Today's Health/Science: whale watch, amniocentesis, salamanders, saving the Earth

Scientists are using whale calls to help them survive their number one killer: ships. The Massachusetts Bay network can track right whales by their signature call - and in as little as 20 minutes warn mariners to slow if they're too close. Watch the video here.

For years, the widely accepted odds that an amniocentesis would cause a miscarriage were 1 in 200. But now, the consensus is shifting toward a lower risk - perhaps much lower, thanks to improved techniques.

While half the state's 11 native salamander species are listed as threatened or of special concern, some, such as the spotted salamander, have turned out to be surprisingly common. A formidable 8 inches long with neon yellow spots in a pattern unique to each individual, it's one of New England's best-kept secrets because it lives underground.

Harvard professor of biological oceanography James McCarthy (left) has been a first-person witness to the moment when a dangerous hypothetical became reality, and a gatherer of important evidence to support the theory that humanity is having a drastic impact on the earth's climate.

Also, is there a new way to check yourself for melanoma and why is hydrogen seen as a more viable energy source than wind or solar?