Breaking Tweets » Britni Day

New fish species discovered off Brazil coast

Britni Day — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:42:44 +0000

Researchers have reported their findings to National Geographic of a bizarre new fish species found off Brazil’s Bahia coast.

TAMAR project researchers, who normally study sea turtles for conservation efforts, were astonished to find the strange-looking 6-foot fish, dead and floating near the surface (screenshot from video on left). National Geographic said the group described the fish as having no scales and a gelatinous body with small teeth. TAMAR researchers believe that the high amount of body fat on the fish makes it inedible.

Twitterers felt a mixture of excitement and caution on the new discovery:

almadiannaMDC (Texas) RT @OrganicLife: Bizarre New Fish Discovered http://bit.ly/O51oI // i love weird stuff like this, it’s so creepy looking. 21 Sep 2009 from Seesmic

molzami (Athens, Georgia) RT @Earth_NewsNatGeo : Bizarre New Fish Discovered http://bit.ly/1tQVCx — COOL! 21 Sep 2009 from web

mattklinman (Undisclosed) RT @brbuchwal Bizarre new fish discovered http://ow.ly/qnwr Worried this is the beginning of an alien movie… 22 Sep 2009 from web

IamAlonaLee (North Carolina) RT @AnimalPlanet: NEW SPECIES ALERT! – http://ow.ly/qtGb ‘bizarre fish’ – woo hoo!// wierd .. and wow.. 22 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

JoyRecruitRite (Johannesburg, South Africa) Rt @AnimalPlanet NEW SPECIES ALERT! – http://ow.ly/qtGb ‘bizarre fish’ – woo hoo! <– I would drop dead if I saw that swimming towards me! 22 Sep 2009 from web

PSHPlatypus (Las Vegas, Nevada) http://bit.ly/1TfdWf – Bizarre New Fish Discovered; Tastes Like Chicken 22 Sep 2009 from bit.ly

devographic (Pretoria, South Africa) NEW SPECIES ALERT! – http://ow.ly/qtGb ‘bizarre fish’ – woo hoo! 22 Sep 2009 from TwInbox]

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Investigation finds gorilla poaching to be major issue in Congo

Britni Day — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:29:14 +0000

BBC News is reporting that an undercover investigation conducted by Endangered Species International (ESI) has revealed the full extent of gorilla poaching in Kouilou, an area in the Republic of Congo.

BBC says in Kouilou undercover investigators found that up to two endangered gorillas were being killed by poachers each week and sold in bigger city markets for their meat and hands. ESI Investigators told the BBC they believe there are only 200 gorillas left in the region. ESI also fears that hundreds of gorillas are being poached outside of the region and while there are laws in place to protect the gorillas, there is no real enforcement of them.

The Twitterverse was outraged by the findings:

dsfanblog (location undisclosed) Heartbreaking. And revolting. RT @BBCwildlife: Scale of gorilla poaching exposed http://bit.ly/19HxAw 15 Sep 2009 from HootSuite

maxxmonkey (United Kingdom) RT @Thandax: Congo gorilla poaching exposed http://bit.ly/18GDUI ~ Max says ‘leave the big lugs alone’ |:o 15 Sep 2009 from dabr

sgmax (Philadelphia, PA) In any *civilized* country, this would be a national scandal. Scale of #Congo gorilla poaching exposed. http://bit.ly/YYgIH 15 Sep 2009 from TwitterFox

TobyMonk (Nacogdoches,Texas) @stephenfry This makes me want to kick heads RT @PBSNature Scale of gorilla poaching exposed: http://ow.ly/pvCq [BBC] 15 Sep 2009 from web in reply to stephenfry

EvilMammoth (Chicago Suburbs, IL) This is really terrible. RT @PBSNature: Scale of gorilla poaching exposed: http://ow.ly/pvKj [BBC] 15 Sep 2009 from HootSuite

Starfleetmom (Escondido, CA) Make me SICK!RT @PBSNature: Scale of gorilla poaching exposed: http://ow.ly/pvCq [BBC] 15 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

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Agreement made at G8 summit on global warming

Britni Day — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:52:54 +0000

Per BBC News, President Obama chaired the meeting where G8 members agreed with world powers that future global temperatures should not rise more than 2 degrees Celsius. According to the United Nations, this is the level at which the earth’s climate system would become dangerously unstable.

BBC News reports that G8 members have also agreed to cut green house gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. However, the G8 failed to convince other developing countries to cut green house emissions by 50 percent by the same date. BBC reports that President Obama says countries have taken important steps by agreeing that future temperatures should not rise.

The Twitterverse expressed a variety of opinions on the outcome:

Crafton (Columbus, GA) Obama & the G8 leaders don’t want to believe the truth: Global warming does NOT exist. How come only China and India have figured this out? 09 Jul 2009 from web

kimberanna_com (Clermont, Florida) Glad to hear Obama & the G8 are talking about the Copenhagen agreement, Global Warming 09 Jul 2009 from mobile web

RandyWood84 (Undisclosed) I still don’t really believe Global Warming is man-made, but I’m glad that the G8 came to a consensus… that’s a first http://tiny.cc/gLvo0 09 Jul 2009 from web

trabernlaw (Santa Fe, New Mexico) So, how is the G8 going to limit global warming to 2C? They have a giant HVAC system or something we don’t know about? 09 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

themakeupbar (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) After Global Warming will the next climate change be a new Ice Age? Reporting 104 in OKC 09 Jul 2009 from txt

jaxbchgirl521 (Jacksonville, Florida) @dlbeyer Global warming is a FARCE. Obama just wants the extra taxes we will pay for spreading the wealth around. 09 Jul 2009 from web in reply to dlbeyer

DonMique (Scotland) Quote of the millennium: global warming -”if it was banking, they’d throw trillions at it” ! 09 Jul 2009 from web

enaplito (Monterrey, Mexico) Another hot, hot, hot, hot day in Monterrey…Next G-8 should be here during July / August so they can feel the Real Global Warming! 09 Jul 2009 from web

GlennBelverio (New York City, New York) Perhaps Obama’s hot air about global warming at G8 is just a strategy to squelch the economic growth of Brazil, India and China. 09 Jul 2009 from web

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Saturn’s tiny moon may have liquid water

Britni Day — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:26:02 +0000

Per BBC, NASA has reported that the Cassini spacecraft circling Saturn’s outer ring has obtained evidence on liquid water on Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

Cassini has detected sodium salts around the south pole of the moon, says BBC. When water has extended contact with rock, it will secrete sodium – the same way the earth’s oceans are salty. Scientists believe liquid water may be in pockets just below the moon’s surface, reports BBC. If scientists find water to be on Enceladus, the article says it may be the best place to search for extraterrestrial life.

Twitterers responded with excitement:

askpako (New York) Saturn’s moon Enceladus, may have salt water on it… are you ready to meet the interplanetary neighbors? 25 Jun 2009 from digsby

mrassman (Los Angeles, California) http://bit.ly/vchdI
No way Saturn’s Moon Enceladus might have life? I always thought it would be Europa 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

nyderoleary (Dublin, Ireland) Woke up to discover that their could be life on a moon of Saturn’s. This is the kind of news I like. 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

wicksey (Croydon, United Kingdom) Wow! Saturn’s moon “Enceladus” has a frozen layer above an ocean which science bods say could harbour alien lifeform! 25 Jun 2009 from TwitterFon

MiloNatal (Undisclosed) @Morrius Water on Saturn’s moon? Here, put these goggles on. I bet the aliens think you’re a monster! Tee hee hee. 25 Jun 2009 from web in reply to Morrius

AlanBaxter (Illawarra, Australia) Forget life on Mars: how about life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus? http://bit.ly/p3Rly 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

RobertRoyBritt (Undisclosed) Don’t buy the headlines that read “Alien life may be thriving on Saturn’s frozen moon.” Evidence suggest Enceladus has water. That’s it. 25 Jun 2009 from web

culturesclothes (Philadelphia, PA) Oh did you guys hear that Saturn’s moon might contain alien life? They found out that it could contain watery underground caverns & salt! 25 Jun 2009 from web

mirwais1 (Undisclosed) Is there anybody out there? : RT @wiredscience: Saturn’s moon Enceladus : new evidence of liquid ocean. http://digg.com/d1um5a 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

kchall (Undisclosed) RT @OregonMJW: RT @ScienceChannel: http://tinyurl.com/paxmmn Saturn’s Moon Has Liquid Water.Awesome news! Lttl green people await discovery. 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

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‘High’ wallabies cause crop circles in Tasmania

Britni Day — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:31:47 +0000

Tasmanian government officials have told BBC News that crop circles in their medically grown opium fields have been caused by intoxicated wallabies.

Australia supplies 50 percent of the world’s legally-grown opium, says BBC News. Locals believed the crop circles in the opium fields to be a form of alien communication. Wallabies, and other animals getting into the fields, eating the crops, becoming “high as a kite” then wandering around in circles are the real cause according to the article.

The Twitterverse replied with amusement:

Phobophilia (Hobart) @secretplanet It wasn’t wallabies making the crop circles! It was STONED ALIENS! Take me to your dealer! 25 Jun 2009 from web in reply to secretplanet

BedazzledInk (California) @simpson_k Stoned Wallabies — isn’t that a punk rock group from the ‘70? 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to simpson_k

momcatPam (Undisclosed) I luv it! Next they’ll find it was wallabies in England, too! 25 Jun 2009 from twhirl

caramiaculpa (Undisclosed) Wallabies were my fave @ the zoo when I was a kid, so seeing them stoned on opium would be kinda fun. http://tr.im/pJ4s 25 Jun 2009 from twidroid

kstar0076 (San Francisco, California) We have a problem with wallabies entering poppy fields, getting as high as a kite and going around in circles. http://tinyurl.com/lqcdff 25 Jun 2009 from web

f1nlay (United Kingdom) What makes crop circles? Wallabies on smack it seems…. http://bit.ly/GwYn4 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

SereneCaffeine @ememmyem (Portland, Oregon) LOL! It’s not every day that you hear someone say that wallabies are getting stoned and making crop circles!! Ha ha ha! 25 Jun 2009 from twhirl in reply to ememmyem

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International community seeks compromise on whaling

Britni Day — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:59:48 +0000

Per BBC, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has opened its annual meeting in Madeira, Portugal, with careful discussion of a compromise between pro- and anti-whaling nations. Talks began a year ago but did not progress as planned, U.S. chairman William Hogarth told BBC News.

Anti-whaling countries would like to see Japan suspend its “research” programs in the Arctic that critics believe are being used as a guise to hunt whales for consumption. Iceland has also come under criticism from anti-whaling countries for expanding its hunting numbers of the endangered fin whale. The company involved in the whaling, Hvalur hf, told BBC that there is no market for whale meat in Iceland, but because of the financial crisis they will export much of the meat to Japan.

The Twitterverse reacted with a variety of responses:

sharko597 (Orchard, Singapore)‘whale’ cusine launched in Tokyo as International Whaling Commission starts annual mtg http://bit.ly/FNF47 how is eating whale research!? 22 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

levitatingcat (Undisclosed) Japan, Norway, and Iceland want to lift the ban on whaling: http://tinyurl.com/mjaz7e. Don’t let them! http://tinyurl.com/dnm7nw. 22 Jun 2009 from web

EppoNuman (The Hague, Netherlands) If whales were small children – would we still not blow Japanese whaling ships out of the water, when on their illegal killing spree?? 22 Jun 2009 from web

abranches (Undisclosed) I’m skeptical about a consensus solution on whaling. Japan has spent lots of time & money to get a pro-whaling coalition. Hard to let it go 22 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop

kvltpunk (Austin, Texas) RT @aissle: “boycott” her favourite J-rock groups to protest Japan’s whaling // Giving up Malice Mizer is some serious stuff…. 22 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

crisatunity (Dallas, Texas) In my heart I wish US Navy ships would sink whaling vessels, then harpoon the survivors. 22 Jun 2009 from web

MissJeannineW (Undisclosed) Stop the whaling and save these beautiful animals!!!!! Shame on you killers! 22 Jun 2009 from web

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Mekong River Dolphin on the verge of extinction

Britni Day — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:07:15 +0000

Per BBC, World Wildlife Fund announced that pollution has pushed the Irrawaddy dolphin living in the Mekong River to the brink of extinction. The Mekong River flows from China, through Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Toxic levels of pesticides such as DDT, high levels of mercury and other pollutants have been found in dead dolphin calves since 2003, says the BBC. Researchers from WWF believe that high levels of pollution will also be harmful to the human population that lives around the river and shares the same water and fish as the dolphin.

The Twitterverse replied with a mixture of sadness, concern and anger:

b_huang (Singapore) Stop killing them dolphins! Pollution bad! Mekong river dolphin nearing extinction because of pollution. #news http://bit.ly/Rtg1d 18 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

onepowlow (Las Piñas City, Philippines) http://tinyurl.com/ladtp8 – Mekong river dolphin near extinct—WWF – wtf!!! 18 Jun 2009 from web

edd_hind (Galway, Ireland) Looks like the end for the Mekong Dolphin… http://tinyurl.com/mueeus ( 18 Jun 2009 from web

Maggmando (Spain) SAVE the Mekong Dolphins (Irrawaddy Dolphin)! There are just 76! We are killing them and they are nearly to be exterminated! 18 Jun 2009 from web

AmandaGBeals (New York, N.Y.) NOOOO!!!!! Mekong River Dolphin Nearly Extinct http://tinyurl.com/mprumc via @markclayson 18 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

adurableheart (Boston, Mass.) RT @MarkClayson Mekong River Dolphin Nearly Extinct http://tinyurl.com/mprumc. AHHHH Humans we are better than this. 18 Jun 2009 from web

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Mapping the spread of swine flu

Britni Day — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Per M.I.T. Technology Review, Google Maps provides a practical way to track the geographic scope of H1N1 swine flu. This map in particular has been viewed more than 150,000 times and has made the rounds on Twitter.

The article states that the World Health Organization now says it is too late to contain the swine flu. However, it also says that the current tracking and communication of social sites, blogs and other internet tools are vital to distributing information and slowing outbreaks.

The Google Map swine flu tracker has been both praised and criticized by the Twitterverse:

SagaciousT (Puget Sound, Wash.) @ShaunaCausey also not that the swine-flu google map has many repeats and is utterly useless 28 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to ShaunaCausey

SKARLIT (Sarasota, Fla.) Google swine flu map includes “get directions” when you click on these places. Convenient! I need a better sleep schedula ASAP. 28 Apr 2009 from web

chrismpage (Iowa City, Iowa) is amazed by the swine flu google map tool. 28 Apr 2009 from web

acaiedge (Undisclosed) the google swine flu map is many hours out of date 28 Apr 2009 from web

Worrals (Hamilton, Ontario) Just in case you aren’t panicked enough about Swine flu, here’s a handy Google map: http://tinyurl.com/swinemap09 28 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

charyl (Colorado) @zaibatsu Are you in Ouray County? I ask bcuz that’s where the google swine flu map is showing the suspected case. 28 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to zaibatsu

thewalkingipod (California) @kimbyann12 Well that’s good to know cuz I’ve been watching the swine flu map on Google… 29 Apr 2009 from web in reply to kimbyann12

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Scientists puzzled over giant space blob

Britni Day — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:14:00 +0000

Per National Geographic, scientists have discovered a “giant space blob” 12.9 billion light-years away that has left them baffled.

The 4th largest object in the universe has been dubbed ‘Himiko’, after a well known Japanese queen, reports National Geographic. The article also says that Himiko is the size of a mature galaxy, but scientists believe that is a young galaxy from the cosmic dawn.

The Twitterverse had a variety of reactions, but most seem just as confused as the scientists:

thestapeliaco Just read this headline: “Giant space blob found near dawn of time.” Is this actual news or the title of the latest Orson Scott Card novel? 23 Apr 2009 from web

leahshull Giant space blob?!? Where is Jean Luc when we need him? http://bit.ly/5sKOq 23 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

PopSci A warm PopSci hello to 12.9-billion-year-old ultra-massive primordial space blob Himiko! http://bit.ly/VyvNh -PDA 23 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

SubverseRadio @tefkas Stubbed my toe earlier. Think it was Space Blob anxiety. For the sake of the kids, please can someone resolve this Space Blob crisis 23 Apr 2009 from web in reply to tefkas

tempestreverie A “space mystery blob” 12.9 billion light years away is named Himiko. Hah! 23 Apr 2009 from web

mgstack1980 I’m so glad we discovered the blob in space. Take that Big Bang theory! 23 Apr 2009 from web

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Rare Megamouth shark found in Philippines, then eaten

Britni Day — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:10:00 +0000

Per National Geographic: A Megamouth shark, one of the rarest sharks in the world, was found by fisherman in the Philippines and then eaten.

The fisherman from the town of Donsol caught the 13 foot 1,102 pound Megamouth while fishing for mackerel says National Geographic. According to the article, this was only the 41st Megamouth to ever be found since the once thought extinct shark reappeared in 1976.

World Wildlife Fund Philippines local project manager Elson Aca identified the shark and then explained to the fisherman that they shouldn’t eat the shark, said National Geographic. Shark meat is considered a delicacy in the Philippines and the shark was butchered and cooked.

A variety of reactions from the Twitterverse:

Budjette (Manila, Philippines) Rare megamouth shark caught&eaten by Pinoy fishermen http://tr.im/indV i wonder if they turned it into adobo 07 Apr 2009 from web

tristanx (Toronto, Canada) I have to admit, reading this made me a little sad. Ultra-rare “megamouth” shark caught, butchered, eaten: http://bit.ly/3PDfyi 07 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

faltobelli (Undisclosed) It’s not survival of the fittest, it’s extinction of the tastiest as proved by Philippine fishermen who ate a mega rare megamouth shark 07 Apr 2009 from web

noxo (London, U.K.) This saddens and angers me: Extremely Rare Megamouth Shark Found and Eaten http://twurl.nl/z7qldl (RT @NatGeoSociety) 07 Apr 2009 from TwitterFox

mishmashmush (Undisclosed) So a group of fishermen caught and ate the ubber rare Megamouth Shark. It was cooked in coconut milk. I think I’m making Thai tonight. 07 Apr 2009 from web

buwayahman (Philippines) I don’t get it. Given a choice between starving to death or eating a rare megamouth shark, wouldn’t you eat the shark? http://bit.ly/770g2 07 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

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