http://cen.acs.org/articles/89/web/2011/12/Researchers-Follow-PesticidesMigration-Arctic.html

Unfortunately, a phenomena exists in the ocean that is threatening to the environment, and the arctic ocean is in recent focus for this type of threat. Six different types of pesticides are in large concentration and moving toward the arctic ocean every year. These pesticides come from all different countries and end up in the arctic for some reason. Scientists are trying to figure out why this is happening, and whether the pesticides travel by air or by sea. Obviously, this is harmful to the ocean environment, and scientists are trying to find a solution before the problem worsens. Apparently, the pesticides degrade later in their life in the ocean and can last a very long time. The harmful chemicals after degradation are not in any way positive, and pose a definite threat to the existing life in the Antactica.

http://www.news-press.com/article/20111201/GREEN/111201024/Environmental-group-challenges-new-Fla-water-standards?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome

An environmental group is pressing for regulation on pollution in Florida waters. The concern stems from "blue-green algae" that is toxic to the water and a result of over-enrichment. Fertilizer, manure, and sewage are posing problems for Florida waters and threaten the atmosphere within them. Economic opposers claim that plants will cost more money to be made environmentally regulated, but in my opinion this is less important than preserving the ocean. It is a good thing that people are realizing that the water needs to be treated with care.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/dozens-of-whales-dead-after-mass-strandings-off-new-zealand-australia/story-e6frfku0-1226196036455

It is estimated that thirty-two pilot whales have been pronounced dead on a portion of Australia's coastline. Another thirty-four remain in shambles, and their lives hang on to the fate of the ocean. In tasmania, the island state where countless mammals have breached and thus died over the last 30 years, is the spot where the whales were recently seen stranded. This is a very sad place in history, and there needs to be a solution that will stop these mammals from mindlessly dying. Unfortunately, a solution is clearly not simple and this recent problem is a long term epidemic for the large mammal community in the ocean.

PS: Bad weather has stopped rescue attempts in the past, and continues to refute rescue attempts recently. This is another of the pending problems rescuers are facing trying to save these animals.

Very interesting. I'm confused as to the difference between a cyclone and a disaster that we are familiar with, like tornadoes or hurricanes. Are these mid-ocean cyclones dangerous? Do they cause damage to humans, or aquatic life in the ocean?

http://www.thestatecolumn.com/science/climate-change-ice-age-connection/

Scientists are trying to relate climate change to the ice age that occurred almost 50,000 years ago. The reason that the two are related is obvious - our climate change, though vastly different from the freezing one that occurred so long ago, is similar in simplicity to the ice age. Therefore, scientists have attempted to conclude whether this climate change will force some species off of Earth. It is very difficult to analyze this information, as there is not a lot of information to analyze in the first place. However, scientists have been studying fossils of extinct animals from the ice age and are trying to determine the causes of their extinction, and relate it to extinctions we are or will experience in the near future. The study includes researchers from the United States as well as Denmark, Australia, Sweden, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Russia, China, and Canada. Extracting genetic data from extinct animals like Wooly Mammoth, Wild Horse, and Sabre-Tooth Tiger proves tedious but interesting, and hopefully scientists and people can learn more about global warming and the impact it will have on us and the Earth with this study.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/11/asteroid-yu55-closer-to-earth-than-moon.html

A new, fairly unknown asteroid is going to swoop closer to Earth than the Moon! This asteroid, called YU55, is astonishing scientists, and will come closer to Earth than any other asteroid since 1976. Don't worry - scientists say there is no chance of a collision with this particular asteroid. However, this opportunity is a vast learning experience for many scientists, who only dream to see an asteroid this close without devastation. Asteroids like this one may have created life on our Earth - though only a theory, it is a viable one. Asteroids can contain miniscule amounts of water, which is the very substance that we think created our very life on Earth. This 'natural cycle' of life in space is curiously interesting and scientists vow to learn more about this cycle and whether it is the cycle that gave birth to Earth's life.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5876499/Japan-hit-by-invasion-of-giant-Nomuras-jellyfish.html

Giant Jellyfish in Japan are posing a major problem for fish, fishermen, and the people who rely on both. Unfortunately, the surge of Giant Jellyfish has invaded the oceans and shrunk the fish population to a minimum. The Jellyfish spray a deadly toxin on fish eggs and therefore exterminates most of the fish before they are born. The Giant Jellyfish poses a major problem for fishermen as well, breaking their nets and costing thousands in repairs. Many fishermen are out of business, and people are wondering what is the cause of such a national catastrophe?

Many suggestions range as the cause of this explosion in the population of Giant Jellyfish. Global warming imply warmer conditions for Jellyfish like these to breed. However, recently, a new theory has emerged that suggests Jellyfish took a different path to end up in Japan's home territory. The theory suggests Terrential rains that caused flooding years before poured freshwater into the sea, giving jellyfish a gap to get to new land. This gap is caused by changes in salinity in the fresh water and sea water. The sea water is denser, and falls, whereas the fresh water contains no salt and rises to the surface. The Jellyfish were given the opportunity to cover new ground, and according to the theory, did so. Regardless of how they came into Japan, they are causing destruction and theories are being made on how to stop their reign over the sea.

Poison administered in waterholes is a circumstantial tragedy. I feel so sad that so many animals are being mindlessly slaughtered. These animals need our protection - if this isn't a wake up call, then I can't imagine what is. The food chain is a fragile system, and without our help it will be presented with risks of pollution and forms of unresourceful hunting. Extinction is not a temporary state - it is permanent. Hunters not taking precautionary steps to better the environment with their methods are disgraceful to Earth.

Kelley, how do you think this affects the environment, and what do youi think are some steps of training citizens to practice ethical hunting?

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP607a6f7dfd5b4131acb1e111c0eac0c1.html

Toxic algae blooms around the great lakes are threatening species of fish that are important to the ocean ecosystem. I believe that this is relevant to our class and the health of the ocean because if recent trends continue these effects could seriously damage the food chain of the ocean. The algae blooms that are growing in the great lakes are reducing oxygen to the fish, and slowly killing them off. Fishermen are having to stretch their boats farther distances, which is causing problems in the fishing economy. Overall, these problems with the great lakes could become worse and cause a huge catastrophe, not only stretching to the species of the ocean but also reaching us.

http://img.ibtimes.com/www/articles/20110920/216765_nasa-1-6b-space-taxi-astronauts-space-shuttle-us.htm

NASA has decided to adopt a 'space taxi' idea to shuttle astronauts from Earth to our international space station. This is important because as of right now, we are relying on the Russians to transport our astronauts to space, at a pricey $50 million per American astronaut. It is important that we reduce our reliance on Russia, as their forms of transportation are not reliable. Furthermore, NASA has downgraded its funding, so this type of investment for new space equipment may accelerate new investments of similar types; excellent news for advocates of the USA space program NASA.

Hello, and sorry for the late response.

I think there is a double standard - space exploration is seen as remarkable by a media viewer because of its implications. Space is unknown, mysterious, and interesting. The ocean is old news to people - maybe not scientists, but the listeners. The ocean has been marveled at for centuries, but space has been wondered about and the truth is only now, in the last 30 years or so, surfacing - and slowly. Therefore, people are less interested in funding ocean exploration, and obviously would not fund a $50 million exploratory mission to the ocean anytime soon. Let me stress one thing: I am not saying space exploration is any more important than ocean exploration, I am just saying it is less likely to be funded because of recent interests. One day, if science comes to the general conclusion that ocean exploration is as important or more important than exploration of the space, then serious funding might be considered for ocean exploration. Until then, most people want to hear about the unknown of space time, planets, moons, other stars, and possible life on other planets!