Bookmarks for July 27th

When I'm not blogging, I'm browsing. Here are sites and pages that I bookmarked on July 27th:

• Scientists Study Distinct Ecosystem at Ocean’s Surface: Scientists are now discovering that the top hundredth-inch of the ocean is somewhat like a sheet of jelly. And this odd habitat, thinner than a human hair, is home to an unusual menagerie of microbes.

• New life histories emerge for invasive wasps, magnify ecological harm: A switch from annual to multiyear colonies and a willingness to feed just about any prey to their young have allowed invasive yellowjacket wasps to disrupt native populations of insects and spiders on two Hawaiian islands, a new study has found.

• 247-acre open-ocean fish farm nears launch off Hawaii's Big Isle: The Honolulu company proposing to raise sashimi-grade 'ahi last week published a final environmental impact statement with the state, clearing a major regulatory hurdle in the effort to start operations projected to generate more than $100 million in annual sales.

• Hawaii scientists waging uphill battle: Scientists, conservation managers and others are waging a never-ending battle to rid the reefs of alien seaweeds that are choking off corals and disrupting the natural balance of the nearshore ecosystems. It is a complex problem that poses a major threat to certain reefs.

• SEAL mini-sub won’t be repaired: The career of a small, one-of-a-kind mini-submarine intended to carry U.S. special operations troops for covert operations has come to an apparent end, a victim of the high cost of repairs after an accidental fire burned out the vessel’s interior.

• Amelia Earhart: DNA Evidence May Link Nikumaroro Island to Search: Researchers at the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, or Tighar, say they are on the verge of recovering DNA evidence that would demonstrate Amelia Earhart had been stranded on Nikumaroro Island (formerly known as Gardner Island) before finally perishing there.

• Hydro power plant in Hawaii raises its efficiency, reliability: On the North Shore of Kauai, GE Energy’s Control Solutions business recently upgraded hydro turbines with digital controls and a new hydraulic system. This upgrade brought increased efficiency and reliability to the first hydroelectric plant ever built in Hawaii and still in operation today.

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