marsh

As global temperatures change, not all shifts will be equal. A new global analysis pinpoints the fast pace some species may have to move to remain in a suitable climate. Much of Earth's life forms are fine-tuned for specific ecosystems and their associated climates. Plunk a tree frog down in a harsh habitat it is not well adapted for, and it will fail to thrive—or even survive. Now, with regional climates shifting as a result of global warming, it is unclear just how far—and how fast—organisms will need to travel to keep up with moving climates.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=velocity-climate-change

With trees being cut down in the Rain Forest among other things there is more and more carbon dioxide entering the Earth’s atmosphere. This is causing the oceans to become more acidic. This acidification if killing coral, helping algae flourish, and causing fish ear bones to grow bigger than normal. The carbon dioxide puts large amounts of magnesium sulphate and boric acid into the ocean. These are sound absorbers and are becoming more concentrated in the water. This is why it is getting harder for water animals to hear. Many of the animals use sonar to navigate at these depths and with a reduced scense of hearing it will make this difficult. Researchers suggest that the sound absorption could fall about 60 percent in high latitudes and deep waters within the next couple of centuries. This was very interesting to hear that the carbon dioxide is affecting ocean life as well as the many other things it does on land. This article gives a more scientific explanation for what is happening.

Global Warming?

There are many mixed opinions about global warming and if it is really occurring. Scientific tests have been made about the affects it is having on the Earth. At first scientists believed that the sea level would grow only a small amount compared to new research. They now believe that the sea level will rise up and submerge one third of Florida, southern Manhattan and even the entire countries of Bangladesh and the Netherlands. It seems like with these projections we will have most of the New Jersey coast which is well populated covered in water. Although this is not going to happen in our lifetime it seems that it is something to be worried about if you are a believer. The warmth is melting ice caps which is putting more water into the oceans. Through research scientists also concurred that the sea level during the Eemian stage which was about 125,000 years ago was about 13 to 20 feet higher then it is today. Many might not know that the Earth had anther period of global warming which was called the Eemian stage. This makes me believe that global warming if it is occurring has little to do with the human population on Earth. Unless the Neanderthals were driving cars and polluting the air I do not think humans have much to do with this occurring. It is the Earths natural cycle that is making it happen. To read more on this topic visit here.

‘Extreme’ genes sheds light on origins of photosynthesis

Scientist Jeffrey Touchman has been working on filling the gaps in evolution to find out where photosynthesis first took place. With more research, he may be able to find the link between anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthetic organisms.

http://asunews.asu.edu/20091211_extremegene

Should Flowers Be Banned in Hospitals?

The most common gift to bring someone that happens to be stuck in a hospital is usually a bouquet of flowers or a get well soon card. Some people are concerned that flowers might actually be a risk for patients in hospitals. The United Kingdom has already banned flowers from hospitals grounds. Reasons to ban flowers was due to the bacterial growth in vase water and for the fact that patients and flowers compete for oxygen supply. In 1973 scientist found that the flower water in a vase contain a high percentage of bacteria, but have yet to cause infection to patients at hospitals. Also in the 1900's, nurses would take flowers out of patients rooms at night because they believed that the plants would take-in oxygen instead of producing it. This theory was later dismissed as a myth. The nurses are more worried about maintaining the flower instead of infections.

Many people may argue that flowers have beneficial effects for patients. When patients are giving flowers their emotions, mood, social interaction, and memory increases for the good. Flowers, plant and other herds have been used in the medical field for over 200 years now. Other studies show that patients with flowers had a decrease in blood rate and pressure and also less pain, anxiety and fatigue. Patients that have flowers in their rooms may have little risk but the beneficial effects of the flowers out-weight the risks. The power of the flower should not be banned for hospitals.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091216203449.htm

New Orleans and much of South Florida expected to be completely submerged

In recent studies by scientists at both Princeton University and Harvard University have come up with the statistics to suggest that even an extra two degrees of moderate global warming can be responsible for 20-30 feet of long term sea level rise. This would effect some parts of the United States east coast, most of Netherlands, nearly all of Bangledesh and the most problematic of areas, South Florida and New Orleans which can be lost forever. If precautionary measures are not taken and we do not begin to monitor and prevent the emissions of greenhouse gasses we could see this type of rise in global warming of this magnitude sometime during this next year.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091216131747.htm

http://http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/12/14/scientists_isolate_new_antifreeze_molecule_in_alaska_beetle.html

Scientists have identified a novel antifreeze molecule in a freeze-tolerant Alaska beetle able to survive temperatures below minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Unlike all previously described biological antifreezes that contain protein, this new molecule, called xylomannan, has little or no protein. It is composed of a sugar and a fatty acid and may exist in new places within the cells of organisms.

The need for the anti freeze is because the cold can cause cells to die on insects. Just like when something in the freezer has been ther too long and ice forms on it. The same thing happens to insects.

UAF graduate student and project collaborator Todd Sformo found that the Alaska Upis beetle, which has no common name, first freezes at about minus 18.5 degrees Fahrenheit in the lab and survives temperatures down to about 104 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.

A possible advantage of this novel molecule comes from it having the same fatty acid that cells membranes do. This similarity, says Barnes, may allow the molecule to become part of a cell wall and protect the cell from internal ice crystal formation. Antifreeze molecules made of proteins may not fit into cell membranes.