It has proven difficult to figure out the genome of many of the microorganisms in the ocean because they are much less abundant than other, well-known species. This makes it difficult to isolate them and culture them, creating a chicken and egg problem: how do you study them if you can’t grow them, but to grow them you need to know a bit more about them. 

In the past year, jellyfish have wreaked havoc in various places around the world, forcing shut downs of nuclear power plants in Florida, Scotland, Israel and Japan and hampering fishing fleets. What’s going on? Read more here in this Nature News article by Mark Schrope. Friday Harbor Labs’ Connie Mills is mentioned. 

Global warming is hitting not just home, but garden. The color-coded map of planting zones is being updated by the government, illustrating a hotter 21st century. Sarah Reichard, director of the Botanic Gardens, is quoted. Read more here. 

In a Nature Comment on climate policy, Oceanography’s James Murray and Oxford University’s David King suggest that peak oil has already happened, and that this should lead to policy adjustments in light of short-term economic threats, something that has been slow in coming with the relatively long-term threat of climate change. Read this Comment here. 

With state budgets tightening, the UW Botanic Gardens have lost 25% of their funding over the past few years. Volunteers are needed and appreciated. Sara Reichard is quoted in this article about this wonderful community resource.