1. Melting Arctic 'blooms' with algae
CNN June 11, 2012
A satellite image of the Chukchi Sea, between Alaska and Russia, shows phytoplankton bloom (in green).
(CNN) -- Scientists in the Arctic have discovered the largest ever under-ice bloom of phytoplankton, likening the discovery to "finding the Amazon rainforest in the middle of the Mojave Desert."
Researchers were amazed to discover a colossal 100 kilometer (62 miles) stretch of phytoplankton blooming under Arctic ice, north of Alaska, in July last year.
It had previously been assumed that sea ice blocked the sunlight necessary for the growth of marine plants. But four times more phytoplankton was found under the ice than in ice-free waters nearby.
Scientists now believe that pools of melting ice actually function like skylights and magnifying glasses, focusing sunlight into sea water, providing the perfect conditions for the intense phytoplankton bloom, which makes the water look like pea soup.
Undiscovered until the 1970s, the ocean's phytoplankton is now understood to be responsible for about as much of the oxygen in our atmosphere as plants on land.
2. Putin Arrives in China for Regional Summit
New York Times June 5, 2012
BEIJING — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia arrived in China on Tuesday, a visit that contrasted with his shunning of a summit of world leaders hosted by President Obama last month and was intended to drive home the existence of an alternative group, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which excludes the United States.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin shake hands during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 5, 2012.
Admired by the Chinese for his staying power as leader of Russia for 12 years, Mr. Putin and President Hu Jintao of China will discuss their approaches to Syria, Iran and their efforts to squeeze the United States out of Central Asia, Chinese and American analysts said. Both countries are also opposed to an American plan for a missile- defense system in Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe that is designed as protection against Iran.
In what appears to be a show of solidarity, the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting as an observer, and the Kremlin announced that Mr. Putin would meet with him. Russia is scheduled to host a next round of talks later this month among world powers on the Iranian nuclear program.
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