http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/business/energy-environment/22rare.html?hp

This article is about our reliance on China's low priced rare-earth minerals. Most of American mines for the rare minerals have been run out of business because of Chinese low wages and total ignoring any environmental factor the mining may have on the environment (the landscape around their mines look like moonscapes). Some big mining companies in the US want to open up older mines and make new ones; they are looking for possible help from the government on possible regulation of the Chinese mineral market. The problem with this is that the Army relies on the Chinese low prices, which totally out compete any American prices. I think this is ridiculous because we should be focusing on our own economy. The only reason the prices are low is because Chinese workers are being exploited and on top of that their homes are being destroyed by the dust from the mines. It seems like such a horrible thing to be buying from the Chinese when they are using their workers so unfairly and basically infecting the surrounding environment with the waste produced. This is just another example of how money is the only thing that matters to big agencies, like the Army.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/science/13adhesive.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fscience%2Findex.jsonp

This article is about how scientists are trying to imitate a natural adhesive made by the caddisfly. This is no ordinary adhesive, however, because it can cure underwater. This has not been able to be done by scientists so far because the problem is that when trying to cure an adhesive underwater it starts to adhere to a water layer in between the actual object. This makes it very hard to make an adhesive that will actually work. This is why scientists are studying these caddisfly, they have the ability to make a natural glue to build their homes. This glue could be extremely useful because it could be used for the Navy and also for possibly glueing bones, tissue, and muscle back together on people. This would make it much easier to fix problems like broken bones or large cuts. I think this is very intriguing and a really good area of research. If this underwater adhesive could be made it would make a large impact on medical and Navy uses.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/science/earth/13trash.html?ref=science

This article is about how Denmark has created a super-clean waste to electricity plant. For years incinerators have been terrible polluters and hated by many people, especially those who live close to one. Now, however, this new plant has many filters to filter out anything from mercury to dioxins. It converts waste to electricity with less harmful emissions than a fire place and barbecues have. This is a huge advancement and many more of these plants are being set up in the country. The idea has been brought to America, but not in a very positive light. Scientists are split, on the one hand these are extremely green plants, but on the other hand its just encouraging people to produce more waste and use more plastics. This has the opposite effect of what people want because people would be more loose with what they buy and throw out. I think this is a really great idea, even though it could encourage bad behaviors. I think it could be the transition to perfectly green energy and would solve the problem of what to do with waste.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/world/asia/08reef.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fscience%2Findex.jsonp

This article is about another large oil spill off the coast of Australia in the very delicate ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef. Apparently a Chinese oil tanker with 1075 tons of oil on it was basically speared by the reef and so is now stuck there until something is done to stop any further leaking. There hasn't been any major leaking because sea water rushed into the tank rather than the oil rushing out into the ocean, although this won't last for long. The Australians are saying that the Chinese crew tried to take a short cut through reefs, but got stuck. This conclusion was made because the vessel had just left a port in Australia, picking up coal and steel, and got stuck 12 kilometers off the shipping lanes. The Australians are extremely upset, calling it the equivalent to a terrorist attack because it could be so harmful. I think this is just yet another example of the stupid things people do. You would think the captain of a fuel tanker would be a lot more cautious with 1075 tons of oil and 72000 tons of coal on board. I think it is an outrage and the Australians should do as much as they can to punish the chinese vessel, releasing oil into the Great Barrier Reef, the biggest and most extraordinary reef in the world, is like pouring some paint on the Mona Lisa. It is such a delicate ecosystem and holds such beauty, tarnishing something like that is just plain stupid.