The carbon cycle influences the rate at which mountains weather down into seas, the deep circulation of ocean waters helps govern the ebb and flow of ice sheets, and so on.

One alternative worth considering for at least some of your stash: Blue-chip stocks-especially those that combine high dividend yields with strong balance sheets and cash flow.

Banks, reluctant or unable to lend, are shrinking their balance sheets. That's starting to eat into cash flow at the biggest lenders.