February 2008 Rap-Up
Even though
the month was short,
there was no lack
of news to report.
The world’s largest science conference
convened in Beantown,
and we listened to scientists
both new and renowned.
They spoke about sharks
and antarctic invasions,
why there’s no life on Mars
(That took no persuasion).
The Encyclopedia of Life
is online at last
and a spy satellite
was destroyed by a blast.
Midlife suicides
are on the rise,
and a new devil toad
takes the prize for size.
Bats in the Northeast
are falling ill
and you can’t cure depression
with one little pill.
Norway opened
a bank for seeds
and Pakistan blocked
all video feeds.
The choking game
is taking teenage lives.
TB is in Russia
and no one knows why.
Way up in the sky
the space station grew,
and despite a vaccine
we still got the flu.
So even if winter
gives you the blues,
this groundhog promises
six more weeks of news.
– Joseph Caputo and Lauren Rugani