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It is one of the great dilemmas of climate change: We take such comfort from air conditioning that worldwide energy consumption for that purpose has already tripled since 1990. It is on track to grow even faster through mid-century - and assuming fossil-fuel–fired power plants provide the electricity, that could cause enough carbon dioxide emissions to warm the planet by another deadly half-degree Celsius. A paper published Tuesday in the Nature Communications proposes a partial remedy: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (or HVAC) systems move a lot of air. They can replace the entire air volume in an office building...

ALACHUA, Fla. (AP) — A large, flightless bird native to Australia and New Guinea attacked and killed its owner when the man fell on his property in Florida, authorities said Saturday. The Alachua County Fire Rescue Department told the Gainesville Sun that a cassowary killed the man Friday on the property near Gainesville, likely using its long claws. The victim, whose name was not released, was apparently breeding the birds, state wildlife officials said.

...The government, they felt, wasn’t doing enough to protect the lake. And so they wondered: What if the lake could protect itself? The idea they hatched that night ultimately resulted in a special election, which had the citizens of Toledo voting Tuesday on a very unusual question: Should Lake Erie be granted the legal rights normally reserved for a person? The measure passed easily, which means citizens will be able to sue on behalf of the lake whenever its right to flourish is being contravened — that is, whenever it’s in danger of major environmental harm...If the stakes felt almost...

DISCLAIMER: I'm a newb...please forgive any etiquette oversights. These next few days are a fortunate time to look at the real-time hatch and growth of wild Bald Eagles. Time frame to fledge is only 5 months! The kids grow up so fast... Now check this out...the nest is located near a fish spawning-hatchery so you can very often see live fish brought to the nest (by the parents of course) to feed the young. Awesome stuff for school age children's report projects. >>The nest is huge...over 1000 lbs! Hope you enjoy..

Drone shot of ergets and herons roosting in the middle of shallow lake. Ducks on the wing Sandhill cranes in a low speed, low altitude fly bye. Nothing says breakfast like a fat, juicy rat. Anhinga or water turkey. (Shot this with my new to me $5.00 Nikon P600)

CNN reports: "James Watson, who discovered the double-helix structure of DNA alongside Francis Crick in the 1950s based on the work of British chemist Rosalind Franklin, said in a PBS film that genes cause a difference in intelligence between white and black people in IQ tests. "The 90-year-old's comments were labeled 'reprehensible' by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) on New York's Long Island, where Watson had been the director from 1968 to 1993. The laboratory said it 'unequivocally rejects the unsubstantiated and reckless personal opinions Dr. James D. Watson expressed,' noting the statements were 'reprehensible [and] unsupported by science[.]'"...

Baby mice have been made with two mums and no dad, say researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It took a substantial feat of genetic engineering to break the rules of reproduction. The scientists said the "bimaternal" (two mammas) animals were healthy and went on to have pups of their own. But there was bad news on the all-male front. Mice with double-dads were attempted, but died within days of being born. Why even try?The researchers were trying to answer fundamental questions about why we have sex. Mammals, including us, can make babies only through sexual reproduction - aka...

Going to start this back up, with permission from Islander7. Posts, comments and stories for the birders/birdwatchers/twitchers on FR. Post and share. I was walking through a small sanctuary in my county, when I had two Barred Owls paying very close attention to me. I happened to look straight up over my left shoulder and saw why. Then on the other side of the tree I saw another reason why. One of the best birding experiences I have had. Parent bringing in the food. The other watchful parent Barn Swallow Northern Harrier so focused on hunting it was within 30...

PRESTON, Idaho -- A school district in Idaho is investigating an incident that took place last week in which a science teacher allegedly fed a live puppy to one of his reptiles in front of students. Local animal activist Jill Parrish is the one who filed the police report. "What I have learned in the last four days is disgusting. It is sick. It is sick," Parrish told KSTU. Parrish said a teacher at Preston Junior High School told her that last week after school, Robert Crosland fed a live puppy, who was reportedly sick, to one of his reptiles....

VIDEO Watch what happens when a Giant Trevally versus an Tern in this amazing fish eats bird clip from Blue Planet II. Usually Giant trevally are solitary hunters but they have come in numbers to try their luck at catching potential prey. Fledgling Tern are wary to spend too much time on the water but even flying close to the surface puts them in grave danger.

These pictures of the natural world illustrate the eerie side of Mother Nature.  Brace yourself for some of the most alarming natural occurrences. [See more at the link.]

On Fri., Sept. 15, Secretary of the Interior (SOI) Ryan Zinke signed Secretarial Order 3356, continuing the Department of Interior’s (DOI) efforts to support sportsmen and women and enhance conservation stewardship. The order seeks to improve wildlife management and conservation, increase access to public lands for hunting, shooting and fishing and puts a greater emphasis on the promoting outdoor activities among youth, veterans and minority communities. -----SNIP----- As noted in the DOI press release, SO 3356 directs bureaus within the department to: 1. Within 120 days produce a plan to expand access for hunting and fishing on BLM, USFWS and...

There are few things more beautiful than an artfully composed photograph of nature. And Daily Mail has more than its share of images of landscape art. To the music of Joseph Blanchard.

Watch The Arctic A land of crystalline beauty and stark landscapes on top of the world, the Ar... HOT on Explore - Live Cam Highlights and Films Watch what is hot and happening on the explore network http://EXPLORE.org is the largest live nature cam network on the planet. We bring nature to you, raw, unscripted, and unedited.

A few recent shots from around home. If you have bird shots, please share 'em. Mr Tricolor enjoys his breakfast. Common gallinule or marsh hen Our national bird. Love these amazing raptors Coots in the sunrise. Lake Jackson is just a block east of us. I have to look at this each morning as I leave home for work.

Forget yoga. Nature documentaries could be just as good in helping you reduce stress. A new study has found even watching small clips of shows such as Planet Earth II boosts people's emotions of awe, contentedness, joy and amusement. It also can instantly help reduce anxiety, fear and tiredness.

The Trump administration has dropped the federal government’s challenge to a nationwide injunction issued last year that blocked the fulfillment of Obama administration guidelines stating that transgender students’ access to bathrooms and other gender-segregated school facilities was protected under existing federal civil rights law. The injunction was issued in August by Judge Reed O’Connor of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas as part of a lawsuit filed by more than a dozen states over the Obama administration’s position that Title IX, the federal law that bans sex discrimination in schools, protects transgender students. Under that interpretation,...

Our Sinful Nature by Charles Meek The Bible makes it abundantly clear that man is sinful at our core. This does not mean that we can do no good at all, but it does mean that every aspect of our lives is touched by sin in some way. This is a fundamental understanding unique to Christianity, because it points to the absolute need of a Savior. All other religions and worldviews hold that man is basically good, and thus perfectible by law and education. An apologetic for the faith should include this instruction. Here are some examples of what the...

It was sunny and warm in Florida today. High was 86. Got a little camera and nature time today too. Hope you enjoy. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and an awesome New Year. I believe 2017 is gonna a great start to the Trump revolution to restore America! - - - Anhinga on a pier sunning his feathers. Great egret in the swamp (Highlands Hammock State Park) Red shouldered hawk looking for mice.

Under the radar, near a campfire, a counter-cultural force is rising. Only three years old, Trail Life USA, the Christian answer to the politically correct Boy Scouts of America, is operating 700 troops in 48 states, with nearly 30,000 troop members. It’s still small compared to the BSA, which began in 1910 and claims more than two million members. But Trail Life could be on the verge of far more growth as the culture descends into madness and parents seek a haven for their impressionable sons.