News Recap

Wow, it's been more than a month since I made my last post. Exams have left me thoroughly washed out, which I hope will disappate soon because I want to enjoy learning again, especially about non-medical stuff which i've neglected for a long while. So, in light of the pursuit of new knowledge, I thought it was time to look back at what managed to catch my eye over the past few months:

Bhopal, India, 1984: A chemical factory spewed tonnes of toxic gas into the air, killing thousands and exposing half a million to chronic diseases. A quarter of a century later, villagers say they still feel the effects. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8388355.stm

In 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez spilled its contents into the Alaskan ocean, wiping out thousands of miles of coastland. In recent news, oil has been detected just under the surface of these gravel beaches. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8465607.stm

These stories are reminders that the environment is more delicate than we think.

In other news, animals are smarter than we think, using tools (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8181233.stm), mind control (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8383577.stm) and disinfectant (http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8152000/8152574.stm), and even being picky in their mates (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/sci_nat_enl_1248872466/html/1.stm), although some get a bit confused about the species barrier (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8281382.stm). Some mating battles are simply more titanic than others, as proven by the filming of these humpback whales (http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8318000/8318182.stm). And just because nature is cool, here are some pretty pictures: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/sci_nat_enl_1256135662/html/1.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8364761.stm

And we still keep learning from nature, in less desirable (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8237691.stm) and more desirable (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8286500.stm, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/south_of_scotland/8279194.stm) and some bizarre (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8302903.stm) ways.

To round it off, a few articles that which we so desire, choice:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8280564.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8395780.stm

I'll not say much this time, because if you follow up on all these articles it'll be enough to make your head spin. It's time for you guys to decide what to read, and what to believe.