Latest news with #ParkHyeon-cheol
AFP
30-07-2025
- Science
- AFP
AI-generated clip of 'sparrows eating lovebugs' fools S. Korean users
The econd video appears to show a mountain covered in black-coloured insects and a swarm of sparrows preying on them. Image Screenshot of the false Threads post captured on July 28, 2025, with a red X added by AFP The claim surfaced online when the Asian nation was grappling with a lovebug invasion between late June and July, which experts say highlights worsening climate change (archived link). First identified in South Korea a decade ago, Seoul and nearby cities are now annually hit by a weeks-long infestation of the Plecia nearctica insect, a type of March fly nicknamed "lovebug" for their distinctive mating behaviour, which sees them fly around in coupled pairs. Complaints about the bugs, which scientists believe came from southern China and have surged with rising temperatures linked to climate change, have risen sharply, Seoul city data showed. Videos of huge clouds of lovebugs blanketing mountain trails drew international media attention earlier this month, as they leave behind rotting black remains and a foul stench after dying (archived link). The clip was shared alongside similar claims elsewhere on Threads, X, Instagram and Facebook. "Never thought I'd see the day I'm for sparrows," one responded, while another misled user said, "Nature's self-control ability is remarkable". and AI-generated The video has a clear "Veo" watermark in the bottom right corner, although it has been cropped out in some posts. The name refers to Google's new AI-powered video creation tool, which allows users to generate realistic-looking footage currently limited to eight seconds long -- the same as the clip shared in false posts (archived link). Image Screenshots of the Threads video with the 'Veo' watermark (left) and the Facebook post, taken on July 28, 2025 A close inspection of the video also reveals telltale signs of AI generation, including a bird that appears to emerge from the ground before disappearing in a few seconds. Another bird pops up out of thin air around the two-second mark. Image Screenshots of the false video, with visual inconsistencies highlighted by AFP Although generative AI technology is improving rapidly, identifying visual inconsistencies remains the best way to distinguish fabricated content from genuine materials. Park Hyeon-cheol, a professor at Pusan National University's Department of Life Science and Environmental Biochemistry, said sparrows cannot be considered major predators of lovebugs (archived link). "Sparrows primarily feed on grains and only eat insects temporarily during their breeding season," he told AFP on July 28, adding there aren't enough sparrows in big cities like Seoul to keep the insects in check. "Lovebug infestations mostly affect the capital region, but sparrows are scarce there," Park said, noting the bugs naturally die off in about 10 days. "Given the short breeding season and the limited number of sparrows, how much can they really feed before the lovebugs die?" AFP has fact-checked other misinformation about lovebugs in South Korea.
Korea Herald
14-07-2025
- Science
- Korea Herald
Seoul's summer too hot to handle — even for mosquitoes
More mosquitoes could be seen in fall and early winter than in summer, due to high summer temperatures The number of mosquitoes in Seoul has more than halved over the past decade, with experts pointing to extreme heat and a shortened monsoon season as key factors behind the sharp decline in mosquito activity. According to statistics provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, up to 62,351 mosquitoes were collected through monitoring in June. The city government noted that this was a 56 percent decrease compared to its data from 2015, as the city saw up to 139,928 mosquitoes in the same month. The recent figure is also lower than the mosquito count observed at the same time in 2024, which saw 68,462 mosquitoes. Between June 17 and 19 — when high temperatures hovered near 37 degrees Celsius in the capital city — mosquito monitoring devices set up at 55 sites collected 6,233 mosquitoes, roughly averaging 2,000 mosquitoes per day. According to the city government, this is a 20 percent decrease compared to the same three-day period last year, which saw a daily average of up to 2,590. The decrease in mosquito numbers has been attributed to cutting-edge pest control technology. For example, in districts such as Gangnam-gu in southern Seoul and Nowon-gu in northern Seoul, drones have been used to spray insecticide in areas inaccessible to vehicles, such as parks. LED traps that attract insects, mosquito traps, as well as automatic repellent dispensers, have also been installed across Seoul to manage the summer pests. Besides advanced pest control strategies, experts say the biggest factor behind the decline is the sweltering heat. Seoul has consistently reported record-high summer temperatures in recent years, with each year surpassing temperature records set in the previous year. 'With high temperatures during the day hovering close to 37 C and tropical nights being consistently observed in Seoul, mosquitoes are finding it difficult to survive,' professor Park Hyeon-cheol from Pusan National University's Department of Life Science and Environmental Biochemistry told The Korea Herald. 'Mosquitoes are normally active in temperatures ranging between 25 C to 28 C, and once such temperatures exceed 32 C, their survival becomes unlikely." Park added that fewer mosquitoes may be observed during this summer in particular, as the monsoon season was noted to be particularly "dry." The monsoon season has not been officially declared over in Seoul. However, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration, on Jeju Island and in the southern parts of the country, it lasted just 15 days and 13 days, respectively. This is less than half the duration recorded a decade ago, when monsoon seasons lasted for 30 days on Jeju Island and 36 days in the south. 'The lack of steady rainfall limits the formation of puddles, which are breeding grounds for mosquitoes,' said Park. 'And even when it does rain, Korea also often sees sudden, intense downpours, which wash away mosquito eggs and larvae before they have a chance to hatch and develop.' While the number of mosquitoes may decline during the summer season, higher mosquito numbers could be seen in the fall. 'A decline in mosquito numbers may be observed in the summer due to high temperatures," Park explained. "However, as temperatures get relatively cooler, mosquito populations may rise from beginning to mid-September, with some continuing to be active into early winter."
