Extreme belief: A new poll suggests that Americans are starting to make the connection between extreme weather and man-made climate change. More than two-thirds of those polled think that global warming is affecting the uptick in storms, tornados, drought, and other extremes in recent years. New York Times
Let there be light: Philips is about to debut its LED light bulb that won the L Prize from the Department of Energy. The bulb lasts for 20 years and uses only 10 watts of power, but at 50 bucks, the price is still a bit steep. In order to cash in on that $10 million prize from the DOE, the company needs to bring the cost down to $22. The Verge
Disappearing coal cars: The number of rail cars carrying coal to power plants dropped to its lowest number -- 1.55 million -- for any quarter since 1944, according to the Energy Information Administration. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Melting microbes: It's a great horror movie plot: man causes ice sheets to melt, releasing countless microbes that had been trapped for millennia. Devastating disease destroys mankind. Okay, but everything except the last part seems to be coming true. Daily Climate
Oil market mayhem: In a bit of political maneuvering, President Obama wants to step up the policing and punishment related to the speculation and manipulation of oil markets. He blames such practices for some of the recent increase in gas prices. Washington Post
Cattle bomb: After seeking shelter in a mountain cabin high in the Rockies, a number of cows became trapped inside, died, and are now frozen solid. "It's hard to determine how many cows are there" says a Forest Service representative. Fearing that the thawing, decomposing bodies would contaminate nearby hot springs, the agency is exploring the following options: burn down the cabin, haul out the carcasses with helicopters, or blow up the carcasses with explosives. Associated Press
