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The Old Sub and the Sea -

"Some scientists have used Alvin's discoveries to make a case for exploring the ocean, often considered less glamorous than space; NASA's budget was about $17 billion in 2013, but only $5 billion funds ocean exploration. Yet 95 percent of the ocean remains unexplored, and we have better maps of the surface of Mars than we do of our seafloor." —From "Alvin: The Little Submarine That Could," by Melissa Pandika for NPR, about the deep-sea submersible being retrofitted to explore vast swaths of the seafloor

Shhhh! -

"The seas, which are poor in light, have always been rich in sound. Some of the loudest, and most alien, noises on planet Earth are known only to ocean life. Lightning strikes, for instance, are mind-bogglingly loud underwater, and utterly extraterrestrial. Unlike the dry crack of a thunderclap on land, when lightning strikes the water, the oceans echo with an astonishing metallic howl, like a phaser blast from God." —From “Sound Off,” Peter Brannen’s Aeon story on what happened when human noise in the ocean ceased (briefly)

A Most Civilized Food Fight -

Writer Michael Pollan might be a vocal skeptic of genetically modified foods, but when he wants a healthy debate, there's one plant geneticist he turns to: UC Davis’ Pam Ronald, who helped develop flood-tolerant rice (a.k.a. “scuba rice”). Ronald tells journalist Virginia Gewin that demonizing GMOs makes it tough to plan for feeding a world with more people, longer droughts, and higher temperatures. Bracing for Impact

Beetle Mania Hits New York -

Long Island’s forests are under attack by destructive pine beetles. Native to the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America, these notorious insects introduce a nutrient-sucking fungus that eventually kills their host trees. (Worst. Houseguests. Ever.) In recent years warmer winters have enabled the beetles to expand northward to New Jersey, but why settle for the Garden State? The beetles made their New York debut in September. New York Times

Now That's Creepy -

“The [jewel] wasp stings a cockroach, transforming it into a passive zombie. The wasp can then walk its drugged victim into a burrow by the roach’s antenna, like a dog on a leash. The roach is perfectly capable of movement. It just lacks any motivation to move on its own behalf. The wasp lays an egg on the roach’s underside, and the roach simply stands there as the wasp larva emerges from the egg and digs into its abdomen.” —From “Mindsuckers,” Carl Zimmer’s National Geographic story exploring why some organisms will go to extremes to ensure their tormentor's survival

Fighting Dirty -

“You can either win ugly or lose pretty.” That’s what lobbyist Richard Berman told a room full of oil and gas execs earlier this year. But while he was discussing underhanded tactics for smearing enviros and fracking opponents, he didn’t realize he was being recorded. Doh! It would take a lot to shame this guy, though. He earned his nickname "Dr. Evil" for his attacks on food watchdog groups, animal rights activists, and even Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Someone needs to zip it. New York Times