Conservation
National parks are key conservation areas for wildlife and natural resources
National parks are key conservation areas for wildlife and natural resources The United States’ national parks have an inherent contradiction between protecting fragile wild places and ensuring public enjoyment. The parks are crucial for research and conservation efforts, containing diverse environments such as volcanoes, glaciers, and ecosystems that face various challenges like climate change and […]
📰 News
As the Colorado River slowly dries up, states angle for influence over future water rights
As the Colorado River slowly dries up, states angle for influence over future water rights The Colorado River is facing a severe water shortage due to declining flows, with states angling for influence over future water rights. The seven Colorado Basin states have been grappling with how to deal with declining river supplies for a […]
📰 News
Yosemite embodies the long war over US national park privatization
Yosemite embodies the long war over US national park privatization The debate over US national park privatization has been ongoing for centuries, with Yosemite National Park playing a central role in this controversy. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act, ceding the valley and grove to California, “upon the express conditions that […]
🏛️ Politics
Spotted lanternflies love grapevines, and that’s bad for Pennsylvania’s wine industry
Spotted lanternflies love grapevines, and that’s bad for Pennsylvania’s wine industry Spotted lanternflies are an invasive species that infest grapevines in Pennsylvania, threatening the state’s wine industry. The insects can weaken grapevines, reduce yield and fruit quality, and kill vines. The spotted lanternfly feeds on many plants, but its preferred hosts are Tree of Heaven […]
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Invasive carp threaten the Great Lakes − and reveal a surprising twist in national politics
Invasive carp threaten the Great Lakes − and reveal a surprising twist in national politics Invasive Asian carp are spreading up the Mississippi River system and could have dire ecological consequences if they enter the Great Lakes, prompting President Donald Trump to issue a presidential memorandum supporting the construction of a physical barrier to keep […]
🏛️ Politics
What Trump’s budget proposal says about his environmental values
What Trump’s budget proposal says about his environmental values Trump’s budget proposal would significantly reduce funding for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), from $9.14 billion to $4.16 billion, a 54% decrease. The proposed budget would eliminate operating grants to state governments, drastically reduce funding for science programs, and cut regulatory and enforcement activities related […]
📰 News
Trump administration aims to slash funds that preserve the nation’s rich architectural and cultural history
Trump administration aims to slash funds that preserve the nation’s rich architectural and cultural history The Trump administration has proposed slashing funding for the Historic Preservation Fund by $158 million to just $11 million, which would significantly impact historic preservation efforts across the US. The fund, which is currently funded by private lease royalties from […]
🏛️ Politics
Is it ethical to eradicate certain harmful species?
Is it ethical to eradicate certain harmful species? Researchers argue that deliberate full extinction of harmful species is acceptable, but only rarely, using screwworms, mosquitoes, and invasive rodents as case studies. The team suggests that eradication through genome modification should be approached with caution and guided by robust ethical safeguards and inclusive decision-making frameworks. Conditions […]
🔬 Science
Trade in a mythical fish is threatening real species of rays that are rare and at risk
Trade in a mythical fish is threatening real species of rays that are rare and at risk The trade in “pez diablo” (devil fish) is threatening real species of guitarfishes, which are rare and at risk due to overfishing and habitat loss. Guitarfishes are being caught, dried, and carved into exotic shapes to create pez […]
🔬 Science
Bumblebee queens take days off
Bumblebee queens take days off Bumblebee queens, responsible for founding their colonies, take regular breaks from reproduction to avoid burning out before their first workers arrive. The pauses in egg-laying appear to be triggered by the developmental stages of the existing brood, with queens resuming reproduction when pupae are present. Researchers monitored over 100 queens […]
🔬 Science