Biosphere 2's Second Chapter: Climate Change

Long ridiculed as a symbol of scientific self-indulgence run amok, the Biosphere 2 facility in Arizona is suddenly proving to be an important tool in understanding global climate change.

Over the past 15 years, experiments conducted at Biosphere 2 by researchers from Columbia University and the University of Arizona have helped shape scientific understanding of how climate change will affect the planet. The story of the facility's evolution, however, is as entertaining as it is surprising.

Great Hopes

Biosphere 2 was built by Space Biospheres Ventures in the late 1980s at a cost of $200 million. The project was heralded around the world as the experiment that would eventually lead to the colonization of other planets. The concept was to create a sustainable ecosystem entirely sealed off from the outside world.

Lonely Planet/ZUMApress.com

No longer a sealed-off environment, Biosphere 2 now offers guided tours.

Inside 7.2 million cubic feet of sealed glass, several artificial environments were created, from desert to rain forest to a coral reef. Spanning 3.14 acres -- the size of several football fields -- the scale of the facility, which is about 25 north of Tucson, was unprecedented.

In 1991, along with a number of animals including goats, chickens, birds and fish, eight human researchers were locked inside the structure for the next two years.

What followed is said to have inspired the creators of the reality television program "Big Brother," in which human beings forced to live together in a restricted space often turn on one another. Factions among the researchers developed. Romantic relationships blossomed and died.

In terms of science, Biosphere 2 was no less free of drama. Due to a series of improper calculations, oxygen levels plummeted over the the two-year period as carbon dioxide spiked. Ants and cockroaches overran the facility, and a great number of the animals died.

Financial and managerial problems plagued the project as well, forcing the facility to shut down altogether in 1994. All in all, if Biosphere 2 was meant to demonstrate a possible future for the human race, that future looked rather bleak.

Second Life

After a year of entropy, Biosphere 2 was sold to an investment company, which, in turn, allowed New York's Columbia University to manage the property. Under Columbia's supervision, the focus of the project shifted to the study of how the high concentrations of carbon dioxide inside the structures affected plant life. Biosphere 2, it turned out, was a great laboratory for tracking the effects of climate change on a number of different ecosystems.

"They were able to show that as more carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere, coral reefs are endangered and die off," said Joaquin Ruiz, dean of the College of Science at the University of Arizona, who now oversees Biosphere 2.

According to Ruiz, Biosphere 2's initial attempts at creating a fully enclosed system have produced a unique tool to study a similarly enclosed environment: Earth's. "Because of its scale, there is no other facility like it."

Researchers at the University of Arizona have made important findings about the effects of drought on varying species of trees planted inside the biosphere more than two decades ago.

"We like to say that the Biosphere 2 was built slightly before its time," Ruiz said. "But now, it has become one of the best places to study the effects of climate change."

Biosphere 2 has also regained its appeal as a tourist attraction, drawing nearly 70,000 visitors in 2009.

Simon Cowell Wants Paula Abdul on New Show

Cowell and Abdul reportedly in talks to enlist her as a judge on US version of "The X Factor."

Simon Cowell has been meeting with Paula Abdul to discuss the possibility of bringing his former “American Idol” colleague on as a judge for his next television endeavor, an American version of his hit U.K. show, “The X Factor,” according to a report from TMZ.

Cowell announced on Monday that this season would be his last on “American Idol,” the show that made him a star in the United States.

Instead, he will serve as executive producer and judge on “The X Factor,” which will begin filming in 2011 and air on the Fox Network.

While speaking to reporters yesterday, Cowell said he "adores" Paula.

"I will work with her in some capacity, because I miss her," he added.

Sources tell TMZ that the discussions between Cowell and Abdul have been going on for some time, with the most recent meeting taking place last week.

Abdul announced she would not return to “American Idol” after eight seasons as a judge in August of last year. Despite rampant speculation that Abdul was fired, sources close to the singer told FoxNews.com that she was offered a contract and it was her decision to turn it down.

Weeks later, Cowell praised Abdul to FoxNews.com, saying “I will support her in anything she wants to do next. I think she is TV gold, genuinely.”

And now with executive control over “The X Factor,” Cowell might be ready to stand by his pledge to support Abdul by giving her a new job.

Cowell’s announcement, coming just one day before “American Idol” begins its ninth season, was the latest shake up in the show that has seen several changes to its lineup in the last year. Talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres will debut Tuesday as the fourth judge, replacing Abdul. Producer Kara DioGuardi joined the judging panel last season to mixed reviews.

But Cowell, with his caustic commentary, has long been seen as the big star of "Idol."

Late last week, fellow judge Randy Jackson said he was skeptical of talk that Cowell would leave his signature show.

"Until I really hear it from him, I'm not going to believe any rumors or believe anything," Jackson told MTV.com Friday. "There's so many rumors and speculation about everything going on."

Fellow judge Kara DioGuardi told FoxNews.com's Pop Tarts before the announcement that it would be difficult to go on without Cowell.

“I really hope that is just a rumor, he’s amazing. I was a fan before I was on the show and I just hope he stays on 'Idol' for as long as it lasts,” she said.

Cowell said it would have been difficult for him to do both shows. While he makes a reported $36 million a year to be on "American Idol," he owns "The X Factor" and could make much more if the show takes off.

"I was offered a lot of money to stay on," Cowell said. "But that wasn't the reason behind it. I wanted to do something different. I wanted a new challenge."

Peter Price, chairman of the Fox Broadcasting Co., would not speculate on possible replacements for Cowell.

"We have to take our time on that," Price said. "We have to make sure the chemistry of the judges is as good as it can be."

Cowell said he didn't want to leave "American Idol" at a time when it was fading in the ratings.

"You want to leave on a high," he said. "I'm very proud of what the show has achieved."

Michael Jackson's Death Officially Ruled A Murder

Michael Jackson’s death has been officially ruled a murder, as his death certificate has been amended to list homicide as the cause of death.

The original certificate, issued on July 7, did not list the cause of death, but after several weeks of investigations the certificate was re-released in August by medical examiner Christopher Thomas with homicide as the official cause.

So will Dr. Conrad Murray be prosecuted for his hand in Jackson's death? Though the DA won't comment on the case, Murray's attorney J. Michael Flanagan has said that it will be difficult for the court to charge Murray with involuntary manslaughter, as they will have to base a case on gross negligence, which apparently is no easy feat.

Sarah Palin Joins Fox News as Contributor

Sarah Palin has joined Fox News as a contributor, the network announced.

The 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and former Alaska governor will provide political commentary for all Fox News outlets, including Fox Business Channel, FoxNews.com and Fox News Radio. Terms of the multiyear deal were not disclosed.

"I am thrilled to be joining the great talent and management team at Fox News. It's wonderful to be part of a place that so values fair and balanced news," Palin said in a statement.

Palin, 44, will not have her own show, but will occasionally host episodes of the Fox News Channel's upcoming Real American Stories, a series that chronicles people who overcame hardships.

Her recent book, Going Rogue, remains No. 2 on The New York Times nonfiction best-seller list.

"Governor Palin has captivated everyone on both sides of the political spectrum and we are excited to add her dynamic voice to the Fox News lineup," Bill Shine, the executive vice president of programming, said in a statement.

Palin — who worked as a weekend sportscaster at an Anchorage TV station in the 1980s — joins a lineup on the top-rated cable news channel that includes Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove.

Calls and e-mails to Fox News were not immediately returned.

Spider-Man Reboot Leaves Raimi, Maguire and Dunst Behind

Spider-Man is about to face his biggest obstacle yet: high school.

The film franchise is getting a reboot to focus on Peter Parker's teenage years, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Pictures announced Monday.

The as-yet-untitled film — written by James Vanderbilt, who wrote the screenplay to 2007's serial-killer drama Zodiac — is tentatively set for a summer 2012 release.

Sony taps writer for Spider-Man 5 and 6

"Peter Parker as an ordinary young adult grappling with extraordinary powers has always been the foundation that has made this character so timeless and compelling for generations of fans. We're very excited about the creative possibilities that come from returning to Peter's roots," Sony Pictures' Co-Chairwoman Amy Pascal said in a statement Monday.

Besides pushing the clock back to focus on Parker's origin story, the reboot will bring on board a new cast and new team of filmmakers. The reboot means the end of stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst's participation with the franchise as well as director Sam Raimi's involvement. Raimi has directed all three films.

"While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job," Raimi said.

Spider-Man 4 crawling into theaters May 2011?

Raimi — along with Maguire and Dunst — had been signed to do the fourth Spider-Man film until Monday's announcement. News broke last week that the movie would not meet its expected May 6 release date this year.

"Like anything, it's a process. We're just in the midst of the process. We have a lot of great stuff in terms of story and script. We're just trying to dial it in and get it ready as quickly as possible," Maguire recently told The Associated Press.

The three Spider-Man films, ranging in release from 2002 to 2007, have grossed a total $1.11 billion. The most recent installment, Spider-Man 3, broke box-office records for both single opening day and opening weekend, records since broken by The Twilight Saga: New Moon and The Dark Knight, respectively.

Death of Women to Leave 24M Chinese Men Unwed

More than 24 million Chinese men of marrying age could find themselves without a woman to wed by 2020, and a Chinese proclivity to abort female fetuses is a major contributing factor, a major study has found.

Gender imbalance among newborns is the most serious demographic problem facing the country's population of 1.3 billion, the study by the government-backed Chinese Academy of Social Sciences says.

"Sex-specific abortions remained extremely commonplace," the academy said, "especially in rural areas,'' where the cultural preference for boys over girls is strongest.

China Photos / Getty Images

A shortage of women of marriageable age is projected to hit men in rural areas of China particularly hard, a study says.

Ultrasound scans, introduced in the late 1980s, have increased sex-specific abortions in a country where there has been a traditional bias toward male children, largely because their greater earning potential is seen as increasing their ability to look after aging parents.

The latest figures show that for every 100 girls born in China, 119 boys are born, the academy says in a new book, according to a report on the study today in the official Global Times. However, the study said that in some areas, the ratio was as high as 130 males for every 100 females, a report by the Mirror Evening newspaper said.

A researcher interviewed by the Global Times, Wang Guangzhou, said that men living in less-prosperous areas of China could find themselves marrying later in life or remaining unmarried all their lives.

"The chance of getting married will be rare if a man is more than 40 years old in the countryside,'' Wang told paper. "They will be more dependent on social security as they age and have fewer household resources to rely on."

The government policy introduced in 1979 of encouraging married couples not to have more than one child has contributed to the problem, the study said, as well as China's insufficient social security system.

There is also a reluctance among young urban Chinese to have a first or second child, the BBC reported.

Abductions and trafficking of women are "rampant" in areas with excess numbers of men, The Global Times reported, citing findings by China's National Population and Family Planning Commission.

Illegal marriages and forced prostitution were also problems in those areas, the paper said in a report by Agence France-Presse.

Will 2010 See the End of the Grossest Executive Perk of All?

Win the lottery or make a killing on an investment? The IRS will be waiting for its share. But for years, windfalls haven't quite worked that way for top executives at many of America's largest companies. Not that the IRS hasn't been getting what it's owed -- but it hasn't been the executives who've been paying.

That's because of something known as the tax gross-up, which bestows additional money on the executive to cover whatever the tax bill might be on any number of things -- from the sale of stock to various perks. Just last month, Dell revealed in this SEC filing that Ross Perot Jr., who is routinely on Forbes' list of richest Americans, would be getting a $1.1 million gross-up to cover the taxes that he would have had to pay on his severance package, following the sale of Perot Systems to Dell (DELL) for close to $4 billion.

Indeed, it's pretty hard to imagine something much grosser than a tax gross-up. It smacks of the type of entitlement that most reasonable, red-blooded capitalists would normally rage against. Yet it has been a routine part of many executives' employment agreements and M&A deals for quite some time. The argument in favor of the gross-up is that executives should be "made whole" for their taxes so that they don't wind up getting less money than they should. But using that theory, shouldn't there be a gross-up when you sell 100 shares of stock or your house for a profit (back in the days when that was still a possibility)? Should someone who sells their company or a large chunk of stock hire the best tax advisors they can to minimize their tax burden? Absolutely. But expecting somebody else -- in most cases, it's the company's shareholders -- to pick up the tax bill is simply reprehensible.

Thankfully, a small number of companies (and executives) appear to be coming to their senses when it comes to the gross-up. While it's way too early to declare it DOA, in recent months, there has been a growing wave of executives -- and corporate boards -- who are just saying no to the gross-up. This is happening at both small companies and large ones too. A few examples:

• In August, retailer Kohl's Corp. (KSS) revised its employment contracts with its top executives to eliminate the gross-up following a change in control.
• At the beginning of this year, drugstore chain Walgreen (WAG) changed its policy on tax gross-ups for its Profit Sharing Plan for top executives. As the company noted in this filing with the SEC, the payments weren't particularly hefty -- just over $4,000 last year for former CEO Jeff Rein. But apparently, even that small payment didn't send the right message.
• Restaurant chain Jack in the Box (JACK) recently eliminated tax gross-ups on executive perks; it also said that any new change-in-control agreement would not include a tax gross-up provision.
• Medical device maker AngioDynamics (ANGO) -- hardly a household name -- eliminated tax gross-ups for its top executives when it renewed their standard change-in-control agreements, which had expired at the end of 2009.

There are other examples of companies trying to eliminate this particularly offensive perk. One can only hope that 2010 sees an even greater number of companies coming to their senses.