There aren’t many uncharted areas left on the globe, but “Antarctic Edge: 70 Degrees South” takes viewers to a spot where surveying is so scarce that the destinations may diverge from their locations on a map. Exploring that terrain could mean getting caught in ice for a month, as one scientist in the film recounts experiencing… The movie, a collaboration between marine science and film divisions at Rutgers University, takes a dry, educational-documentary approach to its material. But if talk of sampling krill and phytoplankton populations conjures memories of biology class, “Antarctic Edge” illustrates its points effectively, providing vivid evidence of how shrinking ice at the South Pole affects climates across the globe.
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Rutgers University’s Famed Horse, Lord Nelson Dies at 42
World-renowned equine personality, professor and former mounted patrol horse, Lord Nelson, passed away on April 12 at Gales Way Farm in Wrightstown, N.J. Lord Nelson, who will be remembered as Rutgers University’s only equine professor emeritus, lived a distinguished life, full of adventure, up until the ripe age of 42… His personality is one that Karyn Malinowski, director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center and faculty member in the Department of Animal Sciences, says was “one-of-a-kind.” She remembers one night working late in Bartlett Hall on the Cook campus and all of a sudden hearing a fast-paced gallop coming from the road. Upon looking out the window, she saw Lord Nelson, who remembered to “walk” on the sidewalk and not the street, going back to his stable on College Farm Road followed by a police officer, on foot, in hot pursuit. Apparently he wanted to end his shift early that night… Lord Nelson will also be remembered as the first, and only, horse to ever receive an official football penalty in a NCAA football game. In addition to his time with the student mounted patrol, Nelson also served as the horse that was ridden by the Scarlet Knight at Rutgers football games. During a close game against Army in 1994, Nelson broke onto the field and raced all the way down the sideline to the opposite end of Giants Stadium. Receiving a yellow flag for his “un-sportsHORSE-man like conduct,” he almost cost Rutgers the game.
Black Bear Encounters are More Likely as Weather Becomes Warmer
New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection says bear/human encounters were up 52 percent in 2014, with a total of 2,836 incidents, compared to 2013, when there were 1,870 bear/human encounters. This year, however, the NJDEP is reporting a 35 percent decrease in encounters so far… “With an expanding population, the number of complaint calls have been increasing steadily over the years,” said Brooke Maslo, PhD., an extension specialist in Wildlife Ecology at Rutgers University… According to Maslo, spring brings the availability of more food for bears… “You have livestock being born, lots of babies, potential prey for black bears, and of course the needs of the young are demanding energy and time. But I would say that that probably the most active for a black bear would be in the late summer or early fall, as they are preparing for the winter dormancy period,” Maslo said.
A Day in the Life of a FoodCorps New Jersey Leader
FoodCorps is a nationwide team of AmeriCorps leaders who connect kids to real food and help them grow up healthy. Through their partnership with AmeriCorps, FoodCorps recruits, trains and places emerging leaders into limited-resource schools for a year of service implementing a three-ingredient recipe for change. FoodCorps service members conduct nutrition education that gives kids […]
Beware- Toxic Pesticides Used at Vacation Spots
It was a vacation nightmare. A Wilmington family of four staying in a Virgin Islands condo, with idyllic views of Cruz Bay on St. John, suddenly became seriously ill. So ill that they were airlifted home and hospitalized, the father and two teenage boys in critical condition… The likely scenario that has emerged is that they were poisoned after methyl bromide was sprayed in the condo underneath the one where the family was staying. The pesticide is banned in many countries and is not authorized for use in residences in the U.S… “In many developing counties where there is a protracted man vs. insect battle, lots of misapplications take place,” said Mark Robson, a professor in Rutgers University’s School of Environmental and Plant Sciences. He also edits the Journal of Human and Ecological Risk Assessment. “One should be cautious, avoid the applications when possible, and assume they will occur in developing countries.”… Robson said he has been sprayed as he sat by the pool at a resort in Africa, in airplanes, and even one time in a sauna in Poland. “Many places have unqualified people making these applications, typically in long white coats and wearing gloves and goggles, while you sit there by the pool in only a bathing suit.”
Eaters Open Wide for More Nutritious Menu Options
After years of belly stuffing, some industry insiders say that even the most indulgent eaters among the American dining public may finally have gotten their fill. The people who never cared about salt before? They’re starting to ask about salt, now. Forget about extra crispy- the Sizzler crowd now wants their chicken healthy, and farm-raised. Diners who once asked for brown gravy or cheese sauce on their french fries now want the potatoes to be hand-cut, and baked. And macaroni and cheese? It’s been replaced by a side of beets… Peggy Policastro, nutrition specialist for the New Jersey Institute for Food Nutrition and Health at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, said that while it’s true more people are aware of healthy eating than ever, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are actually eating better… “It’s all about psychology,” said Policastro, who teaches a course at Rutgers called “The Hunger Frame,” focusing on what she terms “behavioral nutrition.”
Rutgers Moth-ers Launch Effort to Make NJ First to Name a State Moth
It’s amazing what some Rutgers people can do during their spare time. What started as a series of local public moth nights that Liti Haramaty, marine sciences researcher at the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, and David Moskowitz, Ph.D. candidate in Entomology, began in East Brunswick in 2005, has developed into the National Moth […]
Centenary College Hosts Dr. Anthony Broccoli, Climate Modeling Expert on April 22
This year as part of Earth week and in attempt to educate the community on Earth-related issues, Centenary College is inviting Dr. Anthony J. Broccoli, from the School of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University, to campus to speak about the climate ahead and the models’ projections for the future. The lecture will be held on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, in the college’s Ferry Building, Room 12. Admission to this event is free to the public and will begin at 2 p.m… Dr. Broccoli’s presentation, titled “The Climate Ahead: Global Changes, Local Impacts” focuses on the science of climate change, and includes a discussion of the basic physics, global observations of climate change and model projections of future climate. The talk will also discuss some of the potential impacts of the changing climate on our region and will close with a brief discussion of society’s options for dealing with change. Members of the community are invited to learn more about this topic and participate in a discussion after the presentation… “We are very pleased to have such a well-established researcher come to Centenary to speak to the community about this issue,” said Krassi Lazarova, Assistant Professor of Physics at Centenary College. “This is not only a great opportunity for the College, but also for the community, to speak with an expert in the area of climate research.”
R.I.P. Winter: Spring Expected to Take Hold for Good in N.J. This Week
New Jersey’s winter has been called. Time of Death: April 1, 2015… After enduring its second straight long and cold winter, it appears spring is finally prepared to take hold in New Jersey for good, an analysis of forecast and climate data show… “You could have a feeling of true winter if a storm comes right in here and hits you on the nose but you’re not going to get days where the high is struggling to get above freezing,” said David Robinson, the state climatologist at Rutgers University. “I think the one thing people are going to notice is how vastly different the landscape is going to look 30 days from now.”… This doesn’t mean New Jersey won’t deal with a bout of chilly weather in April, but several day stretches where temperatures struggle to reach 40 degrees aren’t likely to be an issue for the state for another six months.
Newark’s Cherry Blossoms Thrive with Rutgers’ Help
New Jersey is known for the industrial landscape along the turnpike and the landmarks of the Jersey Shore. But one of the state’s greatest treasures may be its least well known- the nation’s largest collection of flowering cherry trees in Essex County’…
