Harvesting chunks of ice from the bottom of the ocean and beneath the Arctic permafrost may yield a source of burnable fuel in the future. Gas hydrates are a form of frozen natural gas that readily combusts when lit by a match, suggesting a promising source for renewable energy, according to researchers working with the U.S. Geological Survey. The gas hydrates also would leave a smaller carbon footprint than other fossil fuels. “These gas hydrates could serve as a bridge to our energy future until cleaner fuel sources, such as hydrogen and solar energy, are more fully realized,” says the study co-leader, research geologist Tim Collett.
Source: American Chemical Society, 1155 Sixteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Web site www.acs.org .
Allergy sufferers already can obtain warnings for oncoming sneezes and itches from weather forecasts during pollen season. Now, meteorologists can also help predict the likelihood of migraine headaches, asthma attacks, arthritis flare-ups, and other chronic conditions. A new, free service called MediClim.com tracks weather patterns to identify when health-impacting events may occur. The service sends an e-mail alert to a subscriber to warn if the weather is likely to trigger a problem, such as changes in barometric pressure or humidity, which can exacerbate arthritis. Armed with the weather-health predictions, patients can consult their doctors to find ways to minimize the weather’s impacts on their chronic conditions.
Source: MediClim, www.mediclim.com
New York City is only a few feet above sea level, so the rising sea levels predicted by climate modelers should give the city and other parts of the northeastern U.S. coast cause for urgent concern. Sea-level rise is now expected to occur twice as fast in the twenty-first century as it did in the twentieth, bringing a greater risk of hurricanes and winter storm surges, according to a study by the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies at Florida State University. By 2100, thermal expansion and a slowing of the North Atlantic Ocean circulation could increase sea levels in this region by as much as 18 inches, Yin predicts. Aside from potential flooding, other potential problems include beach erosion, loss of wetlands, and increased salinity of estuaries. The good news is that a cut in greenhouse gas emissions—by 70% this century—could diminish this threat, according to the latest report by the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Sources: Florida State University, Media Relations, 114 Westcott Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32306. Web site http://unicomm.fsu.edu .
Trend watchers watching trends in language in order to identify trends in culture may want to check out Merriam-Webster’s Open Dictionary.
The latest-submissions page offers a frequently amusing glimpse into the minds of the word-centric, as well as new social norms. Among the new terms offered recently:
• Unfriending: the act of removing a person from one’s social-networking site. (See also "unfollow" for Twitter, specifically unfollow Thursday.)
• Podference: a podcast of a conference call.
• Textaholic: one who compulsively sends text messages.
• Geekanese: jargon used by geeks, especially technical language showing specific knowledge.
Source: Open Dictionary, http://www3.merriam-webster.com/opendictionary/
Rising poverty rates in the United States may hit suburbs especially hard, warns a study by the University of Illinois, Chicago. A big yard and a quiet neighborhood away from the hustle and bustle of the city may be part of the suburban dream, but in economic hard times, many suburbanites may be left wondering where the nearest soup kitchen, emergency clinic, or shelter is. The study reports that the number of poor living in suburbs has been increasing since 1990—well before the current recession—and many suburban townships have reduced or eliminated services. Researchers recommend decentralizing services from state governments, along with better coordination of social services among different levels of government and across public and private sectors.
Source: University of Illinois, Chicago, Office of Public Affairs, 601 South Morgan Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607. Web site www.news.uic.edu .