The poisonous secret of some algae

Some species of algae have been found to contain domoic acid – a powerful neurotoxin,. Researchers at the University of Santa Cruz in California have found that, when consumed in sufficient quantities, it can affect sea lions, birds and humans. In people, it can cause headaches and memory loss, and even death.
Algae blooms are promoted by fertilisers leaching into coastal waters from agricultural and sewage runoff.
The toxin remains even when the algae dies off and sinks with it to the bottom, instead of being dissolved in seawater. This would explain the dead zones at lower depths in a growing number of marine areas. "[It is also] the missing link to explain why domoic acid also shows up in benthic organisms like crabs, shellfish and flatfish," says Raphael Kudela, one of the study’s authors.
(Source: New Scientist) | For further info...

An even keel – for the children's mental health

Mind those arguments within families during childhood: they can be harmful to the children's mental health. This is the conclusion from a 30-year-long research study of 346 boys and girls in New England, each of which was monitored between the ages of 5 and 15.
Those who reported increased arguments with their parents and between their parents were found to be three times more likely to develop major depression, or indulge in drug or alcohol abuse. They were also nearly three times as likely to engage in antisocial behaviour, and more than twice as likely to be unemployed.
The report was published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
(Source: New Scientist) | Cost: | For further info...

Future oil spills off BC coasts

"Where there are tankers, accidents happen.…There is an average of four oil tanker spills worldwide each year," said Oonagh O'Connor, Living Ocean's energy campaign manager. "It's not a question of if, but when… There's actually a risk on our coast already with the cruise ships, container vessels and expansions of the ports."

The model takes into account tidal movements, currents and the presence of fresh water and salt water. Separate scenarios show what would happen in summer and winter. What's not predictable is the amount of oil that could foul the coast, said O'Connor.

Former prime minister Pierre Trudeau imposed a ban on tankers in the early 1970's but the Conservative federal government takes issue with the ban. They say that nothing was put on paper.
(Source: Times Colonist) | For further info...

Stats on your connection to the 'Net

InternetFrog.com is a useful method to test the speed and other stats of your Internet connection.
You can also test the Quality of your VOIP Circuit, get a Browser Info analysis (Client IP Address, Server Port, Request, Encryption, etc.), and there are also links to WHOIS (domain owner information)
Results may vary in the course of the day.
Word of warning: many if not most of the buttons in the navigation panel – e.g. "ISP" are in fact simply shortcuts to advertisements or companies or sites offering that service.
(Source: VMUG) | Cost: Free at this site | For further info...

The measurable benefit of trees

Among the measurable benefits of trees cited:

• Asthma rates for children fall 25% for every extra 350 trees per sq km.
  • Money for a new Heathrow runway could provide 22m street trees.
  • 1,000 new parks could help avoid 74,000 tonnes of carbon a year.
  • For every 5% of tree cover added, water run-off is reduced 2%.
  • A treeless street is 5.5C (10F) warmer than a tree-lined one in hot summers.
  • Property in treeless streets is worth 18% less than buildings in roads that have trees.
  

(Source: Guardian.co.uk) | Cost: | For further info...