Creationism evolved from geology? – GSA Today

“The now common cultural narrative of perpetual conflict between science and religion simplifies the arguments and struggles of the past and overlooks cross-pollination between those who embraced faith and reason as the keys to understanding earth history. ” So begins an article by ESSDavid Montgomery, who explores the evolution of creationism, in GSA Today. Read about it on Phys.org, or at the original site.

Op-ed: we didn’t have to kill the Wedge wolf pack – Seattle Times

“Dead wolves don’t learn”. John Marzluff, professor of wildlife science in SEFS, makes the case for changes in wolf management, for the betterment of both our ecosystems and our socioeconomic systems.

State passes on setting fish-consumption rates – The Olympian

Fish-consumption rates are more controversial than they sound, because they affect how much pollution industrial and municipal plants are allowed to discharge into lakes, rivers and Puget Sound. Business and local-government interests reacted with alarm after the Washington Department of Ecology suggested last year that its revised regulations would require that people need to be safe eating 157 to 267 grams per day, or 11 to 18 pounds per month. Current rates are set between 6.5 and 54 grams per day. Read more here.

Salmon migrate into Olympic National Park for first time ever – NPS

Yesterday, less than five months after the removal of the Elwha Dam, adult Chinook (king) salmon were observed in Olympic National Park. These are the first observed Elwha River salmon to naturally migrate into the park; the Elwha Dam became operational in 1913, twenty-five years before the establishment of the park, blocking over 70 miles of fish habitat from passage. Read more about this historic event here.

Nautilus survives 500 million years, but can it survive 7 billion people? – Phys.org

The nautilus, a creature that pulled easily through the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs,  now hangs on the brink of extinction because it has become coveted by human beings. Read more here; ESSPeter Ward is quoted.

Wet climate may have driven Mongol invasion – LiveScience

Preliminary new findings suggest that, contrary to previous assertions, consistent rain and warm temperatures may have given the Mongols the energy source they needed to conquer Eurasia: grass for their horses.  Read more here; OCEAN‘s Avery Shinneman is mentioned.

Treasure hunt: the battle over Pebble Mine – PBS.org

Global mining giant Anglo-American and its Canadian partner, Northern Dynasty, want to dig one of the world’s largest open-pit mines – up to three miles wide and thousands of feet deep – in the near-pristine watershed of Bristol Bay, home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery. Learn more about this proposal and the controversy surrounding it; SAFSThomas Quinn is quoted.