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Sold! First Parcels Auctioned For Future Offshore Wind Farms

The offshore wind farm in the North Sea near Borkum, Germany, is nearly complete. The Riffgat facility, seen here on June 23, includes 30 turbines, each with a generating capacity of 3.6 megawatts. David Hecker/Getty Images hide caption

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David Hecker/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Sold! First Parcels Auctioned For Future Offshore Wind Farms

The federal government held its first ever auction for the right to build offshore wind farms on Wednesday. After 11 rounds, a Rhode Island company was the highest bidder, at $3.8 million.

Canadian Regulators Investigate Mysterious Tar Sands Spills

Roughnecks build a drilling rig at the MEG Energy site near Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. In addition to large, open-pit mining operations, tar sands oil can be extracted from the ground by pumping down high-pressure steam. Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Energy

Canadian Regulators Investigate Mysterious Tar Sands Spills

Oil developers in the Canadian Tar Sands are trying to understand some odd oil eruptions around several drilling platforms where oil is coming up through the ground rather than through the wells they drilled. The latest of these events tarred about 50 acres of forest.

For Some Mammals It's One Love, But Reasons Still Unclear

Golden lion tamarins are one species that are largely monogamous. Felipe Dana/AP hide caption

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Felipe Dana/AP

Research News

For Some Mammals It's One Love, But Reasons Still Unclear

Scientists are squaring off yet again on the question of why some mammals are monogamous. A new paper argues that monogamy is most likely the result of males trying to protect their youngsters from murderous rivals. A second study says monogamy in mammals evolved in species where females were scattered about.

Legal Battles Over Land Rights, Pipelines Are On The Rise

The Crosstex NGL Pipeline is just one such project in the country that has forced long, unwanted legal battles between oil companies and landowners. Mose Buchele/KUT hide caption

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Mose Buchele/KUT

Law

Legal Battles Over Land Rights, Pipelines Are On The Rise

KUT 90.5

The industry estimates that the U.S. will need to add 2,000 miles of pipeline per year, and that's just natural gas. Oil will need its own infrastructure. That means there will be a lot of pipeline going through a lot of private land — along with sometimes long, drawn-out legal fights with landowners.

Once Resilient, Trees In The West Now More Vulnerable To Fires

The remains of a tree are seen in front of a boulder in the Dome Wilderness area of New Mexico in August 2012. The Las Conchas Fire torched the land in 2011, burning through more than 150,000 acres of forest. David Gilkey/NPR hide caption

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David Gilkey/NPR

Environment

Once Resilient, Trees In The West Now More Vulnerable To Fires

Many forests in the American West have evolved with fire, and actually benefit from the occasional wildfire. But researchers are finding that trees that once would survive and thrive with small fires are now losing their ability to do so.

Massive Solar Plant A Stepping Stone For Future Projects

The Ivanpah solar project in California's Mojave Desert will be the largest solar power plant of its kind in the world. Josh Cassidy/KQED hide caption

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Josh Cassidy/KQED

Energy

Massive Solar Plant A Stepping Stone For Future Projects

KQED

The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California's Mojave Desert will power about 140,000 homes and be a boon to the state's renewable energy goals. But it was no slam dunk. Now, California is trying to bring conservationists and energy companies together to create a smoother path for future projects.

The Rise Of Bloodsucking Insects You Can't Just Swat Away

The Asian tiger mosquito, an invasive, disease-carrying pest, was likely introduced to the United States from used tires shipped over from Asia. Jim Newman/University of Florida/IFAS/AP hide caption

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Jim Newman/University of Florida/IFAS/AP

The Rise Of Bloodsucking Insects You Can't Just Swat Away

Bugs and summertime go hand-in-hand, but we are increasingly coming into contact with once-rare, disease-carrying insects. Buzzing in our ears, these pests have lots to say about globalization and the creep of invasive species.

Conservationists Call For Quiet: The Ocean Is Too Loud!

The beaked whale is one of the most vulnerable of all whale species to underwater noise pollution. Robin Baird/Cascadia Research hide caption

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Robin Baird/Cascadia Research

Environment

Conservationists Call For Quiet: The Ocean Is Too Loud!

Man-made noises are making it difficult for creatures to hear each other in the ocean. Michael Jasny, in charge of marine mammal protection the Natural Resource Defense Council, says we have to quiet down. His and other conservation groups are making their case, seeking ways to turn down the volume.

50 Years On, Research On Sex Can Still Be A Lightning Rod

Johnson with her fellow researcher and sometimes husband, William Masters. The pair helped legitimize the study of human sexuality. AP hide caption

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AP

Shots - Health News

50 Years On, Research On Sex Can Still Be A Lightning Rod

Virginia Masters, who died this week at age 88, pioneered the rigorous scientific study of sex. Even though the field has gone mainstream, scientists say they can still run into trouble with Congress and advocacy groups for choosing to look into sexual behavior and biology.