I didn't realize pollution in Beijing is so severe that events might need to be postponed. It's so bad it could make it difficult for athletes to break world records at the 2008 games - I think this should be a factor in choosing future sites.

Quoted: Some events in the 2008 Summer Games may have to be postponed by a day or two if air pollution in Beijing is excessive, the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday. How will all this pollution affect the Olympic athletes?

Another interesting Explainer from Slate.

Quoted: The U.S. Coast Guard is planning to establish its first Arctic base. The announcement comes less than three months after a spat between Canada and Russia over control of Arctic waters. Norway, Iceland, and Denmark also voice claims on parts of the Arctic Ocean, particularly as thawing ice opens up previously inaccessible waterways and natural resources. So, who owns the Arctic?

So sad. This penguin population has shrunk by 80% since 1974.

Quoted: For now, Adelie penguins near a U.S. research base on Antarctica outnumber people by 100 to 1. But a prominent expert says the species is destined for extinction.

This is just so sad. I really hope these scientists can save the great coral reefs.

Quoted: In efforts local and global, an uphill fight to restore corals battered by human and marine life to their former glory.