Rescued giant moths emerge from cocoons in Mexico's sprawling capital
'When I get here and find this, I jump with delight,' said María Eugenia Díaz Batres, who has been caring for insects at the Museum of Natural History and Environmental Culture in Mexico City for nearly six decades.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gizmodo
15 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Monarch Butterflies Are Losing Their Navigational Abilities. You Can Guess Why
Each fall, millions of eastern North American monarch butterflies migrate up to 3,000 miles south to the mountains of central Mexico, then return to their northern range in the spring. These winged insects rely on a complex navigation system to go to and from their overwintering sites, and new research suggests climate change may be messing with it. Monarch butterflies have two distinct biological 'compasses.' The primary one infers direction based on their circadian rhythm and the position of the Sun, but on overcast days, they switch to a backup compass that infers direction from Earth's magnetic field. Scientists already knew seasonal temperatures play a critical role in calibrating these navigational biomechanisms during the fall migration, but they weren't sure if the same rules apply to the spring migration. A new study published Wednesday, August 13, in the journal PLOS One confirmed that they do, suggesting that rising winter temperatures in Mexico could prevent monarchs from returning to their northern range. 'The question was, if they use the Sun compass or the magnetic compass to go southwards, do they use the same kind of compass mechanisms to fly back north? And we weren't sure what triggered that,' co-author Patrick Guerra, an independent neuroecology researcher based in North Carolina, told Gizmodo. He participated in this research while working as an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati. When temperatures drop in the fall, this shift calibrates both of the butterflies' biological compasses to point south, guiding them toward their overwintering sites in Mexico. 'Once they get there, they're basically overwintering in a fridge,' Guerra explained. His previous research showed that this long period of exposure to cool temperatures recalibrates the Sun compass to point north so that it can guide monarchs back to their summer range in the spring. In this new study, he and his colleagues investigated whether this is also true for the magnetic compass. To that end, the researchers conducted a series of righting response trials with migratory and non-migratory monarchs. During these trials, the butterflies were exposed to artificial magnetic fields that mimic geographic conditions south of their overwintering sites, then positioned so they were upside down. Upon righting themselves, non-migrating monarchs faced magnetic north, whereas migrating monarchs faced magnetic south. This indicated that monarchs exhibit something akin to migratory restlessness—a compulsion to go toward the direction their migratory instincts are telling them to follow even if they can't actually fly there. With this established, Guerra and his colleagues chilled the monarchs to trick their bodies into thinking they had gone through an overwintering period. When they performed the righting response trials again, the migrating monarchs pointed toward magnetic north. The non-migrating monarchs, however, still pointed toward magnetic south. 'That told us that, just like the Sun compass, the magnetic compass is recalibrated by the cold conditions that are consistent with being in Mexico while they're overwintering,' Guerra explained. 'So that kind of hammers home that their whole ability to navigate is really tuned to the environmental conditions that they're experiencing.' Greenhouse gas emissions are increasing average temperatures around the world, including in the overwintering range of monarch butterflies. Guerra and his colleagues already knew that this threatened their primary navigation mechanism, but their new study indicates that their backup mechanism is at risk too. If temperatures get too warm, monarchs may lose the ability to return to their northern range in the spring. Determining the minimum temperature monarchs need to recalibrate their biological compasses for spring migration will require further research, but these findings underscore the threat that climate change poses to this species.
Medscape
a day ago
- Medscape
Fish Bone or Cancer? 80-Year-Old's Perforation Case
Key Takeaways An 80-year-old man presented with progressive lower left-quadrant abdominal pain. Imaging studies identified a mass adjacent to the sigmoid colon, with features suggestive of an abscess, although no definitive foreign body was detected preoperatively. Surgical exploration revealed a sigmoid colon perforation associated with a sharp foreign object, which was later confirmed to be a fish bone. Histopathological examination revealed an inflammatory response without evidence of malignancy. The case reported by Daniel Herrera Hernández, MD, and colleagues from the Hospital General Regional No. 1 Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Tijuana, Mexico, highlighted a rare cause of intestinal perforation. The Patient and His History The patient had a medical history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. There was no prior surgical history or screening colonoscopy. He reported a 12-day history of lower left-quadrant abdominal pain, progressively worsening to become intolerable, prompting emergency admission. Findings and Diagnosis On presentation, the patient was stable but exhibited abdominal distension and tenderness on palpation of the left hemiabdomen, without signs of peritoneal irritation. Laboratory tests showed leucocytosis of 20,800/μL (4000-11,000), neutrophils at 65.1% (40%-70%) of total leukocytes, and a serum creatinine of 1.0 mg/dL (0.6-1.2). Abdominal and pelvic CT scans revealed a mass adjacent to the descending colon with peripheral enhancement dependent on the colonic wall, extending into the muscular layer, suggestive of an abscess, as well as a small radio-opaque object in the middle of the phlegmon, supportive of a foreign body. Adjacent fat stranding and free fluid were observed in the left iliac fossa. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, revealing a colonic perforation at the sigmoid colon with firm adhesions to the abdominal wall. A sharpened foreign body, approximately 2 cm in length, was found at the adhesion site, which was the cause of the perforation. No diverticula were identified in the colon. Left hemicolectomy with transverse colon terminal colostomy was performed. Postoperative recovery was uneventful under antibiotic therapy with meropenem and metabolic management. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 5 with clinical improvement. The histopathology report indicated chronic inflammation with no evidence of malignancy. Discussion 'Intestinal perforation by a fish bone in the colon is a rare complication that poses diagnostic challenges. It requires a high index of suspicion from surgeons or emergency physicians. In patients with risk factors, such perforations can resemble tumours with abscess formation or perforation secondary to malignancy,' the authors wrote. This story was translated from Univadis Germany.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Researchers issue warning as relentless droughts devastate global food supply: 'No country is immune'
Researchers issue warning as relentless droughts devastate global food supply: 'No country is immune' Around the world, families are seeing higher food prices linked to more extreme weather, which is being driven by rising global temperatures. From Mexico City to Zimbabwe and the Amazon basin, experts warn that relentless drought is unraveling food systems that people rely on to survive. In a new report, global experts call the findings "a blistering reminder" of what happens when record-breaking heat meets underprepared infrastructure and a warming planet. What's happening? As covered by Grist, a joint report from the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification documents what may be the most widespread food and water disruption in recent history. In Zimbabwe, rivers have dried up, cattle have died, and child malnutrition has doubled. In Mexico City, a yearslong water crisis sent food prices skyrocketing, with cilantro reportedly rising 400% in price. And in the Amazon basin, water levels dropped so low that mass fish die-offs contaminated local drinking supplies, forcing residents to dig wells or wait for airlifted emergency aid. These regional emergencies are already having ripple effects. The study found that the combined toll of extreme heat, El Niño, and inefficient water management has disrupted agricultural production across multiple continents, with experts warning the economic shock waves are far from over. "No country is immune when critical water-dependent systems start to collapse," said report co-author Cody Knutson. Why are extreme droughts concerning? When drought hits major food-producing regions, the results show up everywhere, from empty fields to inflated grocery prices. Millions are already facing food insecurity, and rising temperatures are likely to make these disasters more frequent and more intense. The authors emphasize that these crises don't happen in isolation. Global food systems are interconnected, meaning a rice shortage in Vietnam or a failed corn harvest in Africa can push prices up for consumers worldwide. And that's before factoring in how water scarcity affects sanitation, public health, and entire ecosystems. "Drought is not just a weather event," said NDMC Assistant Director Kelly Helm Smith. "It can be a social, economic, and environmental emergency." What can I do to help? While large-scale action is needed from governments and industries, everyday people can play a role too. Reducing food waste, supporting drought-resilient farming practices, and choosing eco-friendly grocery options all contribute to a more secure food future. Shopping smarter at the grocery store can reduce your grocery bills and your carbon footprint. On the policy level, experts say we need stronger early warning systems, modernized water infrastructure, and equitable food distribution programs to help communities adapt to new climate realities. The report emphasizes that global cooperation is crucial — especially to protect the most vulnerable populations from being left behind. Should the government be allowed to control how restaurants run their business? Never Only in some cases Only for chain restaurants Yes in all cases Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
