New Scientist has an interesting article that puts a new twist on the dangers of global warming. A group of researchers from Bowling Green working in Siberia have evidence that flu viruses can survive a freezing winter locked in ice and then infect local wildlife when they thaw again. In fact, they also believe that these freezing and melting cycles serve as "melting pots" for flu viruses from year to year to mix and form new strains. It seems as though each freeze-thaw cycle kills about 90% of each virus, but that still leaves enough alive to make a comeback the next year.

Of course, this brings up the possibility that viruses that have been frozen away from mankind for much longer could be released by global warming and could make a comeback as glaciers and other frozen areas melt in the future.

Over at Mac Tonnies' blog I saw a link to an article that shows exactly where Fox News and many in the republican party stand on environmentalism and global warming. I think the way to put it would be "Let God handle it." Honestly...

James Inhofe, the outgoing Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, told Fox News in an interview(with the tag line "Is Global Warming a Hoax? below him) that we shouldn't worry about global warming because, "God's still up there." I can't even begin to put into words how I feel about that, so I'll just let you read the article here.

Finally, a little good news on the environmental front. Global atmospheric methane concentrations seem to be leveling off. If the trend continues, predicted global warming temperature rises won't be as dramatic. Maybe people really can make a difference still. Here's hoping, at least.