Dire Links

Bag of Frogs' Legs Simon Law (CC Licensed)

So, Norwegians are strapping and blonde, progressive and environmentally friendly -- right? Maybe not that last part: the Scandinavian country generates the most pollution per capita in Europe. It's a bit of a sticky wicket -- should Norway restrain its development of oil and gas to prevent these resources from being used at all? When is green green enough -- and what happens to the country if all of its citizens and politicians can't agree on these points?

Also in today's links: cutting smog, mystery fish and more.

• And in addition to the whole save-the-earth thing, here's yet another reason Norway and other places might want to sort out a plan: a new study has determined that people live on average five months longer when the smog in their area is cut significantly.
• Scientists were aware of three separate species of fish: one that had been found only as juveniles; one that had been found only as males; and one that had been found only as females. Yes, it sounds so obvious when I put it that way, but scientists just sorted out that all three are the same species, one that looks very different in different stages of life, and in different genders.
• Frogs are famously affected by the changing environment, too. But now they have other things to worry about -- their tasty legs are so much in demand, that some people are worried the amphibians might be heading toward extinction. Maybe chefs will have to start turning toward farmed frogs, and next we know we'll be reading about the fight over GM frog legs, with their meaty, meaty thighs.
• Scientists are using Brownian motion to look at collective motion, the phenomena of swarms of birds, bacteria and other creatures moving seemingly as a single unit. Perhaps they can apply this to controls of groups of people entering and exiting subway cars, to somehow get them to leave room for people going in the opposite direction?