
Much like scientists can read the rings of trees to determine climate changes that tree has endured, researchers can "read" coral. For example, by analyzing the coral's strontium-calcium ratio, scientists can measure how much rain fell as much as 6500 years ago. In a recent study, in fact, researchers with the British Antarctic Survey concluded that the periodic and normal increase in monsoons in the Indian Ocean paradoxically result in stronger droughts in Indonesia and Australia.
While this trivia may not have much import for the typical suburban mom, the implications of this research are fairly staggering. Simply, corals provide ...



While some people worry that fish populations are being exploited at a dangerous pace, others are rejoicing at the small successes that are occurring. In Australia, for example, the red throat emperor has made a spectacular comeback in recent years. Once heavily overfished, the fish seem to have rebounded. Why? ...

