WHY IT MATTERS: Global warming

The issue:

People love to talk about the weather, especially when it's strange like the mercifully ended summer of 2012. This year the nation's weather has been hotter and more extreme than ever, federal records show. Yet there are two people who aren't talking about it, and they both happen to be running for president.

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Where they stand:

In 2009, President Barack Obama proposed a bill that would have capped power plant carbon dioxide emissions and allowed trading of credits for the right to emit greenhouse gases, but the measure died in Congress. An international treaty effort failed. Obama since has taken a different approach, treating carbon dioxide as a pollutant under the law. He doubled auto fuel economy standards, which will increase the cost of cars but save drivers money at the pump. He's put billions of stimulus dollars into cleaner energy.

Mitt Romney's view of climate change has varied. In his book "No Apology," he wrote, "I believe that climate change is occurring" and "human activity is a contributing factor." But on the campaign trail last year he said, "We don't know what's causing climate change on this planet." He has criticized Obama's treatment of coal power plants and opposes treating carbon dioxide as a pollutant and the capping of carbon dioxide emissions, but favors spending money on clean technology. Romney says some actions to curb emissions could hurt an already struggling economy.

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Why it matters:

It's worsening. In the U.S. July was the hottest month ever recorded and this year is on track to be the nation's warmest. Climate scientists say it's a combination of natural drought and man-made global warming. Each decade since the 1970s has been nearly one-third of a degree warmer than the previous one.

Sea levels are rising while Arctic sea ice was at a record low in September. U.S. public health officials are partially blaming unusually hot and dry weather for an outbreak of the deadly West Nile virus that is on pace to be the worst ever. Scientists blame global warming for more frequent weather disasters, with the World Health Organization saying: "Climatic changes already are estimated to cause over 150,000 deaths annually." Others put the toll lower.

Emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels are trapping more of the sun's heat on Earth. One study showed that 97 percent of the scientists who publish about climate in peer-reviewed journals say global warming is man-made. So do just about every major science society and institution that has weighed in.

But limiting carbon dioxide emissions from coal and oil would be costly, with billions of dollars in changes to the U.S. economy only a starting point. Similarly the price of not doing anything is extraordinarily high because of costly and deadly extreme weather. People will pay either way in taxes, energy prices, insurance premiums, disaster relief, food prices, water bills and changes to our environment that are hard to put a price tag on, says MIT economist Henry Jacoby.

A NASA study this year found the most extreme type of weather, which statistically should happen on less than 0.3 percent of the Earth at any given time, is now more common. Until recently, the most extreme year was in 1941 when extremes covered 2.7 percent of the globe. From 2006 to 2011 about 10 percent of the globe had that extreme weather, with a peak of 20 percent, the study said. That was before this year's record extremes started.

The issue of man-made global warming is "totally missing" from the campaign between Obama and Romney, says Jacoby. It should be talked about, he says, because "we're running a serious risk of passing a much-damaged planet to our descendants."

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Seth Borenstein can be followed at http://twitter.com/borenbears

EDITOR'S NOTE _ One in a series examining issues at stake in the election and their impact on people

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Scientists grow drug for rare disease in corn

LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have grown a drug to treat a rare genetic disease inside corn plants, potentially offering a cheaper way to manufacture a treatment that currently costs hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for each patient.

The move marks an advance for the emerging field of molecular farming, which could one day see complex biotech medicines being mass-produced in plants rather than factories.

Researchers from Canada and Australia reported on Tuesday that they had created transgenic corn that could synthesize alpha-L-iduronidase, an enzyme used for a debilitating condition called mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I).

The disease causes progressive damage to the heart, brain, and other organs.

The research is still at an early stage and the new plant-grown medicine has not been tested in clinical trials, so any eventual treatment is still many years from reaching the market.

But the work, led by scientists at Canada's Simon Fraser University, is a significant step forward because it shows a way of producing molecules that should be accepted by the human immune system without causing dangerous side effects.

George Lomonossoff of Britain's John Innes Centre, who was not involved in the research, said the ability to control the way sugars bound to proteins in the corn was "an important addition to the toolkit for producing pharmaceuticals in plants".

"This is GM technology which offers a means for the production of a better quality pharmaceutical. However, the clinical efficacy and safety of the drug will need to be proven," he said.

MPS I is one of dozens of lysosomal storage disorders, including Fabry and Gaucher disease, many of which can be treated with enzyme replacement therapies, made by companies like Sanofi's Genzyme unit and Shire.

But the current process of making them in mammalian cell cultures inside stainless steel tanks is very expensive.

In the case of MPS I, treatment with the enzyme replacement drug Aldurazyme, from Genzyme and Biomarin, costs over $300,000 a year for children and more for adults.

Writing in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers said transgenic plants could be a cost-effective and safe alternative.

Some large companies have been looking at ways to make complex protein drugs in plants but molecular farming has yet to deliver its first commercial product.

The closest is a Gaucher disease drug from Israel's Protalix BioTherapeutics and Pfizer, which is produced in a culture of carrot cells - rather than in whole plants - and was approved for sale in the United States in May.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Louise Heavens)

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Record-High Antarctic Sea Ice Levels Don't Disprove Global Warming

Distracting from the news that Arctic sea-ice extent reached a record low on Sept.16 is a widely circulating blog article claiming that at the opposite end of the Earth, Antarctic sea ice is more than making up for the losses.

In the post, climate change skeptic and blogger Steven Goddard states that Antarctic sea ice reached its highest level ever recorded for the 256th day of the calendar year on Sept. 12. He reasons that the Southern Hemisphere must be balancing the warming of the Northern Hemisphere by becoming colder (and thus, net global warming is zero).

The National Snow & Ice Data Center (NSIDC), which tracks sea ice using satellite data, explains on its website why Antarctic ice has weathered global warming more robustly than Arctic ice. Goddard dismisses the explanation, concluding instead, "Antarctic and Arctic ice move opposite each other. NSIDC's dissonance about this is astonishing."

Despite its lack of scientific support, Goddard's post has garnered attention around the Web. In a Forbes.com column about the record high Antarctic sea ice, skeptic James Taylor writes, "Please, nobody tell the mainstream media or they might have to retract some stories and admit they are misrepresenting scientific data."

But if anyone had asked an actual scientist, they would have learned that a good year for sea ice in the Antarctic in no way nullifies the precipitous drop in Arctic sea-ice levels year after year — or the mounds of other evidence indicating global warming is really happening.

"Antarctic sea ice hasn't seen these big reductions we've seen in the Arctic. This is not a surprise to us," said climate scientist Mark Serreze, director of the NSIDC. "Some of the skeptics say 'Well, everything is OK because the big changes in the Arctic are essentially balanced by what's happening in the Antarctic.' This is simply not true." [Former Global Warming Skeptic Makes a 'Total Turnaround']

Projections made from climate models all predict that global warming should impact Arctic sea ice first and most intensely, Serreze said. "We have known for many years that as the Earth started to warm up, the effects would be seen first in the Arctic and not the Antarctic. The physical geography of the two hemispheres is very different. Largely as a result of that, they behave very differently."

The Arctic, an ocean surrounded by land, responds much more directly to changes in air and sea-surface temperatures than Antarctica, Serreze explained. The climate of Antarctica, land surrounded by ocean, is governed much more by wind and ocean currents. Some studies indicate climate change has strengthened westerly winds in the Southern Hemisphere, and because wind has a cooling effect, scientists say this partly accounts for the marginal increase in sea ice levels that have been observed in the Antarctic in recent decades.

"Another reason why the sea-ice extent in the Antarctic is remaining fairly high is, interestingly, the ozone hole," Serreze told Life's Little Mysteries. This hole was carved out over time by chlorofluorocarbons, toxic chemicals formerly that were used in air conditioners and solvents before being banned. "The ozone hole affects the circulation of the atmosphere down there. Because of the ozone hole, the stratosphere above Antarctica is quite cold. Ozone in the stratosphere absorbs UV light, and less absorption [by] ozone makes the stratosphere really cold. This cold air propagates down to the surface by influencing the atmospheric circulation in the Antarctic, and that keeps the sea ice extensive."

But these effects are very small, and Antarctic sea-ice levels have increased only marginally. In the coming decades, climate models suggest rising global temperatures will overwhelm the other influences and cause Antarctic sea ice to scale back, too.

The extent of Arctic sea ice at its summertime low point has dropped 40 percent in the past three decades. The idea that a tiny Antarctic ice expansion makes up for this — that heat is merely shifting from the the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern and therefore global warming must not be happening — is "just nonsense," Serreze said.

Follow Natalie Wolchover on Twitter @nattyover or Life's Little Mysteries @llmysteries. We're also on Facebook & Google+.

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5 Signs of Gynecological Cancer Women Ignore

Most women don't know the signs of gynecological cancers, and are especially unaware of symptoms unrelated to the reproductive organs, such as back pain and increased urination, according to a new study.

There are five main gynecological cancers — cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar — and screening is recommended only for cervical cancer. Therefore, early detection may depend on women recognizing the symptoms and making a doctor's appointment.

"Our findings illustrate the need to inform women about gynecologic cancer symptoms, and when to seek care," said study researcher Cynthia Gelb, a health communication specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, many symptoms of these cancers are common, and are not cause for alarm — they may indicate benign conditions, Gelb said. "The only way to know what is causing them is to see a health care provider."

The study was published online Sept. 3 in the journal Family Practice.

The signs of cancer

There will be nearly 90,000 cases of gynecological cancers diagnosed in the U.S. in 2012, with more than half of those being cervical cancer, according to estimates from the National Cancer Institute. About 30,000 women will die of these five cancers this year; the deadliest of the five is ovarian cancer, which will cause about half of these deaths.  

In the study, Gelb and her colleagues conducted focus-group interviews with 132 women ages 40 to 60 in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City. Groups had seven to nine participants, and met for about two hours.

Each participant was given a list of eight symptoms of gynecological cancers, although the list was not labeled as such, and the moderator didn't use the word "symptoms" during the discussion. Study participants indicated which symptom would most concern them, and the groups discussed what could cause each of the symptoms.

The symptom that was most concerning to women was unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, with many saying this is a sign of "something serious," and some recognizing it as a possible sign of cancer.

Many women also said that changes in the skin of the vulva would indicate something serious, though fewer women linked this symptom with cancer, and a few women also indicated that pain or pressure in the pelvic area could be a sign of cancer.

There were five symptoms that very few women identified as possibly being due to cancer: vaginal itching or burning, back or abdominal pain, being tired all the time, having to pass urine very badly or more often than usual, and bloating.

"All of these things and others may not register as being something to see a doctor about," because they are common, and not seen as potential signs of a major problem, Gelb said. "Many people are tired much of the time," women may feel bloated around the time they menstruate, and post-menopausal women commonly have to urinate frequently or more urgently, she said.

What's normal?

One key to recognizing when a common symptom might actually indicate cancer is for women to know what is normal for them, Gelb said.

Women should know how long their periods normally last and how heavy they are, if they normally feel full quickly when eating, and if their back often hurts, she said.

Bleeding that is unusual because of when it occurs, or because it is heavier than usual, is a reason to see a doctor right away, Gelb said. For bloating and other symptoms, it is recommended that women seek care if the symptom has persisted for two weeks.

In the study, some women reported experiencing symptoms for much longer.

"Some women reported living with symptoms that caused discomfort for extended periods, even years, without seeking care," Gelb said. Even in the case of unexplained bleeding, there were many participants who were not aware this could signal gynecologic cancer, and women who had this symptom did not seek care.

Many women in the study also said they searched on the Internet for information about symptoms. Women should be sure to consult reputable websites, Gelb said, such as the CDC's "Inside Knowledge" site, which offers facts about gynecologic cancer and information based on scientific evidence.

"The earlier that gynecologic cancers are found and treated, the more effective treatment can be," Gelb said.

Pass it on: The five warning signs of gynecologic cancer often go unrecognized by many women.

FollowMyHealthNewsDaily on Twitter @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+.

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Shuttle Endeavour Hoisted Off Jumbo Jet for Road Trip to L.A. Museum

LOS ANGELES — Space shuttle Endeavour, now a permanent resident of the state of California, has traded its winged chariot for a set of custom wheels.

Early on Saturday (Sept. 22), the shuttle was hoisted by cranes off the modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet that flew it to a landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) the day before. Endeavour's touchdown, which was preceded by a flyover tour of the state to the delight of millions of spectators, was the final airborne leg of the orbiter's delivery to the California Science Center (CSC) for display.

Next up: a road trip.

To prepare Endeavour for its 12-mile (19-kilometer) parade through the city streets of Inglewood and Los Angeles next month, NASA's team first had to remove the orbiter from the back of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) and then load it onto a modified overland transporter.

Using a very similar, two-crane contraption to what was deployed earlier this year to hoist sister ship Discovery and the prototype Enterprise from the same jetliner after their ferry flights to Washington, D.C., and New York City, the 155,000-pound (70,000-kilogram) Endeavour was carefully raised so that the aircraft could back away and the transporter could drive in underneath. The shuttle was then lowered on to the wheeled platform.

The cranes, as well as a network of cables that served as wind restraints, were anchored to the airport's apron by 200 attach points earlier drilled into the tarmac. The decision to complete the de-mate process overnight was made to avoid the deafening noise from arriving and departing airplanes, which could interfere with the critical communications between the 30 people working the operation. [Gallery: Endeavour Demated from Carrier Aircraft]

The air- and- spacecraft now separated, Endeavour will move into a United Airlines hangar to be further prepared for its transport and display. The SCA meanwhile is scheduled to make its final flight on Monday (Sept. 24) to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., where it will be grounded and become a parts donor for NASA's SOFIA airborne astronomical observatory.

Inside the hangar, technicians will remove from Endeavour's aft the aerodynamic tail cone that was added for its ferry flight from Florida, reposition the shuttle's replica main engines from their tucked-for-flight orientation and install nozzles on the orbiter's maneuvering system pods. They'll also enter Endeavour's crew cabin to configure it for the science center's curators and retrieve from inside thousands of embroidered patches that were flown on Endeavour for the ferry flight at the center's request.

On Oct. 12, Endeavour, riding the same transporter that was previously used to move its sister ships between their Palmdale, Calif. assembly plant to Dryden for ferrying to the KennedySpace Center in Florida, will emerge from its temporary airport hangar home and roll out onto the streets of Inglewood. The procession will pick up in earnest the next day, when the space shuttle is moved in full public view from Inglewood City Hall to the California Science Center at Exposition Park, where it's expected to arrive by dusk.

Along the route, Endeavour's delivery will be celebrated by a musical dance and aerial performance choreographed by famed actress Debbie Allen. Before arriving at the CSC, the towing duties for the space shuttle will be turned over to a Toyota Tundra pickup truck as part of a partnership and sponsorship to raise upwards of $500,000 for Endeavour's permanent display.

At the CSC, the shuttle will be exhibited atop the transporter inside the temporary Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display Pavilion, a large hangar that was recently built beside the center's main building. Ultimately, the CSC plans to position Endeavour on a recreation of its launch pad, complete with twin booster and external fuel tank, inside its planned Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center to be ready to begin inspiring visitors by 2017.

See shuttles.collectspace.com for continuing coverage of the delivery and display of NASA's retired space shuttles.

Follow collectSPACE on Facebook and Twitter @collectSPACE and editor Robert Pearlman @robertpearlman. Copyright 2012 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.

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Ancient Baby Graveyard Not for Child Sacrifice, Scientists Say

A Carthaginian burial site was not for child sacrifice but was instead a graveyard for babies and fetuses, researchers now say.

A new study of the ancient North African site offers the latest volley in a debate over the primary purpose of the graveyard, long thought to be a place of sacred sacrifice.

"It's all very great, cinematic stuff, but whether that was a constant daily activity ? I think our analysis contradicts that," said study co-author Jeffrey Schwartz of the University of Pittsburgh.

The city-state of Carthage was founded in the ninth century B.C., when Queen Dido fled Phoenicia (along the eastern Mediterranean shore) for what is now Tunis, Tunisia. The empire became a powerhouse of the ancient world and fought several wars against the Romans.

When archaeologists began excavating the ancient civilization last century, they found urns with the cremated remains of thousands of babies, young goats and lambs at a graveyard called the Tophet, which had been used from 700 to 300 B.C. At its peak, the Tophet may have been bigger than a football field and had nine levels of burials.

Based on historical accounts, scientists believed Carthaginians sacrificed children at the Tophet before burying them there. For instance, the Bible describes child sacrifice to the deity Baal, worshipped by a civilization in Carthage. A Greek and a Roman historian both recount gory tales from this time period in which of priests slit the throats of babies and tossed them into fiery pits, Schwartz said. [8 Grisly Archaeological Discoveries]

However, those accounts came from Carthage's enemies. "Some of this might have been anti-Carthaginian propaganda," Schwartz told LiveScience.

In 2010 Schwartz and his colleagues used dental remains from 540 individuals to argue that the site was not primarily for ritual child slaughter, and they reiterate that stance in this month's issue of the journal Antiquity. In the new article, the researchers cite several older studies to validate their methods for estimating infant ages from tooth fragments.

The team argues that many tooth fragments found at the Tophet were actually developing tooth buds from the jaws of fetuses and stillborn babies who could not have been live sacrifices. As evidence, they showed that half of the teeth lacked a sign of birth called the neonatal line. The stress of birth temporarily halts tooth development in newborns, creating a tiny, dark line in their tooth buds; however, the line doesn't form until a week or two after birth.

Other researchers still believe the Tophet was a place for sacred killing.

"This is not a regular cemetery; the age distribution suggests they were sacrificing infants at the age of 1 month," said Patricia Smith, an anthropologist at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Smith's team published a 2011 paper questioning Schwartz's dental analysis. The incredible heat and pressure generated during cremation usually erase the neonatal line, she said, so its absence isn't a reliable measure of age. Schwartz's team miscalculated how much teeth shrink in cremation, leading to an underestimate of infant ages, Smith argued.

Smith also doubts Carthage would have routinely cremated stillbirths or infants. Because of sky-high infant mortality rates, babies were probably not considered people until they were at least 1 or 2 years old. The Carthaginians chopped down most of their trees to plant crops and wouldn't have used the precious wood to burn babies, she said.

"The Carthaginians were seafarers; they needed wood for ships, they needed wood for cloth, they needed wood for their tools," she said.

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