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In Murmansk’s nuclear graveyard in Russia, three nuclear submarines with thedestructive power of 200 nuclear bombs lie rusting in the icy water. Thesubmarines will never be used again. These vessels, and dozens of otherslike them, could cause a catastrophe which would make the Chernobyl disasterpale into insignificance.

Two years ago Robin Cook, then British Foreign Secretary, promised $16.5million to help with the nuclear clean-up in the Murmansk region, as part ofa larger program of nuclear clean-up in Russia, where, during the Sovietera, environmental considerations always came last.
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Scientists at Virginia Tech University say that rats’ genes could makevegetables produce more vitamin C. When they introduced rat genes into thegenetic material of lettuces it caused the greens to increase theirproduction of vitamins by 700%.

Craig Nessler, who lead the research, says he does not expect to see theengineered lettuce for sale any time soon. “We are aware that vegetablescontaining rats’ genes would not meet the customer’s taste.” However, hehopes to develop his findings into a method that will eventually help fightundernourishment in Third World countries.

Rats were selected because they can produce vitamin C themselves, whilehumans no longer have this ability.
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Scientists are compiling the first detailed map of Britain’s recedingcoastline, which is drowning due to rising ocean levels. The project isbeing carried out at Filey on the northeast coast of England, where land isdisappearing at a rate of 10 inches every year.

A team from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne is using aerialphotographs from a ultralight aircraft, satellite pictures, and advancedcomputer technology to build a 3D model of coastal erosion in the area. JonMills, who is leading the project, says the information will be used todecide where to locate sea defenses.
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Some people call it “goo” – others think it looks like clear globs oftapioca pudding.But so far, nobody knows for sure what the clear globules are that have beenshowing up in Lake Superior over the past few days.

Swimmers have noticed them floating in the water off Park Point. JeffGunderson, associate director of Minnesota Sea Grant, collected samples ofthe globules off Park Point and Brighton Beach. Although some of it has beenexamined under microscopes, biologists have not yet been able to determinewhat the goo is. “We don’t know if it’s organic or inorganic yet,” he says.
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