CNN is shuttering its Miles O'Brien-led science unit in what may be a sign of things to come for science news desks across the country.

Though the cut comes amidst thousands of layoffs across the reporting landscape, CNN maintains that the move is strategic in nature, and not related to the current economic climate.

"We want to integrate environmental, science and technology reporting into the general editorial structure rather than have a stand alone unit," CNN said in a statement sent to Wired.com. "Now that the bulk of our environmental coverage is being offered through the Planet in Peril franchise which is produced by the [Anderson Cooper 360] program, there is no need for a separate unit."

While that articulates some kind of plan for environmental coverage, it begs the question: what's going to happen to CNN's space and science coverage without the network's primary space and science team? There is science occurring all over this imperiled planet that is not environmental in nature.

Mediabistro blog, TVNewser, broke the story of O'Brien's departure earlier today.

Miles O'Brien released a predictably milquetoast statement through CNN. Wired.com could not independently reach him for comment.

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