Magic beans: A bean called guar has long fed people and cattle in India's northwestern state of Rajistan, "one of the world's poorest places." But now that fracking companies have discovered that the bean's powder helps thicken water enough to carry sand into horizontal wells, Rajistani farmers are bringing in big bucks ... err, rupees ... for the bean. The New York Times
Hot hot heat: June 2012 was the fourth warmest June since 1880 and the 328th month in a row (that's 27 years!) in which global temperatures were above the average for the last century. Climate Central
Roads to trouble: In South Texas, smugglers are using the gas industry's extended road network as cover, mimicking industry trucks and oil-service vehicles and bypassing "choke points" where border agents monitor traffic. "They are using those roads to transport drugs, guns, ammo, you name it," says one sheriff. Houston Chronicle
In the red under the blue: For 25 years, marine scientists have spent days, even weeks, working 60 feet beneath the sea at the Aquarius Reef Base in the Florida Keys, the world's last operating underwater research facility. But now it may be time for them to surface. The federal government has cut off funding for the base, which could close after the current mission. NPR
Chilly reception: For the second time this summer, the hacking collective Anonymous has published email addresses connected to oil companies. The hackers targeted Exxon in June, and this time around they went for Shell, BP, Exxon (again), and Russia's Gazprom and Rosneft. Anonymous linked its actions to drilling in the Arctic and even used some of the emails to sign a Greenpeace petition to "Save the Arctic." That's some chutzpah! Wired
Fukushima's legacy: A new study of the global impact of radiation from Fukushima estimates the nuclear disaster could lead to 130 deaths. That figure doesn't include the immediate deaths during the tsunami or plant meltdown. The study also estimated that the radiation could cause anywhere from 24 to 2,500 cases of cancer, with a best guess of 180. SmartPlanet
Double duty: An Israeli company has created a microbial fuel cell that treats wastewater and creates electricity at the same time. Scientific American
Hopping into beds: Idaho's Earthly Delights Farms is offering singles a chance at romance in exchange for field work at its yearly "Weed Dating" night. During the event, women stake out a row to weed, and men rotate rows every three minutes. Take heart, all you lonely farmhands out there: You don't have to move to Idaho for a jump in the hay, weed dating is also available in other states like Vermont and Wisconsin. AP
Photo: United States Department of Agriculture
Tips: @OnEarthMag (tag it #greenreads)
