Daily Roundup: August 26, 2009

Anarchy in the UK: Camp for Climate Action held protests across London today in hopes of drawing a “link between the climate crisis and the financial crisis.” CNN

Let’s Talk About Wrecks, Baby: In an effort to address California’s billion dollar energy crisis, scientists at U.C. Berkeley are developing a new programmable thermostat with the capacity to communicate with users. Innovations

May Cause Earth Defects: A new study states that tobacco costs the global economy $500 billion annually in medical expenses, productivity loss, and environmental harm. Reuters

Outfoxed: According to a new study, the Flying Fox, the world’s largest fruit bat, could go extinct within decades due to legalized killing. Dot Earth

The Polar Distress: The population of Polar Bears has shrunk, and so has the size of their full-grown bodies. Their new smaller stature may be a result of pollution, dwindling sea ice, and inbreeding due to lack of options. BBC

--Julia Gelbaum