Illegal logging, the bushmeat trade, mining, the charcoal trade and a new strain of the Ebola virus could drive gorillas into extinction in central Africa in as little as 15 years, according to a new report from the U.N. and Interpol.

Three of the four gorilla subspecies are already considered critically endangered, and the fourth is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

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Interest in electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids has come on strong over the past year or so, pushed relentlessly by carmakers promoting a newer, greener generation of transportation. As the Chevy Volt , Ford Transit Connect Electric , Nissan Leaf and others trickle out into the marketplace over the next year, it’s clear that they will go only as far as their lithium ion batteries can take them (which right now isn’t all that far). [More]

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Dear EarthTalk: Some time ago there were issues with Native American tribes storing nuclear waste on their land, something that was both unhealthy to the communities and caused considerable controversy among tribal leaders. Where is this issue today? –M. Spenser, via e-mail

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If you ask the average person whether in the long run it is climate change or an asteroid/comet impact that’s expected to kill more people annually, you’ll undoubtedly get some confused replies. Those asteroid movies are scary, but there are no verified instances of an asteroid strike killing any humans, are there? Meanwhile, the science of climate change is currently being overshadowed by a media-driven public debate , mainly in the U.S. [More]

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These super-sized ears and handsome face belong to Dillon, a 9 year old Doberman/Pointer cross who would love an active home with a large garden and lots of lovely walks. Dillon has an excellent temperament, is good with kids and people generally and gets on well with other dogs. Above all, he is a very soft and affectionate dog … he’s irresistible!

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Workers who apply certain pesticides to farm fields are twice as likely to contract melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, according to a new scientific study. [More]

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Is your family short of a playmate? If so, then Madge could be just perfect for you – she gets on well with everyone, including other dogs and is still full of fun – she doesn’t act her age at all and would love to show her new family that there’s life in the old girl yet!

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Even as scientists and politicians from around the world debated in December how to deal with a practical problem of profound importance–global climate change–another international group of physicists was waiting with bated breath for a more esoteric development. In both cases, at the conclusion of events, the participants were left salivating and unsatisfied.

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) experiment, located in the deep Soudan mine in Minnesota, is designed to directly detect new elementary particles that might make up the dark matter known to dominate our galaxy. In early December rumors started circulating that the CDMS experiment might actually have seen a signal.

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Whatever your opinion on the healthcare bill recently passed by Congress and signed by President Obama, the passage of it has at least allowed discussions on other important topics to resurface. Topics like energy reform. Details of the Kerry-Grahm-Lieberman energy reform bill have started leaking out. Among the topics that stuck out: a new gas tax.

The details don’t make clear how much this new gas tax would be, but it would likely be linked to the carbon content of the fuel. A higher gas tax has been bandied about for decades, and has always shot down rather quickly. The Fed’s collect 18.4 cents per gallon, while the average state gas tax is about 27 cents. So 45 cents of every gallon already goes to either the Feds or the state, and while it may sound like a lot, in actuality it is amongst the lowest tax rates on fuel in the world. How much higher should it go?

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Comfort is a 14 year old GSD and hopes that there is someone out there who will fall for her. She’s such a sweet soul and just wants someone to love who will love her back for the rest of her days.

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Sadly, Millie and Lily have been in kennels for 2 years after being found dumped in the middle of a dual carriageway. They are both absolutely beautiful dogs who are now struggling with kennel life, but they have hearts of gold and just want to be loved. Please read their stories and maybe give them a chance to enjoy a full, loving home life they so deserve.

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Ford Motor Co. was in New York City on Tuesday (in anticipation of the upcoming International Auto Show that starts later this week) to show off its first attempt to go gas-free–the Transit Connect Electric .  Scientific American went for a spin in the all-electric compact van (about the size of a minivan but with much more headroom) on the rain-slicked streets of New York to get some idea of what the vehicle looks, sounds and feels like. [More]

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