New studies from North Carolina State University suggest that Native Americans from the Cherokee tribe during the Trail of Tears in the 1830’s experienced an interference with the normal growth of their skulls due to extreme amounts of stress.  Stress affects cranial length, and this affect decreases the size of the skull. Data collected of adults born between 1783 and 1874 shows a significant truncation of the skull. The leader of the study, Ann H. Ross, says that this type of research allows scientists to interpret the effects of historical events.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/22/science/the-trail-of-tears-and-of-damaged-skulls.html?ref=science

White House Unveils Plans to Cut Methane Emissions

President Obama and his administration have announced a new plan in which methane emissions will be significantly reduced. This plan is another part of what the White House plans to build to take action toward reducing climate change problems.  Methane in the United States has been increasing in recent years mainly though hydraulic fracturing and this gas can lead to more entrapment of infrared energy in Earth. The EPA and the white house will work together on this plan by updating standards and making them stricter. The EPA believes that these plans will be completed by 2016, right before President Obama will leave office.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/29/us/politics/white-house-unveils-plans-to-to-cut-methane-emissions.html?ref=earth&_r=0

Pollution and Dust in Britain Bring Health Warnings

In London, high levels of air pollution were reported in parts of England, which made the government enact smog alerts and health warnings for elderly and people with heart of lung problems. The French last month had seen similar problems of air pollution and the government had responded by imposing partial driving bans and offering free mass transit for several days. Environmentalists have used these incidents to emphasize the problems of pollution cannot be avoided, but rather fixed immediately.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/03/world/europe/britain-pollution.html?ref=science&_r=0

After Fires at Golf Courses, Study Suggests Unusual Culprits: Titanium Clubs

Recent studies by researchers at the University of California, Irvine have shown that titanium golf clubs, when striking a rock, can create sparks hot enough to start a brush fire. In California, there have been two recent golf course fires, and although they have been originally thought to be caused by cigarettes or cigars, were concluded that both incidents involved 3-irons with titanium alloy heads striking the ground and creating sparks that caused the fire. Thus, it was concluded that people should not hit from these areas if they do not wish to burn down a golf course.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/21/sports/golf/titanium-clubs-can-spark-a-fire-after-striking-a-rock-study-finds.html?ref=science

Questions as More Wastewater Flows in North Carolina

Duke Energy, a power holding company based in North Carolina that is under federal investigation for unlawfully spilling toxic waste into the Dan River in N.C., has just released wastewater last week from a second site that is thought to be an illegal act by state regulators. These state regulators have claimed that Duke Energy has violated water pollution laws in 6 different sites by spilling coal ash, from burning coal that makes electricity, into the water. Although critics have claimed that the company has “an overly cozy relationship with state regulators,” the state environmental agency has responded by calling for tougher regulations of coal ash. In response to this, Duke Energy has said this month that it will move coal ash from several sites away from public water, and will remove water from ash ponds within 24-36 months.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/us/north-carolina-investigating-another-duke-energy-site.html?ref=earth

After Fukushima, Utilities Prepare for Worst

At the Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant in Pennsylvania, engineers and technicians have been taking precautions and preparing for scenarios that could possibly occur and create major world problems. Three years after the Fukushima disaster, power plants, such as Peach Bottom, have learned from this tragedy to take precautions. New pumps, connections, and multiple emergency back-up plans will be installed to defend and address nearly every possible scenario that could happen at these sites. Unfortunately, remodeling these power plants costs somewhere between 400 to 500 million dollars, a costly amount of money,  and leads the public to question whether nuclear energy is really the ideal source of energy for the future. Thus, while it is important to sanction safety regulations for nuclear plants, I believe a greater importance should be placed on research for a more efficient form of energy.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/business/after-fukushima-utilities-prepare-for-worst.html?ref=science&_r=0

Caribbean Islands Agree to Swap Diesel Power for Renewable Sources

Several Caribbean counties, including St. Lucia, Turks, Caicos, and the British Virgin Islands, have committed to producing energy through renewable sources over the current mode of diesel generators. Such renewable sources include wind, solar, or geothermal energy. According to Richard Branson, the Caribbean Islands have always paid extremely high electricity costs, and this renewable push will not only reduce them sharply, but help improve the quality of the region by producing cleaner energy. While experts say that the need to create renewable energy is still too expensive for the continental United States, but will strive to promote change when costs become more pragmatic.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/07/business/energy-environment/caribbean-islands-agree-to-swap-diesel-power-for-renewable-sources.html?action=click&module=Search&region=searchResults%230&version=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fquery.nytimes.com%2Fsearch%2Fsitesearch%2F%3Faction%3Dclick%26region%3DMasthead%26pgtype%3DHomepage%26module%3DSearchSubmit%26contentCollection%3DHomepage%26t%3Dqry409%23%2Frenewable%2Benergy%2F30days%2F