The Weekly Planet: An eco victory, a tree pandemic and a three-eyed fish

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

Unleaded only, please
Treehugger reports on the positive results of a decades-long effort to get leaded gasoline banned worldwide. The global phaseout of leaded gasoline, which poses health risks including brain damage, is nearly complete. The only holdouts? Countries with totalitarian regimes like North Korea and Myanmar.

Texas drought effects felt in global economy
Texas has suffered from catastrophic drought this year, and the effects on the economy reach beyond the state. The impact on crops and livestock has impacted global prices, according to The New York Times. Scientists also warn that climate change could lead to more frequent and severe droughts.

Solar is going mainstream -- and affordable
If you've been hesitant to consider solar power because of the cost, think again. Growing interest and creative financing have helped lower the costs of solar energy, dropping the price of solar panels by two-thirds. USA Today notes that the affordability of solar power still depends on subsidies and tax breaks, but for homeowners looking to go green, solar is becoming an easier option.

Worldwide forest pandemic traced to California
Scientists traced a fungus causing a deadly epidemic for the world's trees to cypress trees transplanted from their native habitat in California. But it's not just about the fungus, the Bay Area Citizen notes; the effect of transplanting the trees in a slightly different climate, which weakened them and made them susceptible to a previously benign fungus, can be linked to the effects of climate change. It's a possibility that could spell trouble for the world's forests.

Three-eyed fish found
Yes, "The Simpsons" totally called this one. A group of fishermen in Argentina, fishing in a lake near a nuclear power plant, caught a three-eyed fish. Treehugger reports that the lake serves as a resevoir for the nuclear facility, and that residents had been concerned about the effects.