"A Scientist's New Job: Keeping The Polar Bears' Plight Public"
"One government biologist discovered the best way he could help save polar bears was to quit his job."
Source: NPR, 12/30/2013
Science
Report Raises New Concerns About EPA Probe of Texas Fracking
"The Environmental Protection Agency was justified in intervening to examine possible risks of gas drilling to Texas drinking water, the agency's internal watchdog reported Tuesday. But environmentalists say the report raises fresh concerns about the EPA's 2012 decision to halt its investigation into possible well water contamination in Parker County, Texas."
"The EPA Inspector General's report is the latest analysis to spotlight the regulator's handling of high-profile cases of alleged drinking-water contamination near natural gas drilling sites.
Source: LA Times, 12/26/2013
"'Massive' Reservoir of Melt Water Found Under Greenland Ice"
"Researchers say they have discovered a large reservoir of melt water that sits under the Greenland ice sheet all year round."
Source: BBC News, 12/24/2013
"Yeah, About That Global Warming 'Pause'"
"If you’ve been paying any attention at all to the ongoing noise about global warming, then you’ve heard of the so-called 'pause'. This is the idea that the planet hasn’t actually been warming for the past 15 years or so."
Source: Slate, 12/17/2013
"NASA Says Ozone Hole Stabilizing But Won't Fully Recover Until 2070"
"The hole in the ozone layer is stabilizing but will take until about 2070 to fully recover, according to new research by NASA scientists."
Source: LA Times, 12/13/2013
Podesta Recused From KXL, But Not Company That Worked With TransCanada
The Obama White House announced that newly appointed Keystone XL opponent John Podesta would recuse himself from any decisions about the controversial pipeline. But documents have shown that ERM, the company that produced a favorable report on the pipeline for the State Department, had serious conflicts of interest, which were hidden by both ERM and the State Department.
Source: Huffington Post, 12/12/2013
Interior Probe of Polar-Bear Scientist Buried with Settlement
As efforts to suppress science go, the Interior Department's dunking-stool investigation of scientist Charles Monnett (who published observations that polar bears were drowning because of ice retreat) was quite a story. Now, with a $100,000 settlement, it is a story that may never be fully told, including whether there was evidence of political interference by top Interior officials.
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Senate GOPers Seek To Hide Silica Science Funding
OSHA's proposed silica rule "requests" (not requires) that commenters state clearly who paid for any research they cite and declare whether there may be possible conflicts of interest or whether the funder of the research may have influenced its findings. But 16 Senate Republicans have complained of OSHA's request for funding disclosure.
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"Polar Bear Researcher Gets $100,000 In Settlement With Feds"
"A scientist whose observations of drowned polar bears raised alarms about climate change has received $100,000 to settle a whistle-blower complaint against an agency of the Department of the Interior."
Source: NPR, 12/04/2013
"Journal Withdraws Controversial French Monsanto GM Study"
"The publisher of a controversial and much-criticized study suggesting genetically modified corn caused tumors in rats has withdrawn the paper after a year-long investigation found it did not meet scientific standards."
Source: Reuters, 12/02/2013
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