QUICK NEWS, July 6: CLIMATE HEAT TURNS MALE LIZARDS FEMALE; SOLAR-POWERED FLIGHT CROSSES THE PACIFIC; 1ST U.S. OCEAN WIND NOW BUILDING
CLIMATE HEAT TURNS MALE LIZARDS FEMALE Climate change turning male dragon lizards into females
PTI, 6 July 2015 (The Economic Times)
“Scientists have confirmed for the first time that sex change [of male dragon lizards into females] can occur naturally due to exposure to increased temperatures resulting from climate change…[Researchers from the University of Canberra were] able to show that a reptile's sex determination process can switch rapidly from one determined by chromosomes to one determined by temperature…[W]hen exposed to extreme temperatures [in natural conditions], genetically male dragons turned into [fertile] females…[With field data from 131 adult lizards and controlled breeding experiments, molecular analyses] showed that some warmer lizards had male chromosomes but were actually female…[From studying the new breeding lines, they discovered those lizards] could trigger a rapid transition from a genetically-dependent system to a temperature-dependent system…[The] sex-reversed mothers - females who are genetic males - laid more eggs than normal mothers…[and the] ‘dad lizards make better mums’…” click here for more
SOLAR-POWERED FLIGHT CROSSES THE PACIFIC Record-breaking flight shows the power of solar energy; Solar Impulse 2's flight from Japan to Hawaii, using only solar power, has put clean technology back on the agenda.
5 July 2015 (AlJazeera)
"A record-breaking flight using electricity produced from the sun is showcasing what is possible using clean technology…The accomplishment marks the latest leg of a round-the-world mission by two Swiss explorers to promote the promise of clean technology...Solar Impulse 2 took off from Abu Dhabi on March 9 on the first stage of a 35,000 km journey…The sun-driven plane completed its latest leg from Japan to Hawaii… setting three world records in the process…” click here for more
1ST U.S. OCEAN WIND NOW BUILDING First Offshore Wind Farm in U.S. Powers Ahead; Proponents of Block Island project hope its five towering windmills will boost coastal sites
Jon Kamp, July 2, 2015 (Wall Street Journal)
“…Five towering windmills off the [Block Island]’s southeast coast are scheduled to begin generating power late next year…[Proponents] hope it will help jump-start the offshore wind industry in the U.S. The American Wind Energy Association trade group estimates there are 11 projects in 10 states in various stages of development. The U.S. lags behind other parts of the world in developing offshore wind, particularly Europe, which has been tapping the power source for more than two decades…In 2010, Rhode Island state regulators approved an amended deal for the state’s main power utility to buy the wind farm’s output…[T]he project is fully financed and permitted, and workers are expected to begin anchoring steel foundations to the ocean floor [in late July]…The new power source means Block Island residents will see their power bills go down roughly 30% by replacing the expensive diesel power…” click here for more
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