Here's today's roundup of science, nature and environment news from the Bay Area and beyond.
U.S. asked to list great white sharks as endangeredEnvironmental groups have petitioned the federal government to list the declining population of great white sharks off the coast of California as an endangered species. The northeastern Pacific Ocean population of great whites is genetically distinct and in danger of extinction, according to the petition.

Parasites may get nastier with climate swings: studyOSLO (Reuters) - Parasites look set to become more virulent because of climate change, according to a study showing that frogs suffer more infections from a fungus when exposed to unexpected swings in temperatures.

Study: can daily aspirin help ward off cancer?Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:48pm EDT (Reuters) - Taking aspirin daily may help protect against cancer but the effect seems weaker than previously thought, according to a U.S. study that included a decade's worth of data from more than 100,000 people.


In an environmental exchange, some ancient trees are killed to help others - The Sacramento BeeLike a steeple, the Jeffrey pine towers over other conifers and quaking aspen in the Tahoe National Forest north of Truckee. Nearly 13 feet around at its base and believed to be about 250 to 300 years old, it has weathered every threat to come its way, including wildfire, drought, storms and logging.

Probe of Chevron fire focuses on pipeFederal investigators looking into Monday's fire at the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond want to know why the 8-inch carbon steel pipe that failed wasn't replaced in November during a round of maintenance, officials said Sunday. [...]
