Editorial
Mass Extinction or Massive Exaggeration?  New Study Makes Monumental Claim Based on Erroneous Premise: The authors of a new study in Nature suggest that for a mid-range climate-warming scenario for the year 2050, some 15-37% of the species in regions that cover 20% of earth's terrestrial surface will be "committed to extinction."  In reality, it is their claim that will be so committed … and way before 2050!

Subject Index Summaries
Monsoon: A host of climate models suggest that CO2-induced global warming may bring about great changes in earth's monsoonal circulations.  Real-world data, however, provide no support for this thesis.

Roots (Miscellaneous): In addition to several well-documented responses of plant roots to atmospheric CO2 enrichment, there are a few reports of some rather unique findings and at least one largely unresolved issue.

Journal Reviews
The Sunspot Hockey Stick: Does it confirm the reality of the hockeystick temperature history of Mann et al. (1999)?

The Medieval Warm Period in Finland: Just how warm was it?

Soil Carbon Response of Grasslands to Woody Plant Invasions: There really should be little question about the carbon sequestration consequences of this phenomenon, but some scientists have tried to obfuscate the issue with questionable data and shaky analyses.  This new study, plus others it cites, helps to set the record straight.

Atmospheric CO2 Enrichment: Boosting Rice Yields of Asia: As the population of Asia continues to grow, there is reason to be concerned about the continent's ability to feed its inhabitants.  From whence will the extra food come?

CO2 and the Phytoremediation of Contaminated Soils: The process by which toxic concentrations of metals in soils are reduced to non-toxic levels by vegetative extraction is enhanced several-fold by enriching the air with CO2 for only three hours a day.