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The article examines the use of modeling and animation technologies to create digital animals in the film "Dolittle," starring Robert Downey, Jr. and directed by Stephen Gaghan. Highlights include the technical challenge of bridging the real and the fantastical in the film "Dolittle," an uptick of photorealistic animals in hero roles, and two methods employed to generate water in the film.

The article announces Innovasea's new NexTrak R1 acoustic telemetry receiver marking the introduction of the NexTrak line, designed to enhance aquatic animal research, including the receiver's improved range and detection capabilities and its positive performance in early field testing.

The article elaborates on the Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and informs that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized standards for the section in May 2014. Topics include the section mandating measures that would protect fish and other aquatic wildlife impacted by cooling water intake structures (CWIS). Also mentioned are the impact of the EPA's final rule on the U.S. power generation industry as well as fish-friendly water screens such as Hydrolox screens.

The author discusses a new ruling issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act that requires plants drawing more than 2 million gallons a day and using 25% of that water for cooling to install the best technology available (BTA) to reduce the mortality of aquatic life. Topics discussed include the rule's most costly provision that may be the site-specific study EPA is requiring to help determine the best technology option for each plant.

The article reports that the U.S. Supreme Court has approved the regulation of cooling water intake structures at the current industrial facilities and power plants. The approval will allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider the regulation costs against the benefits gained under the Clean Water Act to protect fish and other aquatic animals. The decision was written by Justice Antonin Scalia depicting that the cooling water intake structures jeopardize the aquatic life.

The article presents information on cooling water intake system of Public Service Electric and Gas's Bethlehem Energy Center (BEC). Phase II of Clean Water Act Section 316(b) of the U.S. requires power plants to reduce their levels of impingement and entrainment of fish, fish eggs and larvae. BEC recycles water from the Hudson River, New York and New Jersey. To comply with the provisions of Phase-II, Section 316(b), the final design of BEC's intake water system included two-millimeter wedgewire screens and a seasonally deployed aquatic barrier. The screens are of such a size to maintain the same slot velocity in order to facilitate safe passing of aquatic life.

The article presents information on the book "Ocean Babies," by Deborah Lee Rose. The book describes the ways in which baby ocean animals are born. The simple text is easy to read. The illustrations are done in soft, muted shades and colors. Although the text does not hold much information in terms of reference material, the back of the book goes on to explain things in greater detail. The opening sentence shows a blue whale and states, "Big as a bus." In the back, the reader discovers that blue whales are the ocean's biggest babies. This is just one of the many facts about baby animals that are found within the book. However, some of the vocabulary in the back is a little difficult for the intended age group. This can be overcome by using it at first as a read-alone, and then as a shared book. There are also web sites at the end of the book, which allow the reader to explore and learn more about ocean babies and keeping the ocean world healthy. Overall, this book will help young readers become more interested in ocean babies and how they grow and change in such unique and special ways.

Focuses on the discovery of the origin of halogenated organic compound, methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs). Accumulation of the compound in the tissues of aquatic animals that come from natural resources; Similarity of MeO-PBDEs with petroleum-derived polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Analysis of its origin.

The author comments that he would like to be able to say that the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's final revised biological opinion regarding salmon recovery is an honest effort to offer up a plan that will bring salmon and steelhead stocks in the Columbia River Basin and Sacramento Delta back from the brink of extinction. Reading through the plan (the document is available on line at www.salmonrecovery.gov), one can be convinced that U.S. President George W. Bush administration is attempting to strike a balance among competing interests by weighing development, employment, landowners' rights, environmental concerns, economic interests and other factors.

Focuses on the effort of bioluminescence expert Edith Widder to develop a technology to study many undiscovered marine animals in the U.S. Hinderance in the study of bioluminescent sea animals; Design of a camera to take photographs of animals in sea depth without intrusion; Functional mechanism of the camera; Mechanical difficulties faced by Widder in designing the camera; Organizations that supported Widder in his project.

Discusses the threat against aquatic organisms. Mandatory international standards on transport of aquatic organisms; Source of traditional Asian medicines; Decrease of seahorse population; Commercial fishing.