Meteorologists called it "weather whiplash" – a drop of roughly 50 degrees in a matter of hours that took temperatures from 55 in Central Park on Monday morning to a record low of 5 overnight and an expected high on Tuesday of only 10. The last…
Archives for January 2014
Expect More Frequent Extreme Cold (and Hot) Weather
Climate scientist and leading expert on Arctic climate change, Jennifer Francis [professor at the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University], says that while she would not attribute the current cold that’s gripping the US to global…
Wild winter weather: Doctors say bundle up, keep dry and stay home if you’re sick
It’s been a winter of manic weather in New Jersey. On Dec. 22, Newark was a sultry 71 degrees. On Christmas Day, the mercury swan dived to 18 degrees. The yo-yo weather pattern has continued into the New Year. If anything, it’s intensified…"Some …
Global warming as viewed from the deep ocean
Some climate change skeptics have pointed out that global atmospheric temperatures have been stable, or even declined slightly, over the past decade. They claim it’s a sign that global warming has either ceased, slowed down or is not caused by human ac…
Do Animals Have a Sweet Tooth?
No preference is so quick to form, and none so hard to lose, as a baby’s love for sweets. Give a newborn a drop of sugar water when he’s hours old, and he’ll suckle…Some mammals have lost the capacity for sensing either sweet or savory: In 2012, a te…
Most Americans Pay Little Attention to Genetically Modified Foods, Survey Says
A national survey shows that most Americans pay little attention to the debate over genetically modified foods, despite extensive media coverage of the issue. The survey, released by researchers at Rutgers University, found that more than half (53 perc…
A Day in the Life of Extension
By Nick Polanin, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County Agricultural Agent The year 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Smith-Lever Act which officially created the national Cooperative Extension System. Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) Cooperative Extension helps the diverse population of New Jersey adapt to a rapidly changing society […]
Washington demands taking rising seas into account for post-Sandy projects
As Jersey Shore towns ask Washington for money to bankroll post-Superstorm Sandy infrastructure plans, they’re being told to take rising sea levels in account. The idea is build smarter, so that these pricey projects can survive the rising seas and the…
