By Alina Joan Ito, Tokyo Weekender Koji Kinjo has pioneered a way to successfully transplant farm-grown coral back into the ocean. Could it help save the seas from ecologic catastrophe? Each year, as spring bleeds into summer, a small universe is born in Yomitan, a village in central Okinawa. Under …
New study reveals oceanic seabirds chase tropical cyclones
By Francesco Ventura, Phys.Org A new study published today in Current Biology, “Oceanic Seabirds Chase Tropical Cyclones,” reveals that the rare Desertas Petrels (Pterodroma deserta), a wide-ranging seabird in the North Atlantic, exhibit unique foraging behaviors during hurricane season. Contrary to other pelagic seabirds, these petrels do not avoid intense tropical cyclones but instead …
One fish, two fish, 3,000 fish
By Curtis Abraham, Knowable Magazine Groups of cichlid fishes in East Africa radiated into thousands of species within dazzlingly short periods of time. How did they do it? It was pure serendipity. I had been searching for a suitable pet for my son for months when I spotted a young …
The ‘smart’ animal club keeps getting bigger
By Mark Degeurin, Popular Science Scientists are re-examining what signs of intelligence mean for animals. Scientists and enthusiastic dog owners alike have long quibbled about what attributes or tendencies make one animal smarter or more intelligent than another. But as animal researchers have applied various intelligence tests to a wider …
To Foil a Deadly Pest, Scientists Aim for a Beetle-Resistant Ash Tree
By Elizabeth Kolbert, Yale Environment 360 Emerald ash borer beetles have killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in the U.S. Now, researchers are nurturing ash that can withstand the insects, in the hope of producing resistant seeds that would ensure a future for trees that are a crucial part …
Puerto Rico’s ‘Monkey Island’ was destroyed by a hurricane. Researchers were shocked by how the primates responded
By Jessica Hullinger, Fast Company A new study found that instead of increasing conflict, the environmental challenges made the monkeys more social and cooperative. Human-caused climate change is wreaking havoc on ecosystems and landscapes before our eyes. But a new study published in the journal Science adds to a growing pile of evidence that some …
Canada oil sands group removes online content over federal anti-greenwashing rules
By Nia Williams and Ismail Shakil, Reuters OTTAWA, June 20 (Reuters) – The Pathways Alliance, a group of Canada’s biggest oil sands producers, has removed all content about environmental goals from its website and social media pages, citing “significant uncertainty” over the federal government’s anti-greenwashing legislation. Bill C-59, which only …
Cattle are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Hawaiian seaweed could change that.
By Thomas Heaton, Grist Limu kohu is most traditionally destined for poke bowls, but the distinctive-tasting seaweed is now increasingly in demand for cattle to reduce the amount of methane they burp into the atmosphere. Parker Ranch cattle are among the first of Hawai’i’s livestock to be fed farmed red algae. In …
The secrets of corals’ synchronous sex could help save them
By Alison Snyder, Axios Wind, rainfall and ocean temperatures all influence the synchronized spawning of some coral in an elusive but critical process scientists are beginning to unravel. Why it matters: Coral reefs are keystone species supporting ecosystems that underpin coastal economies around the world. But they are under pressure from warming oceans, marine pollution …
EPA accused of ‘egregious’ misconduct in PFAS testing of pesticides
By Carey Gillam, The Guardian US agency found PFOS and other types of PFAS in pesticides but failed to disclose those results, watchdog group alleges. Documents obtained from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicate the agency may have presented false information to the public about testing for harmful contaminants …