No frackin' way: New York's State Supreme Court has ruled that small towns are allowed to ban natural gas drilling, including the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, within their borders. An attorney for Anschutz Exploration Corporation, the main energy company involved in the case, has said the court's ruling would be "the kiss of death" for all natural gas drilling in the state -- an overstatement perhaps, but environmentalists rejoice nonetheless. Reuters
Boiling Russia: The heat wave that scorched Russia in the summer of 2010 was about three times more likely to occur as a result of climate change, according to a new analysis. The Guardian
Coal country conspiracy: A superintendant at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia was charged with conspiracy to violate mine safety laws, an action which prosecutors say led to the April 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners. Charleston Gazette
GMO labeling: Proponents of labeling genetically modified foods are working on a ballot initiative in California. They need just 800,000 signatures and enough money to fight off giants like Monsanto and Dupont. Sounds easy, right? Grist
A bug from below: A new world record has been made in the underworld. Within a cave that dips more than 7,000 feet under the Earth's surface, spelunkers uncovered the world's deepest dwelling land creature. Found about a mile underground, the sightless and wingless insect was lured to the researchers with cheese. Live Science
Texas blizzard: Why is it snowing twice as much this winter in Midland, Texas as it is in Boston or New York? Largely because of a weather pattern called a "southern stream split." Our Amazing Planet
Jumping the shark (fins): New York may soon join California and other states in banning the sale of shark fins, generally used to make shark fin soup. Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and Virginia also have legislation in the works to help save the ocean's top predators. New York Times
Premature pancakes: The mild winter in the Northeast is wreaking some mild havoc with the maple syrup industry. The sap has started flowing weeks earlier than usual in some places, thanks to freezing nights followed by warm days. All in all, a sticky situation for syrup output. Huffington Post
Whale meat on the web: A report from the Environmental Investigation Agency found dozens of whale meat and related products available for sale on Amazon Japan. Amazon doesn't allow trade of endangered species, but the EIA says they're turning a blind eye to whale sales in Japan. Environment News Service
Ice age revival: About 32,000 years ago, a squirrel buried some seeds. Now, they have sprouted. This isn't another Ice Age sequel. Russian scientists actually were able to grow a plant from ancient seeds that have been buried in permafrost since mammoths and sabre tooth tigers roamed the Earth. NPR
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