
Scientists discover new crocodiles on Mexican islands that remained hidden for centuries
Biodiversity is constantly evolving, and as a result, nature surprises us with what is kept hidden in plain sight. While some of the species are becoming extinct and endangered, the discovery of new species not only gives a new ray of hope, but also tells us how much we still have to learn and protect.
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Remote and ecologically rich areas like islands and coastal habitats often house unique species, but they're also among the most vulnerable to human development and environmental change.
In this delicate balance between discovery and destruction, science plays a crucial role in identifying species before they vanish, possibly unnoticed. Genetic analysis and modern fieldwork are helping scientists revisit long-held assumptions, bringing to light some unexpected biodiversity.
The more we discover, the easier it becomes, as each ecosystem holds details that deserve attention, research, and protection.
A recent discovery is a perfect example of the same
Scientists have identified two new species of crocodiles living in isolated parts of Mexico, one on the island of Cozumel and the other on the coral atoll of Banco Chinchorro, both situated off the Yucatán Peninsula. This is changing the assumptions, what scientists thought they knew about the American crocodile, which was believed to be a single, widespread species.
According to Biology Professor Hans Larsson, the lead investigator of the study, the discovery came after the team analyzed genetic samples from these crocodile populations and compared them to others across the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico's Pacific coast.
'We assumed Crocodylus acutus was a single species ranging from Baja California to Venezuela and across the Caribbean. Our study is the first to extensively explore genomic and anatomical variation in these animals'.
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Small populations at risk despite stability
The two newly identified crocodile species remain unnamed but are genetically distinct, with fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals in each isolated population. While both groups appear stable, their limited numbers and confinement to small habitats make them especially vulnerable.
'Now that we recognize these crocodiles as distinct species, it's crucial to protect their habitats. Limiting land development and implementing careful conservation strategies on Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro will be key to ensuring their survival,' Larsson added.
A wake-up call for conservation
The discovery is also a race against time to catalog biodiversity before it's lost. 'Biodiversity is disappearing faster than we can discover what we're losing,' said Larsson. With coastal development and habitat degradation threatening crocodile populations across the globe, this find serves as both a scientific milestone and a conservation alarm bell.

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Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump vs Musk: How a political feud threatens to send NASA into the ‘biggest crisis' in its history
The spectacle of President Donald Trump 's public feud with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has now spilled into one of America's most strategic and fragile domains: space. What began as a war of words over a contentious spending bill has become a flashpoint threatening to unravel decades of US leadership in space science and exploration. At the centre of the dispute is the White House's proposed federal budget, which seeks to radically reshape NASA's priorities. If passed, it could place over 40 current and future missions at risk, many involving climate science and planetary exploration, while funnelling resources into a narrowly defined vision: putting American boots back on the Moon, and eventually, on Mars. Adding fuel to the fire, Trump has openly threatened to cancel federal contracts with Musk's SpaceX, a company now central to NASA's operations. That threat risks not only logistical disruptions, like resupplying the International Space Station ( ISS ), but also casts long shadows over future crewed missions that depend on SpaceX's Starship rocket. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Drink one cup a day and watch your body change NEWSCASA Undo 'The astonishing exchanges, snap decisions and U-turns we've witnessed in the last week undermine the very foundations that we build our ambitions on,' said Dr Simeon Barber, space scientist at the Open University, as quoted by the BBC. 'Space science and exploration rely upon long-term planning and cooperation between government, companies and academic institutions.' $22 billion at stake At the heart of the storm are nearly $22 billion in government contracts awarded to SpaceX, spanning NASA's Commercial Crew Program, ISS cargo missions, and the Artemis Moon programme. The feud escalated on June 5, 2025, when Trump publicly threatened to scrap all government contracts with Musk's companies. Live Events Musk responded with a dramatic (later-deleted) post on X: 'In light of the President's statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately.' He later backed down, replying to a user urging restraint: 'Good advice. Ok, we won't decommission Dragon.' NASA caught in political crossfire Even before this drama unfolded, NASA was staring down an existential challenge. The proposed budget includes a 25% overall cut, with science and Earth observation missions absorbing the brunt. Programmes that track climate change, explore the solar system, and enable global partnerships, some decades in the making, are now vulnerable. Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at the Planetary Society, called it 'the biggest crisis ever to face the US space programme.' That's no exaggeration: while the budget proposes a $100 million boost for Mars-related initiatives, almost everything else is on the chopping block. 'President Trump is repurposing NASA to land astronauts on the Moon before the Chinese, and eventually to plant a US flag on Mars,' said Dr Adam Baker, a space analyst at Cranfield University, reported BBC. 'Everything else is secondary.' Human spaceflight, too, is on edge SpaceX's Crew Dragon is currently NASA's only certified spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to and from the ISS. Under a $5 billion contract, it ended NASA's reliance on Russia's Soyuz after the Space Shuttle's retirement. Presently, Crew Dragon is supporting the Crew-10 mission, while Axiom Space prepares a fourth private astronaut mission. Boeing's Starliner remains uncertified and unproven for long-term operational use. Without SpaceX, human spaceflight missions could face serious setbacks, Dreier warned: 'The potential cancellation of these contracts would delay or completely halt US-led missions to the ISS.' Artemis and Mars ambitions in jeopardy NASA's Artemis III mission, aiming to land astronauts on the Moon in 2027, relies on SpaceX's Starship as its lunar lander. So far, the company has received over $15 billion in NASA contracts for Falcon 9 and Starship development. But Starship's recent test flights have ended in failure, and if the partnership collapses, it could derail timelines and leave the door open for rivals, particularly China, to lead in lunar exploration. Trump's long-touted goal of sending astronauts to Mars, once aligned with Musk's vision, now appears politically volatile. This focus comes at the cost of near-term science and Earth-based priorities. The SLS vs Starship debate Trump officials have justified the cuts as a streamlining effort. NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), with a staggering $4.1 billion launch cost, has long been criticised for overruns and delays. The budget proposes sidelining SLS in favour of cheaper, reusable alternatives. But the private sector may not offer the stability required. Starship's repeated failures and Blue Origin's early-stage development raise questions. 'The worry is that NASA may be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire,' Dr Barber said. 'If SpaceX or Blue Origin run into trouble, Congress will have to foot the bill anyway.' Global partnerships fray NASA is not just a national agency; it's a cornerstone of international space cooperation. Two major joint missions with the European Space Agency, Mars Sample Return and the Rosalind Franklin rover, are in jeopardy due to US budget cuts. 'These missions are more than science, they're signals of trust and cooperation,' said Prof Sir Martin Sweeting of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. ESA has signalled plans to build more autonomous space capabilities, reflecting a future where it cannot depend on US reliability. Earth loses out Ironically, some of the worst-hit programmes are the ones that help protect our own planet. Earth observation satellites, critical for tracking wildfires, droughts, and sea level rise, are at risk of shutdown. Over 40 active or planned missions are now in danger, including: DAVINCI+ and VERITAS (Venus missions) Landsat Next, critical for climate change monitoring EnVision, a joint mission with ESA Mars Sample Return, a flagship programme in partnership with ESA Existing missions like Juno, Mars Odyssey, New Horizons, and MAVEN, which could face premature shutdowns As per NASA's muted official response came via spokesperson Bethany Stevens: 'NASA will continue to execute upon the President's vision for the future of space. We will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure the President's objectives in space are met.' But former Deputy Administrator Lori Garver was more direct: 'A rogue CEO threatening to decommission spacecraft, putting astronauts' lives at risk, is untenable.' A legacy at risk This isn't just about rockets or rivalries. It's about a legacy of American leadership in space that now faces erosion due to political volatility and personal vendettas. As per Reuters, if Congress approves the budget, or allows it to take effect by default, the damage could be irreversible. NASA's 18,000-strong workforce faces uncertainty, and global trust in US-led space efforts may erode for years to come. As Dreier puts it: 'Once space missions are turned off, it is hard, if not impossible, to start them up again.'
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
If AI replaces humans as car drivers, 39,000 lives could be saved in US alone: Study
Since an AI-powered autopilot never gets tired, drunk, or distracted, a new study suggests it could help save tens of thousands of lives each year. read more Qualcomm is already redefining the automotive experience thanks to its Snapdragon Cockpit platform, which has powered cars like the XUV700 in India. Image Credit: Reuters Self-driving cars aren't just a fancy tech novelty – they could be lifesavers. A new study analysing data from Waymo's autonomous vehicles shows that replacing human drivers with AI could prevent tens of thousands of deaths on American roads each year, according to a report from Vox. The study has found that the self-driving system was involved in 85 per cent fewer serious injury crashes than human drivers. When applied nationally, the results are staggering: around 34,000 lives could be saved annually in the United States. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The findings highlight both the promise and the challenges of autonomous vehicle technology. Meanwhile data on fatal crashes remains limited, experts as citied in report say the potential safety benefits could be achieved by the technology. If self-driving autopilots and AI techniques can reduce crashes, the implications could be a ground-breaking transformation. Though, we should also highlight the other side of the findings. In this era of the so-called AI boom, such studies are often used to attract investment. As far as saving lives is concerned, it has also been found that AI can make errors, and such autopilots can cause accidents—which may prove fatal. Why AI might be the safer driver Humans often drive while distracted, drowsy, angry, or worse—impaired. Even when fully alert, the human brain isn't well-equipped for the speed and split-second decisions required on the road. At 60 mph, a 2.5-second reaction delay means a vehicle will travel the length of two basketball courts before the driver can even hit the brakes. The consequences of such delays are deadly. Globally, 1.2 million people die in road crashes every year. In the United States alone, there were an estimated 39,345 traffic fatalities in 2024 – equivalent to a bus full of people dying every 12 hours. AI doesn't get tired, drunk, or distracted What sets AI apart is simple, it doesn't need sleep, doesn't get emotional, and doesn't consume alcohol. AI systems can react faster, make more accurate decisions in complex traffic scenarios, and stay alert round the clock. 'If AI replaces humans as car drivers, we could see dramatic reductions in road fatalities,' the researchers noted. While challenges remain – such as handling rare edge cases and building public trust—the direction is clear, safer roads are possible, and AI might just be the key. And if nothing else, people might finally reclaim those three years of driving time—for reading, streaming Netflix, or simply relaxing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD


NDTV
12 hours ago
- NDTV
'Shubhanshu Shukla Will Follow In Kalpana Chawla's Steps': Ex-Astronaut
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. India's second astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla, is set for the Axiom 4 mission to the ISS from Florida. Despite delays due to weather and a liquid oxygen leak, excitement builds as he prepares for experiments involving life forms in space. New Delhi: Shubhanshu Shukla, India's second astronaut, is all set to lift off for the International Space Station tomorrow on the Axiom 4 mission. The historic journey will begin from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, United States. The lift-off has been deferred four times -- mostly because of the weather. The team is also dealing with an issue of leakage of liquid oxygen. Asked how serious it can be, former NASA astronaut and F16 fighter pilot Terry Wirtz told NDTV that rockets "have a lot of propellant tanks, there's the fuel, there's the oxidizer, there's other helium and nitrogen tanks... So there's a lot of potential leaks in every rocket that launches". He said he would let Axiom handle that. The private company Axiom Space is leading the landmark NASA-ISRO collaboration. Professor Dhuvuri Subramaniam from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science -- Group Captain Shukla's first flying instructor, said he is "waiting for the countdown and is in good spirits. "I am excited for Shux. We both had the same path of being a fighter pilot and then test pilot. So I know how he feels and what he's going through," said Mr Wirtz, who added that he also knew astronaut Kalpana Chawla, who had died in an accident in 2003. "I was good friends with Kalpana Chawla. She was the Indian-American astronaut on Columbia.... she was an amazing, wonderful human being. And I know that Shux is going to follow in her tradition. So I know this is a great day for India to see the next Indian astronaut in space," he added. Asked about the special area of interest for the second astronaut India will soon have, Mr Wirtz said, "For his MTech research at IIC, he is working on human habitats in space". The current project, he indicated, also dovetails with Group Captain Shukla's interest. The scientists would be experimenting with seeds, bacteria, microalgae and other life forms. Asked about the projects, Mr Wirtz, though, gave a jovial sketch of what would happen once the spaceship docks. "The first thing that will happen when they open the hatch, everybody will get hugs, they'll welcome them on board. And then they are going to be amazed that, you know, we've been in this little capsule for 30 hours... they're going to be in this massive, huge spaceship. So just getting used to moving around with your hands, you know, floating is really tough to do. Hopefully, somebody will grab them and drag them down to the cupola and let them look out the window. It is this amazing seven-windowed module," he said. For every astronaut, the first couple days are very disorienting, Mr Wirtz said -- "You feel, yeah, I had a raging headache. I had the worst headache I've ever had. So everybody take a few days to get used to it". But time constraints also mean they have to get busy soon. The two weeks that the astronauts will be in the space station, will go by "in a flash" he added.