Daily Roundup: February 4, 2011

Other Earths: NASA scientists, using the Kepler satellite, discovered more than 1,200 "possible" planets. New York Times

Emasculated: Oysters no longer play a significant role in most marine ecosystems, rendering them functionally extinct. Huffington Post

Less is More: New York Times writer Mark Bittman is ending his long-running "Minimalist" column for a new weekly op-ed spot centered on food-system issues. His first piece offers a "Food Manifesto for the Future."

Simmer Down: Los Angeles Unified School District officials blocked celebrity chef and food activist Jamie Oliver from filming his reality show at some of their schools. Los Angeles Times

Cleaner Arctic: After years of lawsuits pursued by native Alaskans, Shell executives announced that they'll no longer pursue exploratory drilling in Arctic waters. Los Angeles Times

--Rosie Spinks