The Weekly Planet: A changing Everest, climate change and evolution, more

We're taking a look at some of the stories affecting our planet. Here's some news you shouldn't miss.

2010: Worst year ever for carbon dioxide
The year 2010 can go on the books as the worst for the atmosphere, with 36.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere. While many industrialized nations may have made cuts to their emissions, the growth of developing countries offset those efforts, according to Discovery News. Oh, and speaking of records we shouldn't be proud of setting? On a person by person basis, the U.S. still leads the world in carbon dioxide emissions.

Oil and gas industry overstates jobs
The standing rationale for the tax breaks and regulatory benefits afforded to the oil and gas industry is the jobs they bring to the country. Not so fast. Treehugger reports on a new study has found the oil and gas industry has been inflating its jobs numbers. Not only has the industry claimed more jobs than actually created, a significant percentage of those reported are minimum-wage jobs at gas stations. Hardly a reason to turn our back on alternative-energy funding in the name of job creation.

Climate change altering Mt. Everest
If you're brave enough to summit Mt. Everest, you may find the mountain much less icy than you might expected. The Guardian reports that locals have already noticed glacial melting is changing the landscape. The melting ice comes with significant risk, from glacial lakes overflowing and destabalizing the mountain to a changing landscape that is more challenging for guides to navigate.

Climate change drove key events in human evolution
Science Daily reports that researchers have found evidence that climate change drove key events in humanity's evolution. But none of the past periods of climate fluctuation are similar to the climate change we're experiencing now, which raises the question of how humanity will deal with this period of change.

T-shirts made of trees?
Cotton may be comfortable to wear, but growing it can be devastating to the environment. But what about using cellulose from trees? Treehugger notes that with sustainable management, forests could provide enough fiber to clothe many without competing with land needed to grow food. Rayon also gets bonus points for being better suited to hot climates because it traps less body heat than other fibers.

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