Disease Proof

• Cow farts, pig farts and human farts are all sources of greenhouse gas, but snails, yes itty-bitty snails, may be worse. Freshwater snails break down soil, releasing nitrous oxide, i.e. laughing gas, which is 310 times better at trapping heat than carbon dioxide; DiscoBlog explains.

• Ocean acidification due to climate change is thinning the shells of tiny sea organisms, jeopardizing their long term survival. Despite their miniature size these animals absorb tremendous amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. They’re shells are made of carbon and when they die the shell sinks to the bottom of the ocean and so does all the carbon; the AFP investigates.

• Secretary of State Hillary Clinton believes the United States has been negligent in living up to our responsibilities on global warming. We’re lagging behind Europe and the U.S. needs better policies with China, which recently overtook us as the world’s leading emitter of carbon dioxide; Reuters reports.

• India, despite its own problems, has offered to help the United States with climate change. Since signing a nuclear energy deal with former U.S. president George Bush, Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen insists the United States and India have shared concerns on climate policy, more than any other two countries; via the AFP.

• Climate scientists evaluate the dangers of climate change with very specific criteria, including damage to ecosystems, extreme weather events, and health and economic risks, and after considering all these, experts claim earth may be entering a climate danger zone; NewScientist investigates.

• Prince Charles is beating his own eco-drum, during a visit to Chile he’ll be making a speech calling for action against climate change, arguing we only have “100 months left” to save the planet. Then later in the week he’ll visit the world's biggest rainforest and to meet with local tribes; the AFP reports.

Image credit: Augen.Blicke