Achilles Tang

Putting brass where your money is could be a guarantee of safety according to researchers looking at the dangers of eating raw fish and shellfish in seafood restaurants, scientists report. View the full article

Microbes that break down oil and petroleum are more diverse than we thought, suggesting hydrocarbons were used as an energy source early in Earth's history, scientists report. View the full article

Using remote camera traps to lift the veil on Myanmar's dense northern wild lands, researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society have painstakingly gathered a bank of valuable data on the country's populations of tigers and other smaller, lesser known carnivores (see photo attachments). These findings will help in the formulation of conservation strategies for the country's wildlife. View the full article

A new co-ordinated international set of rules to govern commercial and research activities in both of Earth's polar regions is urgently needed to reflect new environmental realities and to temper pressure building on these highly fragile ecosystems, according to several of the experts convening in Iceland for a UN-affiliated conference marking the International Polar Year. (2008-09-08) View the full article

Vitamin B12, a nutrient found in meat, fish and milk, may protect against brain volume loss in older people, according to a new study. View the full article

Several theories have been proposed by scientists to explain the two mass extinction events which took place on the earth 250 and 200 million years ago. The Permian-Triassic catastrophe (250 million years ago) was the worst of all five of the mass extinction events to ever have befallen the earth. It eradicated almost 95% of all species, 53% of marine families, 84% of marine genera and an approximated 70% of all land species including plants, insects and vertebrate animals. View the full article

Consolidated Sale Items! As you may already know, I'm in the midst of house-moving... As I am very busy now, VanDeam (HP: 93840450) is helping me with my aquarium stuff... so please contact him if you're interested in the following: 1. Eheim filter canister 2215 (throw in free media for bacteria colonization + 2 sets of quick disconnects 2. Sander ozonizer (currently disassembled but very new condition 3. Phosphate reactor with carbon reactor add-on chamber (with quick disconnect) 4. Phosphate reactor 5. Hammerhead Magnet 6. Aquabee 2000 pump 7. Titanium grounding probe 8. Chiller 1 hp - SOLD! 9. Tunze TS24 10. Tunze TS12 11. Tunze TS07 12. Tunze wavebox (faulty transformer - need replacement, can get from Reef Depot) 13. Tunze magnets 6080 14. Tunze glass cleaner 15. Beckett 1408 injector (brand new still in box) x 4 16. Iwaki MX-70 (used/motor good/body with paint chipped) 17. Iwaki MX-70 (brand new, still in box, factory sealed) 18. Twin Beckett commercial series skimmer (10 inch diameter, 1.5m tall, reaction chamber 3 ft) 19. Pinpoint PH Monitor (probe needs replacing) used 20. IKS Computer 21. IKS PH Module 22. IKS SG Module 23. IKS Water topup 24. IKS Simmod 25. IKS Redox Module 26. 400w Blueline e-ballasts = SOLD! 27. Giant CR - SOLD 28. Additives: A. Contraphos 1 pack 500ml (label faded) B. Reefez 500g tub Kalkwasser - many tubs still available C. Reefez 500g tub carbon - many tubs still available D. Reefez 450g tub alkalinity Plus - many tubs still available E. Phosguard 300g - many tubs still available Liverocks: Established/Plating Coralline Encrusted/free of 'bad hitchhikers', Estimated 150kgs still available!

Learn how this club has created a coral sharing program that works! View the full article

This slideshow contains some unusual combinations and eye-catching scenes. View the full article

Ron describes his 180-gallon reef aquarium. View the full article

A brief description and profile of the Psychedelic Mandarin. View the full article

With caution, you can recycle that resin again and again and again. View the full article

A quarterly publication of the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America (MASNA). MASNA's goal is to assist in forming and promoting the growth of clubs within the hobby and the education of their members while ensuring a sustainable future for the marine environment. View the full article

Check out the latest upcoming events of interest to marine aquarists. View the full article

Top 10 Reef Related Acronyms That Don't Exist, But Should... View the full article

Gone Solar View the full article

Human activities bear a large part of the responsibility for coral reef degradation. Several threats hang over this complex ecosystem with its extraordinary biodiversity, whether in the form of anthropogenic effluents emitted at certain times or global warming which causes coral bleaching. View the full article

Scientists are set to explore the world's deepest undersea volcanoes and find out what lives in a 'lost world' five kilometres beneath the Caribbean. View the full article

Although most people imagine wolves chasing deer and other hoofed animals, new research suggests that, when they can, wolves actually prefer fishing to hunting. The study shows that when salmon is available, wolves will reduce deer hunting activity and instead focus on seafood. View the full article

The survival chances of the albatross, now officially the most threatened seabird family in the world, have been improved following a new report released by WWF-South Africa. View the full article

A new NOAA report on the health of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary indicates that the overall condition of the sanctuary's marine life and habitats is fair. The report also identifies several emerging threats to sanctuary resources, including non-indigenous marine species, overfishing, waterborne chemicals from human coastal activities, and increased recreational use of the site. View the full article

NOAA's Fisheries Service is seeking comment on the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Ship Strike Reduction Rule, which aims to reduce the number of endangered North Atlantic right whales injured or killed by collisions with large ships. View the full article

A student has studied inflammatory reactions in salmon for his doctorate, and in particular how the ingredients of newer feed sources influence these reactions. An increased understanding of the cell types of the fish immune system, and how they communicate with each other, is important for the development of better vaccines for salmon farming, and to shed light on the ways that new feed types may influence fish health. View the full article

Shedding some genetically induced excess baggage may have helped a tiny fish thrive in freshwater and outsize its marine ancestors, according to a new study in Science. View the full article

Researchers report the discovery of the first new living species of giant clam in two decades. View the full article