Bear biologist Chris Morgan is one of the foremost experts on grizzly and other rare bears. He travels the world raising awareness about these feared and revered animals.

From the last remaining Cascade Grizzlies to the rare sun bear on the island of Borneo, Dr. Morgan is watching how people, the environment and the bears are all changing.

BEARTREK

BEARTREK Preview from Landon Acohido on Vimeo.

Twas the night before science, when all through the land
Scientists lauded new leadership close at hand.

The agencies waiting for Congress to say,
A green light for science and all votes of aye.

The people were blind to writings on the wall,
They just stood by as the stock market did fall.
While science is in danger, free inquiry too,
It’s a national problem that needs all of you.

When out from the dark, there arose such a new fear,
That’s been brewing and stewing eight more than one year.
We’re losing our edge in science and in math,
To the world we say its time for a new path.

Failed policy of Bush caused science to rent
Doctored climate reports left the facts not unbent
NIH hit lists menaced studies most sought,
Belief over method every time won top spot.

With executive orders vows began breaching,
Clear skies clouding when the grounds started leaching.
Drilling at home and cutting down stands of old trees,
Enviro damage stacked in exponents of threes.

“Now Bush! Now, Cheney! Now Griffin and Norton, Gail!
On Exxon! On, Mobil! All resources for sale!

To the dustbin of hist’ry! To the annals fast!
Now go away! Go away! We are aghast!

As the change that after the two terms does arrive,
Science must be unshackled, unfettered—to thrive.
And, that’s how we reclaim our place on this Earth,
As a leader in thought that’s how we show our worth.

Teach students math, science and engineering,
To boost the economy and start them pi’neering.
New science tests to battle world’s ills is a must,
Not the standardized kind, but in ones we can trust.

The X Prize for space, a green prize for all the rest,
We face fights over climate, which stem cells are best.
How to build life from scratch, one gene at a time,
And figuring how we glean power just from slime.

These are the problems the new White House inherits.
No cookies or milk but sure, there will be carrots!
Dangled to Congress, the people and science,
Budgets for research, pledges of new reliance.

Starting 2009, the groundwork is laid,
For science to drive hope and money to be made.
Restoring faith in high office is the first step
Let science pave the new way and do it with pep!

President-elect Obama is fresh and smart,
And his top science advisers make a good start.
With John Holdren guiding as the science lead,
Testable info in reports will succeed.

Physicists, biologists and brainy picks,
Will soon take over from ide’ logical hicks.

Then the work of the country can get on course,
Where science-smart students can join the workforce.

And build alt energy giants with green power,
That’ll help the planet’s dark hour seem less dour.

Science holds the answers to the problems we bear,
And by shifting our focus the spoils we’ll share.

Happy Holidays from REALscience!

President-elect Obama has announced his top officials to guide science policy during his administration. He chose four scientists for key positions and all advocate for a stronger federal policy when it comes to climate change. So when the White House changes hands next month, a far different wind will be blowing when it comes to developing strategies to fight, adapt and mitigate global climate change.

The new President also wants to restore scientific integrity to the White House and give science a place of importance in his agenda to jump start the economy and develop an alternative energy policy.

Collecting Klammath Lake algae

Blue-green algae has been a health craze since the 1980s. The one-celled organism is staging a comeback with a new algae product that promotes the release of stem cells to repair damaged tissue.

And, it says it can help fix aches and pains and cure disease.

But the science doesn’t back up these claims. And, new research is showing that promoting stem cell mobility may help promote cancer tumor growth.

Environmental toxins are all around. And, many consumer products contain these man made compounds that damage organs, mutate cells or disrupt one biological system or another. From bath toys to shower curtains, these chemicals are seeping into our lives.

Two Reports:
Body Burden: Pollution in Newborns
Volatile Vinyl: The New Shower Curtain’s Chemical Smell

Pesticides, fire retardants and phthalates are showing up in newborn babies and seem to be building up in the foods we eat and even in the ocean.

Here’s a list of resources to find out more about consumer risk for some products:

• Phthalates in Common Products
  
• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database
  
• Household Products Toxins Table

• Hazardous Household Products
  
  ]]> http://www.realscience.us/2008/12/11/toxic-tots/feed/ 0 American Chemical Council,Center for Health,chemical plants,Chinese toys,DuPont,Environment and Justice,Environmental Working Group,European Union,industrial,research,Tots,Toxic 12 Days of Science: Day 3 - - Environmental toxins are all around. And, many consumer products contain these man made compounds that damage organs, mutate cells or disrupt one biological system or another. From bath toys to shower curtains, 12 Days of Science: Day 3 (http://www.realscience.us/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/rubberduckandshowercurtain.jpg) Environmental toxins are all around. And, many consumer products contain these man made compounds that damage organs, mutate cells or disrupt one biological system or another. From bath toys to shower curtains, these chemicals are seeping into our lives. Two Reports: Body Burden: Pollution in Newborns (http://archive.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/execsumm.php) Volatile Vinyl: The New Shower Curtain's Chemical Smell (http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/environment/library/study_on_shower_curtains.pdf) Pesticides, fire retardants and phthalates are showing up in newborn babies and seem to be building up in the foods we eat and even in the ocean. Here's a list of resources to find out more about consumer risk for some products: * Phthalates in Common Products (http://greenoptions.com/tag/phthalates) * Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/) * Household Products Toxins Table (http://leas.ca/Toxins-Table.htm) * Hazardous Household Products (http://www.healthgoods.com/Education/Healthy_Home_Information/Home_Health_Hazards/household_hazardous_products.htm) Michael Bradbury/REALscience clean http://www.realscience.us/2008/12/09/split-atom/ http://www.realscience.us/2008/12/09/split-atom/#comments Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:00:42 +0000 Michael Bradbury http://www.realscience.us/2008/12/09/split-atom/ 12 Days of Science: Day 2
  

  Associate Director Mark Tillack at the Center for Energy Research leads a team doing research at UC San Diego.

  With a greater interest in atomic energy, nuclear reactors and waste are becoming a topic of Holiday conversation this year. And more and more students are pursuing academic careers in nuclear engineering and physics.

  University of Oregon is engineering a smaller, safer and terrorist proof nuclear reactor that can be buried and run by itself for two years.

  The Hanford nuclear reservation is turning nuclear weapons waste into glass in an effort to clean up one of the most contaminated sites in the U.S.

  And, physicists are still struggling with fusion, though there are a few glimmers on the horizon.

  ]]> http://www.realscience.us/2008/12/09/split-atom/feed/ 0 atoms,Big Bang,Department of Energy,Engineering,Nuclear Power,Oregon State University,profession,Split Atoms,Universe,weapons 12 Days of Science: Day 2 - Associate Director Mark Tillack at the Center for Energy Research leads a team doing research at UC San Diego. - With a greater interest in atomic energy, nuclear reactors and waste are becoming a topic of Holiday conversati... 12 Days of Science: Day 2 (http://www.realscience.us/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/futureoffusion.jpg)Associate Director Mark Tillack at the Center for Energy Research leads a team doing research at UC San Diego. With a greater interest in atomic energy, nuclear reactors and waste are becoming a topic of Holiday conversation this year. And more and more students are pursuing academic careers in nuclear engineering and physics. University of Oregon is engineering a smaller, safer and terrorist proof nuclear reactor that can be buried and run by itself for two years. The Hanford nuclear reservation is turning nuclear weapons waste into glass in an effort to clean up one of the most contaminated sites in the U.S. And, physicists are still struggling with fusion, though there are a few glimmers on the horizon. Michael Bradbury/REALscience clean http://www.realscience.us/2008/12/08/hypoallergenic-pets/ http://www.realscience.us/2008/12/08/hypoallergenic-pets/#comments Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:13:48 +0000 Michael Bradbury http://www.realscience.us/2008/12/08/hypoallergenic-pets/ 12 Days of Science: Day 1
  

  New Jabari dog breed, courtesy of Lifestyle Pets client

  Allergy free animals are just a myth. No cat or dog is truly hypoallergenic. But some breeds can trigger fewer reactions and some animals within a litter may have low allergen levels.

  One company is designing dogs and cats for people with severe animal allergies. They are expensive and few will end up under Holiday trees this year.

  Coping with Pet Allergies Sweep Away Those Sneezes

  Pet experts offer tips on how to keep your pets and your good health.

  ]]> http://www.realscience.us/2008/12/08/hypoallergenic-pets/feed/ 1 allergen,Alvin Sanico,American Kennel Club,American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,German,Hypoallergenic,Hypoallergenic Pets,Joachim Heinrich,Johns Hopkins University,medical professor,Pets,Scientist 12 Days of Science: Day 1 - New Jabari dog breed, courtesy of Lifestyle Pets client - Allergy free animals are just a myth. No cat or dog is truly hypoallergenic. But some breeds can trigger fewer reactions and some animals within a litter may have lo... 12 Days of Science: Day 1 (http://www.realscience.us/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/jabari.jpg)New Jabari dog breed, courtesy of Lifestyle Pets client Allergy free animals are just a myth. No cat or dog is truly hypoallergenic. But some breeds (http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/allergy.htm)can trigger fewer reactions and some animals within a litter may have low allergen levels. One company (http://www.lifestylepets.com/) is designing dogs and cats for people with severe animal allergies. They are expensive and few will end up under Holiday trees this year. Coping with Pet Allergies Sweep Away Those Sneezes var so = new FlashObject ("http://natalie.feedroom.com/hsus/natoneclip/Player.swf", "Player", "400", "300", "8", "#000000");so.addVariable("skin", "natoneclip");so.addVariable("site", "hsus");so.addVariable("fr_story", "fdd2bc7e9fba86d633a03064394e5c57f0ec5ade");so.addVariable("hostURL","document.location.href");so.addVariable("videoratio", "");so.addParam("menu", "false");so.addParam("quality","high");so.addParam("allowFullScreen","true");so.addParam("allowScriptAccess","always");so.write("flashcontent"); Pet experts offer tips on how to keep your pets and your good health. Michael Bradbury/REALscience clean