io9: environmental apocalypse

Pollution is Mutating Your Sperm at an Alarming Rate

Annalee Newitz — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:30:17 PST

People living in areas with airborne toxins and pollution are likely to develop 60 percent more mutations in their sperm than people living in areas with relatively clean air. Sperm mutations could lead to infertility for the man, or might make his children suffer any number of birth defects. Will this quickly lead to a world where more than half the population is some kind of mutant? Possibly, though a recent study suggests an easy solution if you want to protect your precious reproductive fluids.

According to the study that revealed these dire statistics, a HEPA filter could stop many of the mutations from happening. A release about the study says:

Mice breathing unfiltered, polluted air downwind of a large industrial area [near two steel mills and a major highway in Ontario, Canada] developed 60 percent more mutations in their sperm than mice whose air was cleaned with HEPA filters . . . The report expands on previous research and suggests that the mutations are not due to the animals' mixed genetic background.

Certainly we can't be sure whether human males would suffer the same rates of mutation as the mice would, but this study does demonstrate a causal link between particulate pollution and mutation. It also helps settle an ongoing debate about whether these kinds of mutations are caused by heredity or environment. Looks like environment is the main cause in the case of these mice.

AP Photo/Color China Photo

Germ-line mutations, DNA damage, and global hypermethylation in mice exposed to particulate air pollution in an urban/industrial location [PNAS]

Rubberized Gas Mask for Raccoons in Polluted Forests

Annalee Newitz — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:33:31 PST

As toxins invade environments where small animals dwell, and as those animals are bio-engineered to be smarter, you're going to see a booming market in safety gear for tiny creatures who want to stay pert for their Cute Overload closeup. I predict a run on artist Bill Burns' rubberized gas masks. They're made for any creature with a snout who is about the size of a possum or raccoon. Burns has got a whole line of safety gear for the post-apocalyptic Cheezburger set, including safety goggles and biohazard suits in diminutive sizes. Below the fold are pictures of some of the most useful gear.

Here is a pair of safety goggles that would be great for a squirrel:
And a complete safety setup, with Red Cross tent, biohazard outfit, and radiation suit:
And what bunny doesn't want a nice bullet proof vest that fits snugly?

You can see more of Bill Burns' work on his website, The Safety Gear Museum.

Artic Ice Will Melt Entirely in Summer 2013

Annalee Newitz — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:20:17 PST

BBC News is reporting on a disturbing study presented this week at the American Geophysical Union meeting that shows the polar ice sheet is melting more quickly than anyone imagined. This past summer, the sheet retreated to a size of 4.13 million sq kilometers, the smallest in recorded history. You can see a flash animation of the ice cap's size over the past 27 years with the BBC story. The scientists who worked on the study say this new data means the ice cap might melt entirely by summer 2013. [BBC News]

Freakishly Huge Algae Bloom in London

Annalee Newitz — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:00:23 PST

Massive algae blooms killed seals, birds and sea lions on the California coast earlier this yea because algae exudes a toxin called domoic acid. When these blooms got out of control, aquatic animals would ingest the toxin because the fish they eat had been nibbling on these super-blooms. But those algae blooms were nothing compared to this one, seen in London's Hyde Park last year.

It's an art installation by Tony Heywood, called Super Algal Bloom. Covered in jewels, the algae is inspired by microscopic pictures of the same kinds of algae that killed seals in California. Don't worry - no animals were harmed in the making of this freaky macro-micro scientific art. Photo by CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images.