A Farmer Reclaims Liberian Roots in New Jersey
www.nytimes.com, 6/26/2015
Morris Gbolo spends a lot of time thinking about the home-cooked dinners he and his wife, Ernestine,
used to enjoy before they fled their home amid civil war in Liberia 12 years ago. For Mr. Gbolo, 55,
memories of mealtime in West Africa, where he was a farmer, have become a source of entrepreneurial
inspiration and a way to make friends: As owner and operator of Morris Gbolo's World Crops Farm, a 13acre parcel in Buena Vista Township that he bought in January to grow the produce of his homeland
(bitter ball, cassava), he hopes to help fellow transplants connect and feel closer to home... Ethnic crops
are a thriving business for small farmers in New Jersey, said Brian Schilling, an extension specialist in
agricultural policy at Rutgers University's Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource
Economics in New Brunswick. Farmers often focus on "high-value crops" ike peaches and blueberries
to remain "economically sustainable," he explained, but niche markets, like West African produce, are
also becoming more viable... Richard VanVranken, a Rutgers agriculture agent in Atlantic County,
said that word about the university's ethnic crop work was spreading, in part from referrals by the state's
Agriculture Department. "I now get on average a call per week from new farmers or established growers
exploring new ethnic markets from around the state and way beyond," he said.
Opinion: Will the Garden State Be Ready When the Next Drought Arrives?
www.njspotlight.com, 7/7/2015
Can you remember when New Jersey last suffered a major drought? What you remember might depend
on how you use water. Farmers will focus on times when rainfall just wouldn't come during the growing
season. Those with their own wells will remember when their pumps were pulling air instead of water. But
the majority of New Jersey residents and businesses depend on public water supplies, and the primary
impact of droughts are prohibitions on outdoor water uses and exhortations to conserve indoors... The
1981 drought triggered development of additional water supplies for the northern urban areas, including
Monksville Reservoir and the Wanaque South Project, a major pumping station and pipeline system.
Rehabilitation of the Delaware & Raritan Canal was also a 1980s activity, increasing Central Jersey
supplies even more... This article was written by Daniel J. Van Abs, associate research professor for
Water, Society and Environment at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.
He has spent more than 30 years as a professional, manager, and advocate in the fields of water
resources, watershed and regional environmental management.
Gender-Bending Fish Under Rutgers Microscope
www.nj.com, 7/7/2015
We'll say this for the sea bass: It's sure good at keeping its options open. If it surveys the mating
landscape and fails to see enough prospects, it simply switches gender... This ability bodes well for New
Jersey's commercial and recreational fishing industry, for it offers natural protection from over-fishing,
says one Rutgers researcher... A fish may begin life as a female, only to switch to male if that looks like
it will improve its chances of reproduction. Smaller males, called "sneaker males," may impersonate
females so they can fertilize eggs on the sly without attracting hostile attention from other males... "The
relative benefit of being male or female changes throughout their lives," said Olaf Jensen of Rutgers'
department of marine and coastal science... With the help of that fishing industry, however, Jensen
and his team have discovered a only third of sea bass start as males, but some females switch over to
male at some point in their lives - usually once they've spawned and survived a winter.
Black Sea Bass Change Sex for Survival
www.mycentraljersey.com, 7/7/2015
Rutgers marine researchers and New Jersey fishermen are piecing together the details of the strange,
gender-bending sex lives of black sea bass- a study that could improve understanding of the bass
population and help the beleaguered recreational fishing industry... Scientists have long known black sea
bass are "protogynous hermaphrodites," a species in which fish that begin life as females can switch
gender to male. But the details of how and why that happens are not completely understood... "It sounds
crazy, right? But from an evolutionary perspective, it's a perfect way to keep balance in a population,"
said Olaf Jensen, an assistant professor with Rutgers' Department of Marine and Coastal Science
leading the project. "If it's operating out in nature, maybe we don't have to worry so much about fishing
pressure removing the big males and skewing the sex ratio."... The idea for the project started in 2010,
when Jensen was talking to Eleanor Bochenek, director of the Fisheries Cooperative Center at
Rutgers Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, who works with fishermen and other people who make
a living on the water.
A Big Shift is Coming to the Maine Lobster Population - And it Could Devastate the Local
Economy
www.businessinsider.com, 7/7/2015
There aren't many foods more closely associated with Maine than the lobster. So it's pretty scary that this
valued American crustacean could one day soon become a Canadian treasure- a change that could have
a devastating impact on Maine's local economy... While we can't know for sure what the future holds, it
seems that as ocean temperatures continue to increase, lobsters will likely keep moving north, study
researcher Malin Pinsky, of Rutgers University, told Business Insider... At a rate of 43 miles per
decade, it could only be 30 years or so until Maine lobsters are mostly in Canadian waters... Two factors
will impact how quickly this happens, Pinsky told Business Insider: Greenhouse gas production and the
rate of ocean temperature increase. If temperatures and gasses continue to rise, Pinsky says lobsters
moving to Canada is, "not out of the question."
Horse on a Treadmill: An Un-Stable Workout at Rutgers Equine Showcase
www.nj.com, 7/8/2015
At the annual Rutgers showcase, spectators came to see the running of the horse- on a treadmill. It was
one of several exhibits at Rutgers University's Equine Science Center Summer Showcase at Cook
campus Wednesday. The event drew dozens of visitors of all ages to learn about the center and the
research going on there... The equine program began in 1980 and the center was established in 2001,
said Karyn Malinowski, the equine science center director and professor of animal sciences. This
showcase serves as a way to get people exposed to the research that's being done at the equine
sciences center, she said... To get the horse to properly ride the treadmill, the process requires the work
of about 12 people to monitor the horse, to operate the machine, and to stand by the horse while it's
running, Malinowski said... At the count of three, the machine turned on. Kenneth McKeever, professor
and associate director of research at the center, narrated to the crowd what was happening as the
horse, Marge, began to gallop.
THE GARDENER STATE: Just What is Growing On Out There?
www.mycentraljersey.com, 7/8/2015
Has anyone else around here noticed all the construction and installations going on Major intersections,
front yards, and even parking lots have all undergone a transformation of sorts, though to the untrained
eye, this all seemingly blends in with the rest of the neighborhood... Rutgers Cooperative Extension,
the Township of Clark, and the City of Rahway have partnered to install projects in their watershed area
that demonstrate green solutions for reducing stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution... Within
the past year, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Water Resources Program, in partnership
with the City of Perth Amboy, has formed a municipal action team. This has been accomplished under the
support of the Surdna Foundation, www.surdna.org, which seeks to foster sustainable communities in the
United States- communities guided by principles of social justice and distinguished by healthy
environments, strong local economies, and thriving cultures.
Rutgers Equine Science Center Hosts Summer Showcase
www.nj.com, 7/8/2015
The Equine Science Center at Rutgers University hosted its annual "Summer Showcase" on
Wednesday, July 8 at the Equine Exercise Physiology Laboratory on College Farm Road on the
George H. Cook Campus in New Brunswick. The Summer Showcase, similar to an open house, is a
free event that is open to the public and perfect for any and all equine enthusiasts, ages 8 and up... Dr.
Karyn Malinowski, director of the Equine Science Center, welcomed guests and explained why the
horse makes an excellent animal model to study and what type of research is conducted at the Center.
Guests also saw a demonstration of a horse galloping at full speed on the 21-foot equine treadmill. The
treadmill allows researchers to study the horse in motion while the people stand still. Dr. Ken McKeever
explained how blood and tissue samples can be taken to study the effects of exercise on the horse's
body. The blood can be analyzed in a lab attached to the study barn... The Equine Science Center is a
unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, The State University of New
Jersey. Its mission is Better Horse Care through Research and Education in order to advance the wellbeing and performance of horses and the equine industry.
Racial Discrimination and Health Effects: Current Research and New Areas of Study
www.journalistresource.org, 7/8/2015
As the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice and Freddie Gray have captured headlines and
sparked protests across the United States over the past year, there has been a renewed discussion about
how structural issues of racial inequity influence various domains of life, including law enforcement,
economic opportunity, educational achievement and indicators of health... In a 2015 paper published in
the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, "Self-Reported Experiences of Discrimination and Health:
Scientific Advances, Ongoing Controversies, and Emerging Issues," Tene T. Lewis of the Rollins School
of Public Health at Emory University, Courtney D. Cogburn of the Columbia University School of Social
Work, and David R. Williams of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health examine what current
research has shown; inconsistencies in methodologies that may influence observed results, and future
directions for study in areas that have been historically neglected... Promising approaches that have been
associated with improved outcomes include: Value affirmation interventions "designed to enhance an
individual's sense of adequacy and self-worth"; and forgiveness strategies aimed at "emotion-focused
coping, and community-based racism countermarketing."... In a 2014 evaluation of the Racism Still Exists
campaign in New York City by Naa Oyo Kwate of Rutgers University, greater community awareness of
racism was associated with reduced psychological distress.
Seeking Mates, Fish Switch Sex
www.philly.com, 7/8/2015
When mating prospects are grim, certain females in Jersey Shore waters appear to have developed a
clever strategy: changing sex. That is what Rutgers University scientists think is happening with black sea
bass, apparently in response to declining numbers of males... "You don't need that many males in a
population," said Rutgers biologist Olaf Jensen. "But you do need some."... Gender gibes aside, the
knowledge that scientists have gleaned so far is expected to be useful next year when federal regulators
set catch limits for this important commercial species. Last time they did so, the sex-changing ability was
not taken into account, and boat captains felt the resulting limits were too restrictive.
Rutgers Scientist Says Sex-Switching Fish May Reveal Environmental Clues
www.cbslocal.com, 7/9/2015
If you've seen the Jurassic Park movies, this story might just ring a bell with you. A Rutgers University
biologist is studying how and why some breeds of fish can convert from female to male. And,
sometimes, back again... That it's possible has been known for decades, observed in laboratory
environments. It's what brings about the change in the wild that drives Olaf Jensen's work... So, why
should we care? According to Jensen, it's nature's way of sustaining the species, and this knowledge is
helpful in predicting fish populations and knowing how much of a particular species can be safely
harvested by recreational and commercial fishermen.
Northern Hemisphere Snow Cover is Near Record Lows. Here's Why That Should Worry You.
www.washingtonpost.com, 7/9/2015
It's July- meaning that for most of us, seeing snow on the ground would be extremely surprising. Then
again, most of us don't live in the Arctic, where considerable "snow cover"(as scientists put it) does
persist into the spring and into early summer months... In fact, climate researchers consider the amount of
remaining snow cover in May and June to be a very important measurement- and this June, it was near
record lows across the Northern Hemisphere, according to a new monthly analysis by researchers at
Rutgers University... More specifically, explains Rutgers' David Robinson, who tracks the snow
record: The June 2015 snow cover extent over North America was the second lowest on record (period
of record is 49 years: 1967-2015). On average, 4,080,000 square kilometers (2,485,000 sq. miles) of the
continent was covered. This is above the 3,850,000 sq. km. in 2012, the lowest on record. The mean
extent is 5,809,000 (based on the 1981-2010 period). For comparison sake, North America covers
27,709,000 sq. km. from Panama northward and including Greenland.
Snow Cover Nears Record Low Across Northern Hemisphere
www.adn.com, 7/9/2015
The Northern Hemisphere had a near-record low snow cover in June, especially in western Canada and
Alaska, and the drier landscape is likely feeding widespread wildfires this season, scientists said. The
snow cover was the second-lowest for June in the 48-year record, said a monthly report issued
Wednesday by the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado... Snow cover was low
across the Northern Hemisphere. The coverage was 2.1 million square miles, compared to a standard
average for the month of 3.63 million square miles, according to data from Rutgers University's Global
Snow Lab, which was used in the report... Ice loss typically is at its highest rate in July, the year's
warmest month, the center said. The minimum extent is reached in September, the end of the melt
season.
Clifton High School Valedictorian Sees Future as Surgeon
www.northernjersey.com, 7/10/2015
Clifton High School Valedictorian Daniel Peltyszyn, said the first thing he wanted to do after graduation
was "sit back and relax." After becoming the top of the graduating Class of 2015, the respite is welldeserved. However, Peltyszyn said what he is most looking forward to is a change of scenery after three
years at Clifton High School's main campus... He will attend Rutgers New Brunswick as a member of the
inaugural Honors College class in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences...
Peltyszyn said he plans to become a surgeon. If he had to choose a specialty right now, he'd opt for
neurosurgery, he added.
Fighting For Fluke
www.app.com, 7/10/2015
Summer flounder won't stand up and be counted. It's a task best left to the scientists, but the problem has
always been the best way to go about it. For years, there has been little agreement between the
fishermen who caught the fish and those who manage the fishery on how many fluke are around... Now
the SSFFF is working with scientists from Cornell, Rutgers and other universities, along with the National
Marine Fisheries Service, to develop a more comprehensive summer flounder model that more accurately
portrays the size and composition of the fishery... Dr. Daphne Munroe and Jason Morson of the
Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory at Rutgers University will be gathering that information.
Morson has also been involved in assisting Dr. Sullivan on developing the new model... During her
research, Dr. Munroe has already uncovered some fascinating facts about sex and fluke... For one thing,
more females are caught in the recreational fishery as opposed to the commercial side. It might have to
do with where commercial fishing is done or "it might be that females are more willing to bite bait," said
Munroe. "There could be all kinds of reasons."
Last Time it Was This Warm, Sea Levels were 20 Feet Higher, Study Says
www.thejerseytomatopress.com, 7/11/2015
When past temperatures were similar to or slightly higher than the present global average, sea levels
rose at least 20 feet, suggesting a similar outcome could be in store century unless there is a substantial
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions... "Present climate is warming to a level associated with
significant polar ice-sheet loss in the past," said Rutgers oceanographer Benjamin Horton, one of
study's authors... In the new study, researchers assessed evidence of higher sea levels the past 3
million years to understand how polar ice sheets respond to warming. Using observations from the
geologic record, supported by computer modeling, they found that during past periods with average
temperatures 1 to 3 C (1.8 to 5.4 F) warmer than preindustrial levels, sea level peaked at least 20 feet
higher than today... "We are beginning to understand the magnitude that sea level rose in the past and
which ice sheets may be responsible," said Horton, a professor of marine and coastal sciences in the
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.
Bacteria That 'Breathe' Uranium Could Be Used to Naturally Clean Up Radioactive Waste
www.naturalnews.com, 7/12/2015
A newly discovered bacteria that breathes uranium as well as oxygen could be used to remove uranium
contamination from water supplies, according to a study conducted by researchers from Rutgers
University and published in PLOS ONE on April 13... "After the newly discovered bacteria interact with
uranium compounds in water, the uranium becomes immobile," researcher Lee Kerkhof said. "It is no
longer dissolved in the groundwater and therefore can't contaminate drinking water brought to the
surface."... The bacteria are part of the common class betaproteobacteria and are able to breathe either
uranium or oxygen, unlike most metal-breathing strains. The researchers do not know how these
common bacteria developed the ability to breathe uranium, but they suspect that they might have
acquired the uranium-breathing gene from another species of bacteria in their environment.
Unraveling the Relationship Between Climate Change and Health
www.nytimes.com, 7/13/2015
Is climate change a serious threat to human health? Simple logic would suggest the answer is yes, a
point that the Obama administration is using to build support for the president's effort to make climate
change a centerpiece of his final months in office... But the bullet points convey a certainty that many
scientists say does not yet exist. Scientists agree that evidence is growing that warmer weather is having
an effect on health, but they say it is only one part of an immensely complex set of forces that are
influencing health... The Asian tiger mosquito, which came to the southern United States from Japan in
the 1980s, likely in a shipment of used tires, has recently spread as far north as Connecticut, an
encroachment scientists have connected to rising temperatures, said Dina Fonseca, an entomology
professor at Rutgers University.
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