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Ocean acidification could be to blame for the worst mass extinction in the earth's history. -

Excessive carbon dioxide from volcanic eruptions 250 million years ago changed the oceans' chemical makeup, driving a die-off of most marine and land animals. That's not good news—our CO2 emissions are acidifying the oceans once again. Reuters

The dispersant used in the BP disaster was worse for reefs than the oil. -

The 2010 spill was the first time chemical dispersants were approved for use deep under water. New research shows that the experiment was deadly—it takes less dispersant than oil to kill coral. Temple University

Wisconsin's public land officials aren't allowed to talk about climate change. -

The ban echoes Florida governor Rick Scott's gag order on the phrases "climate change" and "global warming," but the folks in the Badger State can't discuss the issue at all—even with verbal gymnasticsMother Jones 

Burning all the fossil fuels in the ground would warm the climate by 16.2 degrees Fahrenheit. -

That includes all oil, gas, and coal that are accessible with current technology. Since the industrial revolution, temperatures have risen by 1.7 degrees. Many consider a rise of 3.6 degrees (two degrees Celsius) the threshold for disastrous change—and even that may be too muchNew York Times

Bryde's whales are one step closer to federal protection. -

Ship traffic and offshore drilling threaten these marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico. (The BP disaster didn't help.) In response to a petition from NRDC, the National Marine Fisheries Service is reviewing whether Bryde's whales should be listed as threatened or endangered. Reuters

An insecticide is contributing to the decline of the monarch butterfly. -

New research says a type of neonicotinoid—a class of pesticide linked to colony collapse disorder in honeybees—may be killing off monarch caterpillars. At last count, the butterfly's numbers could be 25 percent to 50 percent lower this year, continuing a decades-long downward trend. Environment News Service