Latest news with #CatherineKim
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Researcher discovers rare ocean phenomenon serving as unlikely ally to reefs: 'Could offer a blueprint'
A Queensland University of Technology researcher in Australia discovered an ocean phenomenon that could save coral reefs despite the changing climate, the university shared via Marine scientist Dr. Catherine Kim documented Pyrosoma atlanticum — pyrosomes, a strange sea creature made up of a colony of tiny plankton — moving in swarms along the northern Australian coast, where coral can actively feed on them. She published the study in the journal Ecology to share a mechanism that could make coral reefs more resistant to climate change. Dr. Kim studied the Coral Triangle within the young nation of Timor-Leste, a Southeast Asia/Pacific biodiversity hot spot. She found that corals can be more opportunistic than vulnerable and digest large plankton when given the opportunity. She observed a pyrosome bloom driven by a major ocean current transporting large amounts of water through the Indonesian seas from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian. This flow provides extensive water movement to regulate water temperatures and deliver cooler waters filled with nutrients during critical coral growth times. "Timor-Leste's reefs could offer a blueprint for coral resilience in a warming world," Dr. Kim said. This research finding is encouraging because it offers hope for coral reefs struggling because of our extreme weather patterns and our steadily warming planet. Coral reefs face many environmental challenges because of the prevalence of microplastics and the impacts of human drilling for dirty energy sources. Fortunately, many scientists have been studying the issues affecting our world's coral reefs and finding ways to save future coral populations. Satellite mapping, for example, can be useful for monitoring coral reefs and protecting these fragile marine ecosystems. From this Australian study, scientists can gain a better understanding of how ocean currents and food availability create coral reef refuges. High-energy prey help offset the stress coral reefs face in order to survive and grow faster with more efficient photosynthesis. Observing these effects can help researchers identify which reefs have more readily available food and which need more attention because of poor resilience. Should we be harnessing the ocean to power our homes? Absolutely Leave it be It depends I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. You can take local action to protect coral reefs where you live by learning about what human activities impact them and sharing what you learn with people you know. Coral reefs are part of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and support more species than anything else. Beyond their ecological balance benefits, they hold the promise of developing drugs to treat human diseases and protecting coastlines from storms and floods caused by increasingly extreme weather events. The study's author concluded her report by recommending additional research in this field by stating: "Identifying and managing localized reef refugia includes determining whether these upwelling areas provide more food for corals, all of which is fundamental to understanding how to sustain reefs in the future." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gen Z branded as the 'most gullible generation' after new analysis of media habits
Younger generations have been dismissed as "gullible" for decades – but is there something about Gen Z that makes them the "most gullible" generation of all? A recent Politico article made a case for the idea, pointing to a video capturing voter fraud in Russia – which many American Gen Zers believed to instead showcase voter fraud in the U.S. "When researchers from Stanford studying young people's media literacy — the ability to accurately evaluate information in the wilds of mass media — showed the video to 3,446 high school students, only three succeeded in identifying the Russian connection," the article read in part. Gen Z Branded As 'The Ghosted Generation' As Dates, Colleges And Employers Keep Saying 'No' While painting the picture, author Catherine Kim highlighted a notable irony – the Internet-raised, phone-dependent and tech-savvy Gen Z is somehow the least equipped to decipher fact from fiction in the online world. Yet, at the same time, the piece highlights a concerning reality that the lion's share of America's youngest voting bloc gets their news from social media. Read On The Fox News App In particular, an analysis by Morning Consult found that "roughly three in five Gen Z (63%) say they turn to social media at least once a week for news, a much higher share than traditional distribution methods like broadcast news (27%) or cable news (30%)." Add the rise of artificial intelligence, an abundance of false claims, satire and other sources to further muddy the waters and Gen Z's source of news isn't so reliable after all. Opinion: Gen Z Is Shaping Itself Into The 'Wasted Generation' Kim argues that such findings have led the group down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, leading them to question institutions of power and shun traditional media. "There's a dangerous feedback loop at play…" she writes. "It's the kind of media consumption that differs drastically from older generations who spend far more time with mainstream media, and the consequences can be grim." Gen Z Happiness Is Most Driven By One Surprising Thing, Gallup Poll Finds Adding to the critique of Gen Z's vetting methods and their media consumption, Kim says the age group simply looks at the comments section to see if the information checks out, immerses themselves in narrow online communities where they might hear about health trends that have no basis in science, or they might hear a conspiracy theory questioning a current event that could sway public perception. At the same time, she says the issue isn't isolated to one political party, specifically writing, "President Donald Trump's fans and haters are both just as likely to fall for fake information that already conforms to their worldview." Gen Z now wears many hats – the loneliest generation, the most tech-savvy generation, the "ghosted generation," even – a badge earned because of the string of rejections they face while looking for jobs, partners or their ideal college. Ultimately, Gen Z has access to more information at their fingertips than any generation before, and navigating it wisely remains a article source: Gen Z branded as the 'most gullible generation' after new analysis of media habits
Fox News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Gen Z branded as the 'most gullible generation' after new analysis of media habits
Younger generations have been dismissed as "gullible" for decades – but is there something about Gen Z that makes them the "most gullible" generation of all? A recent Politico article made a case for the idea, pointing to a video capturing voter fraud in Russia – which many American Gen Zers believed to instead showcase voter fraud in the U.S. "When researchers from Stanford studying young people's media literacy — the ability to accurately evaluate information in the wilds of mass media — showed the video to 3,446 high school students, only three succeeded in identifying the Russian connection," the article read in part. While painting the picture, author Catherine Kim highlighted a notable irony – the Internet-raised, phone-dependent and tech-savvy Gen Z is somehow the least equipped to decipher fact from fiction in the online world. Yet, at the same time, the piece highlights a concerning reality that the lion's share of America's youngest voting bloc gets their news from social media. In particular, an analysis by Morning Consult found that "roughly three in five Gen Z (63%) say they turn to social media at least once a week for news, a much higher share than traditional distribution methods like broadcast news (27%) or cable news (30%)." Add the rise of artificial intelligence, an abundance of false claims, satire and other sources to further muddy the waters and Gen Z's source of news isn't so reliable after all. Kim argues that such findings have led the group down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, leading them to question institutions of power and shun traditional media. "There's a dangerous feedback loop at play…" she writes. "It's the kind of media consumption that differs drastically from older generations who spend far more time with mainstream media, and the consequences can be grim." Adding to the critique of Gen Z's vetting methods and their media consumption, Kim says the age group simply looks at the comments section to see if the information checks out, immerses themselves in narrow online communities where they might hear about health trends that have no basis in science, or they might hear a conspiracy theory questioning a current event that could sway public perception. At the same time, she says the issue isn't isolated to one political party, specifically writing, "President Donald Trump's fans and haters are both just as likely to fall for fake information that already conforms to their worldview." Gen Z now wears many hats – the loneliest generation, the most tech-savvy generation, the "ghosted generation," even – a badge earned because of the string of rejections they face while looking for jobs, partners or their ideal college. Ultimately, Gen Z has access to more information at their fingertips than any generation before, and navigating it wisely remains a challenge.
