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Florida power plant closures may evict manatees

If current indicators follow suit, a large percentage Florida’s manatees may soon need a new winter home. Over the next 10-20 years, the state’s coal-fired power plants are expected to close. As 60 percent of the manatee population utilize the plants for refuge during winter, many will be forced to move to the natural springs such as those on the Crystal River. The springs’ constant 74-degree temperatures could soon be overcrowded with the gentle giants.

Racoon butterflyfish
Racoon butterflyfish

Fussy butterflyfish avoid corals touched by seaweed

A new study has revealed butterflyfish are particularly fussy about their food and shelter needs, avoiding corals that have come in contact with seaweed. Conducted by the University of Delaware, the study is the first to critically evaluate how coral-seaweed interactions will impact coral associated reef fishes, a key component of coral reef resilience.

Airport security lines

TSA changes body scanner rules

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can now order some passengers to go through a body scanner, even if they request a full-body pat-down. The change comes at a time of heightened concern about aviation security and terror plots against commercial aviation.

Mandated screening for some passengers would be "warranted by security considerations in order to safeguard transportation security," the TSA said in a document updating the protocol.

Manitoba works to save beluga population

Manitoba has released a plan to preserve the world's largest beluga population while numbers remain abundant. "We have a healthy population, but the environment is changing," said Manitoba Conservation Minister Tom Nevakshonoff. "It's a rare opportunity when you can take something that's not in distress and focus on it now to preserve that rather than doing damage control.

Rogue waves hit without warning

In contrast to what was previously thought rather than seeing a gradual build-up of waves, the rogue wave will come seemingly out of nowhere.

New research from the University of Oxford in collaboration with the University of Western Australia shows that the anecdotal evidence heard from mariners describing "walls of water" coming at them in the open ocean may not be so far from the truth.

Is There Still a Case for Open Circuit in Tech?

One thing about crystal ball gazing, it is a lot like looking down into the blue abyss while sitting in deco, with the sun’s rays streaming in and making a magical and inviting sight. To those who may not have experienced this yet, it is one of the most evocative and alluring sights that any diver—technical or sport—could ever see. It brings one closer to the water than one can explain in words.

Colombia has announced it has found the shipwreck of a storied Spanish galleon laden with gold, silver and precious stones

Spanish galleon laden with vast treasure located

The San Jose was carrying gold, silver, gems and jewellery collected in the South American colonies to be shipped to Spain's king to help finance his war of succession against the British when it was sunk in June 1708 during heavy fighting off the coast of Cartagena. In the fighting the vessel was reported to have exploded, with most of its crew killed.

Cuttlefish are capable of changing colour and pattern (including the polarization of the reflected light as well as the texture of the skin.

Cuttlefish can go into electric stealth mode

Sharks home in on faint bioelectric fields generated by the bodies of their prey which they pick up using sensitive detectors on their snouts.

When researchers from Duke University showed captive cuttlefish held in tank videos depicting the menacing silhouettes of a shark or predatory grouper fish they reacted by lowering the electric field dramatically. Being shown the shadow of a harmless crab produced no reaction.