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Scientists Discover Dragon

July 22, 2009 By 64 Comments
Varanus lirungensis
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A new species of monitor lizard closely related to the Komodo dragon has been discovered by German scientists in Indonesia. The discovery was made after close examination of the new specimen using morphological characteristics and DNA analysis. Taxonomically classified as Varanus lirungensis, the new species “illustrates the high diversity of monitor lizards in Indonesia,” according [...]

Steven Chu Gives Me Hope

July 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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United States Secretary of Energy Steven Chu is by far my favorite member of the Obama Administration; I am even one of his many facebook fans. It is so exciting that science is no longer a dirty word, as it was during the dark ages of Bush. To me, the Nobel Laueate Chu comes across [...]

6 Businessmen Caught Smuggling 11 Tons of Ivory

July 21, 2009 By 5 Comments
Elephant tusk
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Six businessmen from Tanzania were charged today for smuggling 11 tons of elephant ivory worth $600,000 into the Philippines and Vietnam. The men were charged under 11 counts of conspiracy, unlawful hunting, exporting concealed and undeclared items as well as making false documents. It’s likely that the intricate smuggling job was conducted between October 2008 [...]

Curbside Recycling Should Be Standard Service

July 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment
recycling-by-editor-b-cc
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So close but no curbside recycling. If I lived two or three miles to the west, in Flushing, I’d have curbside recycling, but no I have to collect all my stuff and haul it to downtown Flint to CBC Recycling. Or wait and go early on a Saturday morning to the once a month recycling [...]

Bird-Friendly Fishing Techniques to Help Reduce Massive Number of Albatross Deaths

July 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Waved Albatross
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100,000 albatrosses are killed every year due to longline fishing activities – and four species of albatross are now critically endangered. Simple changes in fishing techniques can give these birds a chance. Longline fishing is having a devastating effect on albatross populations. In order to catch species such as tuna and swordfish, longline fishing boats [...]