Overfishing and the Decline of Fishes

The variety of species in the world's oceans has dropped by as much as 50 percent in the past 50 years, according to a study published last week in the journal Science. This can be attributed to a combination of overfishing, habitat destruction and climate change.

"Where you used to put out a fishing line 50 years ago and catch 10 species, now you catch five species for the same amount of effort. That's a recipe for ecological collapse and disaster," said one of the study authors, biologist Boris Worm of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.

Impermanence

(For this week's Illustration Friday topic: Aging)

Jellyfish as Model for Human Biology

The Toast of Cycling

Lance Armstrong ends his amazing career with a record seventh consecutive Tour de France win today.

The 33-year-old cyclist, who in 1996 was diagnosed with testicular cancer that spread to his brain and lungs, has also given hopes to millions of people with the disease.

"He brought recognition to the fact that even with a very advanced type of cancer you can survive."

Glaciers in a Box

Glacial covers have been used as a way to slow glaciers' melting in Austria. They are large blankets of plastic or foil put over glaciers that work like a picnic cooler, deflecting the summer sun while keeping the contents cool.

Andrea Fischer, an Innsbruck University researcher involved with the project, agrees that climate change caused by pollution must be reduced, but she is not bothered by glaciers' retreat.

"The climate has changed in the past, and it will change in the future," she says.

"The problem with most people is that they don't want anything to change - not their jobs, not their relationships and definitely not the weather."

(For this week's Illustration Friday topic: Tranquility)

Global Poverty

John Cassidy of the New Yorker estimated that if each American would contribute less than the cost of buying a cappuccino from Starbucks once a week, the United States would meet its share of the United Nation poverty plan of forty billion dollars a year by 2015.

London to Host 2012 Summer Olympics

London was chosen today by the Olympics Committee to host the 2012 Summer Games. London's presentation was centered on the theme of inspiring young people. "More than six million young people visit our city every year, and more of them choose our city for their education than any other," said London Mayor Ken Livingstone. "If you wish to mobilize the youth of the world, start in London."

Sandra Day O'Connor

First woman Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor retires today, who is widely viewed as the critical swing vote for a quarter-century on major legal issues of our time ranging from environmental protection to affirmative action to abortion and states' rights.

"Over the years, she has never lost her humility and humanity."