Your Nature Photos Are Doing More Science Than You Think
Use of iNaturalist has skyrocketed since its launch in 2008. This citizen science database now contains more than 200 million observations logged by over 3 million users globally, according to research published Monday, July 28, in the journal BioScience. This study is the first to comprehensively quantify how everyday people are contributing to biodiversity science through iNaturalist, coauthor Corey Callaghan, a global change ecologist at the University of Florida, told Gizmodo. He and his colleagues conducted a review of thousands of research articles, finding that the number of peer-reviewed studies using iNaturalist data surged more than tenfold in the last five years.
'Beyond documenting where species occur, the photos uploaded to iNaturalist offer a rich source of biological information—capturing habitat, species coloration, behavior, and more,' lead author Brittany Mason, data management analyst in Callaghan's research group, told Gizmodo in an email. 'Researchers are increasingly using this imagery data as a valuable source of ecological and behavioral data.'
The rise of iNaturalist has ushered in a new era of citizen science. This free app—available for both iOS and Android—allows users to record wildlife observations and share their data with research partners such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Unlike some other apps that use AI to identify species, iNaturalist relies on its vast community of users for this task. 'Humans need to confirm the identification in order for it to go to research grade,' Callaghan said. This collaborative approach produces a wealth of rigorously vetted data that scientists can use to support their research.
'Many iNaturalist contributors aren't scientists by training, but the platform's user-friendly design empowers anyone to meaningfully participate in scientific discovery,' Mason said.
Over 3.5 million iNaturalist users are now helping researchers track species ranges, detect invasive species, monitor climate impacts, and even discover new species, according to Callaghan. In 2011, for example, a user in Columbia documented this century's first confirmed record of the Columbian Weasel—an extremely rare species. No one had ever photographed one alive before, and this iNaturalist user's observation contributed to a 2019 study of its distribution in protected areas. The review shows that iNaturalist data have become pervasive in scientific literature, appearing in papers from 128 countries for over 638 taxonomic families.
In the face of a global biodiversity crisis, there is an urgent need for cost-effective and efficient methods to document and assess the status of species, the authors state. As of 2022, 211 plant and animal species had gone extinct in the U.S. alone, and 2,288 were threatened or endangered, according to the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan.
As individuals, it's easy to feel powerless in a situation like this. This study shows, however, that citizen science is playing an increasingly important role in efforts to monitor, protect, and conserve species. The exponential growth of iNaturalist observations over the past several years has 'fundamentally shifted' the landscape of biodiversity research, Callaghan said, and it doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
'Thinking about what's coming five, ten years from now—it's mind-boggling,' Callaghan said. 'We still don't know the potential.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
This Space Stock Just Got a New Street-High Price Target
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Since its Nasdaq debut in August 2021 through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger, Rocket Lab's market capitalization has swelled to roughly $21 billion. With a monster 723% rally over the past year that dwarfs the broader S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 17% return, Rocket Lab has kept its momentum going in 2025, adding 72% year-to-date (YTD). Over the past three months alone, RKLB stock has surged 95%, driven by bullish analyst coverage, a series of successful launches and a major deal with the European Space Agency (ESA). A Look Inside Rocket Lab's Q1 Earnings Report Rocket Lab kicked off fiscal 2025 with a strong start, as its first-quarter earnings report on May 8 highlighted steady revenue growth and continued momentum across both its launch and space systems segments. The company delivered a record $122.6 million in revenue, representing an impressive 32% increase over the same period last year. Operationally, Rocket Lab delivered a flawless performance, achieving 100% mission success for Electron during the quarter. It completed five launches supporting Earth-imaging, monitoring, intelligence, and global wildfire detection missions. Notably, the company successfully executed three of those launches in just 13 days, a rapid pace that highlights its growing efficiency and reliability. Meanwhile, Rocket Lab continues to advance its next-generation Neutron rocket, with Stage 2 qualification now complete and Stage 1 qualification in progress. A key highlight from the quarter was Neutron's selection for the U.S. Space Force's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program, a major $5.6 billion initiative aimed at supporting critical national security missions. In fact, total operating expenses increased 40% annually in the first quarter, primarily driven by a rise in investment in Neutron development. 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Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
‘Clinical Obesity' Definition Shifts Obesity Prevalence
The adoption of the new 'clinical obesity' definition alters prevalence estimates of obesity in many parts of the world compared with BMI-based definitions, new data suggested. In January 2025, a Lancet Commission proposed that the diagnosis of obesity first be made via confirmation of excess adiposity using measures such as waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio in addition to BMI. Next, a clinical assessment of signs and symptoms of organ dysfunction due to obesity and/or functional limitations determines whether the individual has the disease 'clinical obesity' or 'preclinical obesity,' a condition of health risk but not an illness itself. That definition, although endorsed by more than 75 professional medical organizations, has proved controversial, with a commonly cited concern that people in the 'preclinical obesity' category might be denied needed care. But the Lancet authors counter that the 'preclinical' obesity category should be treated as a health risk factor, no differently than hypertension or dyslipidemia. A new analysis of nationally representative surveys from 56 mostly low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) showed that application of a modified version of the 'clinical obesity' definition would reduce obesity prevalence by more than 50% in some regions. It was published on July 24, 2025, in PLOS Global Public Health . 'Our results emphasize the need to carefully consider how obesity is defined in population surveillance to ensure its relevance to health outcomes. While the clinical obesity framework offers a more precise measure of obesity-related disease burden, its implementation in routine surveillance will require further adaptation to overcome data availability challenges,' the authors wrote. Lead author Rodrigo M. Carrillo-Larco, MD, PhD, of the Department of Global Health at Emory University, Atlanta, told Medscape Medical News that there is a need for 'agreement on whether the definition has to change and for what purposes so that the right tools and specific definitions are in place. If for clinical purposes, what definition should be used to start pharmacologic treatment, for claims and reimbursement, and for risk stratification of other diseases?' In the paper, Carrillo-Larco and colleagues express the concern that with the new definition, 'there is little to no opportunity for primary prevention of clinical obesity, as its definition already includes a cardiometabolic condition that most likely warrants secondary prevention or treatment.' However, Lancet Commission Chair Francesco Rubino, MD, professor and chair of metabolic and bariatric surgery at King's College London, London, England, told Medscape Medical News that this perception is incorrect. 'Clinical obesity represents only a subset of the broader obesity spectrum. Total obesity prevalence should include both clinical and preclinical obesity.' Added Lancet Commission member Ricardo Cohen, MD, director of the Center for Obesity and Diabetes, Oswaldo Cruz German Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil, 'The published paper demonstrates that prevalence estimates shift because the clinical definition targets those with higher medical need and not because fewer people require care. This is about better risk stratification, not exclusion.' Clinical Obesity Prevalence Differs From BMI-Only Obesity The study included nationally representative data from the World Health Organization's STEPS Survey for a total of 142,250 people in 56 countries in six world regions, including Africa (n = 49,438 from 18 countries), the Americas ( n = 3083 from one country), the Eastern Mediterranean (n = 19,292 from nine countries), Europe (n = 17,536 from seven countries), Southeast Asia (n = 27,334 from six countries), and the Western Pacific ( n = 25,567 from 15 countries). Carrillo-Larco told Medscape Medical News that LMICs were sampled because 'obesity may impose a greater burden in LMICs, given the limitations in access to treatment and counseling for obesity as well as for related comorbidities.' The clinical obesity definition used for the study included objective measures of weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and total cholesterol. The Lancet definition includes a longer list of conditions, but the authors note that those data are not routinely available in many LMICs. Rubino said this could lead to an underestimate of the true prevalence of obesity. On the other hand, Carrillo-Larco and colleagues noted that the lack of such data in many countries represents a limitation of the definition. At the national level, the prevalence of clinical obesity in men ranged from less than 1% in Timor-Leste, Rwanda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Cambodia to 29% in American Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Tokelau. In women, clinical obesity prevalence was as low as ≤ 1% in Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Cambodia, and as high as 28% in American Samoa and Tuvalu. Among men, the age-standardized prevalence of clinical obesity was < 10% in 41 countries, mostly in Africa (18/41). Among women, the age-standardized prevalence of clinical obesity was less than 10% in 30 countries, also mostly in Africa (14/30). The largest shift in prevalence occurred in Malawi, with BMI-only obesity in 0.7% vs clinical obesity in 0.2%, a relative reduction of 67.7%. However, the absolute change was less than 1 percentage point. Countries experiencing both a relative change of ≥ 10% and an absolute change of ≥ 10 percentage points were Nauru (-35.5% relative change and 13.3 percentage points in absolute change; prevalence of clinical obesity was 24.2% and that of BMI-only obesity was 37.5%) and Qatar (-49.2% and 10.3; prevalence of clinical obesity was 10.6% and that of BMI-only obesity was 20.9%). In women, the relative change in prevalence exceeded 50% in Malawi (relative reduction of 52.8%; 5.6% for BMI-only obesity and 2.6% for clinical obesity) and Rwanda (-52.4%; 2.7% for BMI-only obesity and 1.3% for clinical obesity). In Malawi and Rwanda, the absolute change was 2.9 and 1.4 percentage points, respectively. Countries with both relative and absolute changes exceeding 10% and 10 percentage points, respectively, were in the Western Pacific (American Samoa, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, and Tuvalu). Rubino told Medscape Medical News , 'Distinguishing clinical from preclinical obesity doesn't reduce urgency — it ensures timely treatment for those who need it and directs prevention toward those for whom it remains possible.' Regardless, Carrillo-Larco said, 'Clinicians should always consider obesity as a multifactorial condition for which nonpharmacologic conditions are very important and social determinants of health play a key role.' The authors received no specific funding. Rubino declared having received research grants from Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson), Novo Nordisk, and Medtronic; consulting fees from Morphic Medical; and speaking honoraria from Medtronic, Ethicon, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Amgen. He has also served (unpaid) as a member of the scientific advisory board for Keyron and as a member of the data safety and monitoring board for GI Metabolic Solutions. Cohen declared having received research grants from Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic; honoraria for lectures and presentations from Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, and Novo Nordisk; and serving on scientific advisory boards for Morphic Medical, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic.
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
A Psychologist Calls Out The Most Harmful Dating Myth About Autism
Love transcends diagnoses. People of all neurotypes, whether on or off the spectrum, are fully ... More capable of being in meaningful relationships. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain processes information. People with autism often experience challenges with social interaction, communication and may engage in repetitive behaviors or routines — symptoms that are routinely misinterpreted and warped into myths about autism. It has been long established that love transcends medical diagnoses. Almost all of us long for love even when our ways of expressing our affection may differ. However, the misconception that neurodivergent people, especially people on the spectrum, are incapable, unable or uninterested in finding and cherishing love hasn't completely left popular imagination. Some people may show their love through words of affection, while others might prefer physical touch. The same goes for people with autism. They may not express their love in the exact same ways many neurotypical people do, but that does not mean their love is not present. Why Do Some People With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Struggle With Romantic Connections? According to U.S. surveillance studies in 2020, approximately 1 in 36 children is diagnosed with autism. Individuals with autism often struggle with social interactions. They may find it difficult to understand others' feelings and intentions, maintain eye contact and adapt to social norms. Here are three key behavioral struggles they may show: While these symptoms can be managed with dedicated effort and care, it isn't difficult to see how they could become an impediment in one's social and romantic life, especially when their condition is misunderstood or stigmatized. A 2024 study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders explored the experience of love and physical intimacy in romantic relationships in people with and without autism. The researchers paid special attention to the language used to describe autism. In line with how many individuals had received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), researchers deliberately used identity-first language (e.g., 'autistic person' rather than 'person with autism'). It divided participants into two groups: 31 autistic individuals (with an ASD diagnosis) and 26 non-autistic individuals (without an ASD diagnosis, but not necessarily neurotypical). Participants completed an online survey that served two main purposes. First, they were assessed for autism-related traits. Second, the survey included open-ended questions about experiences and perceptions of romantic and sexual intimacy. These questions explored aspects such as the meaning of physical intimacy, personal comfort and satisfaction levels and any barriers participants encountered in intimate relationships to understand the extent of their relational exposure and experience. Here are two key findings of the study that contradict popular misconceptions about autism and relationships. 1. People On The Spectrum Can And Do Enjoy Romantic Connections People with autism have long been stereotyped as emotionally distant or uninterested in romance and sexuality. And if they do desire romance, it's automatically assumed that they will be socially distant in their relationship or will fail to maintain the bond due to a 'deficit' in their relationship skills. Contrary to these outdated beliefs, the study found that autistic individuals not only experience love and romantic attraction, but they also form deep emotional bonds and maintain long-term relationships. The difference might lie in how they express and communicate their desire or understand those of others'. In addition to this, many autistic individuals also explored their gender and sexual identities and, in fact, wanted more access to practical, inclusive sex education. The 2017 Netflix series Atypical captured this 'difference' in expressing and experiencing love with a deliberate sincerity. Sam Gardner, the protagonist, is a teenager with autism, who decides that he'd like to start dating. Initially, his parents are skeptical of him being able to handle a relationship, and he surprises them by going on a successful date with someone his age and handling it the best he can. The series rose in popularity and also garnered critical acclaim, from neurotypical as well as neurodivergent audiences. It was branded as a sensitive and well-intentioned portrayal of a neurodivergent person's experience of love, friendship, family and the challenges of teenage life. This series, and scores of new research all seem to echo the same sentiment: what autistic people need is better support to navigate intimacy and connections, not limits on their exposure. 2. Autistic Individuals Deeply Value Communication Autistic participants seemed to value the same things in a relationship as their non-autistic counterparts: good communication, shared interests or values, mutual respect and personal and relational growth. But one thing stood out: participants on the spectrum emphasized the importance of clear and direct communication significantly more than the non-autistic group. According to them, ambiguity in romantic or sexual contexts is what leaves them confused or anxious. While most people are scared of internal or interpersonal conflict, it can be particularly challenging for those on the spectrum. Uncertainty is especially tough on them as they often lack the intuitive language of non-verbal social cues, struggle to predict what a partner might be feeling and are unsure of the invisible and 'unwritten' social expectations involved in dating. People with autism also face serious gaps when it comes to relationship support due to the challenges of their condition: What might benefit them is being able to talk openly about their needs and boundaries and using non-sexual forms of physical closeness (like cuddling) to build trust and comfort. Planning intimacy in advance can help those who hate the unpredictability that comes with relationships. Knowing what to expect and how to navigate new situations can also help curb their anxiety to some extent. At the end of the day, it is really in experiencing, rather than knowing, that helps people with autism advance in relationships. Having the safety net of communication and mental preparedness can help, immeasurably, with confidence and self-possession. People with autism fall in love like anybody else. But they benefit from added support that meets their unique needs. It's time we stop assuming that neurodivergent people are 'too awkward' or 'too different' to love or be loved. And love, in all its forms, can and should make space for all the differences we have. Being in a relationship can feel different for everyone. Do you feel content in yours? Take this science-backed test to find out: Relationship Satisfaction Scale
