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Scientists Solve Riddle of Toxic Algae Blooms

Posted by timothy on from the bet-that-lake's-no-longer-pristine dept.

An anonymous reader writes with an excerpt from the Victoria Times Colonist: "After a remarkable 37-year experiment, University of Alberta scientist David Schindler and his colleagues have finally nailed down the chemical triggers for a problem that plagues thousands of freshwater and coastal ecosystems around the world." Punchline: "Phosphorus."

15 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. City of... what? by RobertB-DC · · Score: 5, Funny

    From TFA:
    There are now 146 coastal regions in the world in which fish and bottom-feeding life forms have been entirely eliminated because of a lack of oxygen. One dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is about the size of the city of New Jersey and growing.

    I can understand dumbing-down the units of measure to Volkswagens or Libraries of Congress, but the last time I looked at Wikipedia, New Jersey was still the 3rd state admitted to the Union. I mean, come on... it's already the brunt of every New York comedian's jokes, and now you Brits are trying to demote it to a mere "city"?

    (Of course, I'm from Texas, where an "area the size of the STATE of New Jersey" would barely be counted as a moderate-sized ranch.)

    --
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    1. Re:City of... what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      From TFA:
      There are now 146 coastal regions in the world in which fish and bottom-feeding life forms have been entirely eliminated because of a lack of oxygen. One dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is about the size of the city of New Jersey and growing.

      I can understand dumbing-down the units of measure to Volkswagens or Libraries of Congress, but the last time I looked at Wikipedia, New Jersey was still the 3rd state admitted to the Union. I mean, come on... it's already the brunt of every New York comedian's jokes, and now you Brits are trying to demote it to a mere "city"?

      (Of course, I'm from Texas, where an "area the size of the STATE of New Jersey" would barely be counted as a moderate-sized ranch.)

      In defense of New Jersey vs Texas, while you have the size advantage on us, we have waaaaaay more toxic Super-Fund sites here, thus ensuring our mutated progeny a leg-up (or tentacle/webbed appendage)on you soon-to-be extinct bipeds from the Lone Star State.

    2. Re:City of... what? by ak_hepcat · · Score: 5, Funny

      'Course, I'm from Alaska, where an area the size of Texas would be a moderate-sized park.

      Oh, SNAP!

      Although we like Canada over here next door. They're like the sassy ol' widow that bakes fresh pie and leaves it on the windowsill for us.

      --
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    3. Re:City of... what? by tzot · · Score: 5, Funny

      Both. Michael would stay in the bigger new state, and Billy would be in the other.

      --
      I speak England very best
    4. Re:City of... what? by philspear · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm from california. Where are Texas, Alaska, and Canada? Are they in the valley?

  2. Re:Irony! by 4D6963 · · Score: 4, Funny

    According to a chemistry major I know, adding one gram or so of phosphorus can cause more devastating algae ownage

    Algae ownage? I'd love to read that guy's thesis!

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    You just got troll'd!
  3. Who knew by Narpak · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not only does the government have to pull out all stops to control phosphorous, he says, it needs to protect wetlands that remove these nutrients from runoff before they reach lakes and streams. It also needs to set up rules that create natural buffer zones that protect lakes and rivers from agricultural, municipal and cottage developments.

    Who knew that pumping phosphorous and toxic waste into the rivers and ocean would have negative consequences.

    --
    The Long Now Foundation
  4. Satire by BitterOldGUy · · Score: 5, Funny

    New Jersey, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada This is an article from Canada after all.

    I'm taking it as a very clever form of satire: confusing New Jersey as a state versus a city; confusing Canada with England.

    I mean, it's pretty obvious that it's a Canadian article because it's in English and Canada is the only state in the Union that speaks English.

    1. Re:Satire by DaveV1.0 · · Score: 4, Funny

      That proves nothing! It could have been spoofed by those New Mexicans! They are always invading America. They are worse than the old Mexicans.

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      There is no "-1 offended" or "-1 you don't agree with me" mod options for a reason.
  5. Re:Irony! by NeuroManson · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm guessing that's British for "Pwnage", correct?

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  6. Re:Common knowledge? by notnAP · · Score: 4, Funny

    phosphorus leads to flora growth? They ought to look into using that stuff in fertilizers.

  7. Re:Irony! by CheeseTroll · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, I believe the British spelling is 'aenage'.

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  8. Re:well duh by camperdave · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...fish waist...

    Fish don't have waists. That's why they seldom wear pants.

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  9. Re:What?!? by oodaloop · · Score: 4, Funny

    What, like out of the toilet?

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    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  10. Re:Irony! by ePhil_One · · Score: 4, Funny
    Its all part of the hip new lingo coming out of the "City of New Jersey"..

    One dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is about the size of the city of New Jersey and growing.

    --
    You are in a maze of twisted little posts, all alike.