Human Rights – For a little over a year, Ellen Degeneres has been imploring her web visitors and TV show audiences to take a stand against bullying. As part of her efforts, Ellen dedicated a special section of her website to discuss bullying and the many recent & horrific suicides of its young victims. She also offers a personal message to her web-viewers and gives them access to numerous organizations and resources involved in the cause. While each of the following organizations have their own specific mission, they stand together for a common goal: The Trevor Project Pacer’s National Center for Bullying Prevention Stomp...

The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) is an earth & marine science collaboration between Japan, Europe, and the United States which aims to use ocean drilling for numerous scientific advancements: to unearth secrets to past climate change patterns; to discover more information about the Chixulub impact crater (possibly involved in the eradication of dinosaurs); to retrieve the first ever sample for the Earth’s mantle; to create an early warning detection system for earthquakes. Though many of these goals would gain humankind some amazing data, few would have as much impact as an early warning system for catastrophic...

Heavy rainstorms over this past weekend have resulted in a flood that’s destroying the south-western town of Ibadan, Nigeria. The Nigerian Red Cross is reporting that bridges have been knocked out, dams are overflowing, buildings are destroyed, thousands of Nigerians have been displaced, and at least 102 lives have been claimed. Due to unusually heavy rains through this year’s rainy season, the flooding has become unmanageable and deadly. Flooding has also worsened due to garbage and debris clogging drainage systems throughout the city. Last year over 200,000 people were displaced in Nigeria due to flooding, and this past June...

In case you were wondering, there are some great benefits to global warming and increased polar ice melts. Now, because of 5 consecutive years of the lowest arctic ice extents ever, we can ship more fossil fuels! And quicker! These northern routes are used for smaller vessels, but as the summer melts are increasing in ice loss, the passages are becoming wide enough to allow for large commercial shipping vessels.  Shipping companies across the world are excited that Canada’s Northwest Passage and Russia’s Northern Sea Route are clearing of ice at such a rapid rate this year, because they may be able to start sending Suez-sized tankers...