New Study Asserts Gender-Bending Effect of Popular Pesticide

A new study shows that astrazine, a common pesticide, could be desrupting hormone levels in animals -- and possibly humans.

Atrazine, a weed killer commonly used in the Midwest to combat broadleaf pest plants that ail crops, has been found to cause severe hormone imbalances in laboratory animals. The pesticide, which is a known endocrine disruptor, is the most activley detected pesticide in USGS ground and surface water studies. While the chemical is banned in the European Union, its use in the United States makes it one of the most commonly used pesticides in the world.

British Hearing Leaves Climategate Professor Shaking

Phil Jones, the climate scientist at the epicenter of "Climategate," was shaken by the first public inquiry by British lawmakers and investigators.

British officials and lawmakers carried out the first hearing against climate scientist Phil Jones yesterday over uncertainties in his research results made public by leaked emails now known as "Climategate." Simon Hoggart of The Guardian described Jones as "taut, nervous, often miserable. Often his hands shook." Investigators say they avoided some of the most piercing, some say most critical, questions intentionally due to Jones' frail mental state. Since the scandal erupted last November, Jones has become the subject of scrutiny, scorn, and death threats.

Pennsylvania's Starts Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund With $48 Million

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, February 26, 2010 (ENS) - Pennsylvania's new $48 million Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund will supply capital for developing cost effective, energy-saving and renewable energy projects in existing, non-residential buildings throughout the state.

Made possible through economic stimulus funding, these projects must cut an entire facility's energy consumption by at least 25 percent or develop and install technologies that produce electricity from renewable resources.

Antarctic Whaling Conflict Leads to Injuries, Arrests

Confrontations continue as Sea Shepherd hounds the Japanese whaling fleet in the Antarctic Ocean.

The Japanese government reported that three crewmen were injured when members of the anti-whaling activist group Sea Shepherd struck them in the face or head with butyric acid stink bombs. Sea Shepherd stated that the aggression originated from the Japanese vessel when they turned their water cannons on the activists as they tried to lay propeller-snarling cables in the path of the whaling ship. Sea Shepherd activist Locky Maclean said that the acid in the stink bombs is "a harmless liquid. You can handle it, it's not corrosive." Sea Shepherd later denied that they caused any injuries.