Science

"Formaldehyde is a human carcinogen, the National Research Council (NRC) says in a report released today. It upholds a federal classification of the chemical that industry has vigorously disputed."

"The much-debated Keystone XL pipeline could produce four times more global warming pollution than the State Department calculated earlier this year, a new study concludes."

"Some of the world’s top PR companies have for the first time publicly ruled out working with climate change deniers, marking a fundamental shift in the multi-billion dollar industry that has grown up around the issue of global warming."

"Keith Kloor's interesting piece in The Washington Post Magazine on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-vaccine crusade includes this interesting fact: 'All six of his children--ages 13-29--have been fully vaccinated.'"

"Deputy premier Rich Coleman challenged Thursday the conclusions of a scientific panel into the environmental effect of shale gas development using fracking."

"John Christy, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Alabama here, says he remembers the morning he spotted a well-known colleague at a gathering of climate experts."

"Senior GOP statesman George Shultz urged Republicans on Friday to be proactive on climate change, calling it an "obvious risk" to the economy and national security."

"An independent review panel has criticized the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) for booking so many climate change skeptics on its programs, saying the network is giving them too much attention."

NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base early Wednesday morning, potentially improving scientists' ability to track climate change. The mission appeared successful after the spacecraft separated from the second stage about 55 minutes into the flight. A NASA news conference is scheduled for 8:30 am ET.

Gavin Schmidt is taking over the reins of NASA's high-powered climate lab -- the Goddard Institute for Space Studies -- from the ritiring James Hansen.