Environmental

Recent Posts

As Much as 1/3 of Earth's Biomass Lives Beneath the Ocean Floor
Posted on 28 May 2012 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

They are referred to as intraterrestrials, organisms that live inside the Earth. Most live beneath the bottom of the oceans. Some live in the tens of meters of mud just beneath the seafloors; others, following fractures in rock, live hundreds of meters... Read More

Bee Explorers Have a Slightly Different Genetic Makeup than the Rest of the Hive
Posted on 6 May 2012 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

Researchers have found that honey bees who consistently explore new environments for food have different genetic activity in their brains than their less-adventurous hive mates. In a demonstration how nature often uses the same tools in various settings... Read More

Newly discovered deep-sea currents carry biota from one vent to another
Posted on 10 May 2011 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

The "accepted wisdom" for many years has been that the deep-sea ocean floor was boring; nothing much happened, including currents. Some areas were assumed to be so devoid to life and motion that they were considered as potential burial sites... Read More

Bee Explorers Have a Slightly Different Genetic Makeup than the Rest of the Hive
Posted on 6 May 2012 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

Researchers have found that honey bees who consistently explore new environments for food have different genetic activity in their brains than their less-adventurous hive mates. In a demonstration how nature often uses the same tools in various settings... Read More

Humans can transmit diseases to gorillas
Posted on 30 Apr 2011 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

Prior posts have noted and described a number of human diseases that had their origin in animals. Now it appears that some diseases can be transmitted from humans to gorillas. Ecotourism has been seen as a boon for countries with "interesting"... Read More

Diversity not only provides increased stability to ecological communities, it is more efficient for remediating contamination
Posted on 13 Apr 2011 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

It has long been an axiom of environmental science that a diverse ecological community (aka biodiversity) is more resilient and productive because it stabilizes the ecological system as a whole. This should not be confused with a focus on an individual... Read More

As Much as 1/3 of Earth's Biomass Lives Beneath the Ocean Floor
Posted on 28 May 2012 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

They are referred to as intraterrestrials, organisms that live inside the Earth. Most live beneath the bottom of the oceans. Some live in the tens of meters of mud just beneath the seafloors; others, following fractures in rock, live hundreds of meters... Read More

Newly discovered deep-sea currents carry biota from one vent to another
Posted on 10 May 2011 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

The "accepted wisdom" for many years has been that the deep-sea ocean floor was boring; nothing much happened, including currents. Some areas were assumed to be so devoid to life and motion that they were considered as potential burial sites... Read More