Latest news with #YaleEnvironment360
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists issue stark warning about crisis looming over islands: 'Already irreversibly lost their natural adaptive capacity'
Scientists have delivered a sobering assessment about the future of low-lying island communities as sea levels continue to rise at an accelerated pace. According to an article in Yale Environment 360, many atoll islands face an uncertain future, with some having "already irreversibly lost their natural adaptive capacity" due to human interference with their ecosystems. Atoll islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans sit only three to 15 feet above sea level and face mounting pressure as sea level rise has more than doubled between 1993 and 2023. According to the Yale Environment 360 report, the sea level is projected to rise between 11 and 40 inches by 2100. However, the news isn't entirely grim. The report mentioned that "studies of hundreds of atoll islands found that 79 percent to 89 percent were either stable or increased in size in recent decades," with the key difference being ecosystem health. According to Yale Environment 360, some atolls have lost the ability to generate sediment, and University of Auckland ecologist Sebastian Steibl noted that "they lose the capacity to keep up with sea level rise." These islands support critical biodiversity and human communities. As Yale Environment 360 noted, despite the atoll islands accounting for only 0.02% of the islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, they are "important refuges for a quarter of the world's tropical seabirds, multitudes of nesting sea turtles, and tropical plants," and they are home to many human cultures. Coral reefs, which naturally produce the sediment that builds and maintains these islands, face increasing stress from rising temperatures. Coastal geographer Virginie Duvat from La Rochelle University warns in the article that polluting gases must be reduced to slow down the deterioration of coral reefs, which are the main source of sediment for islands. Perhaps most concerning, Duvat explained that nature-based solutions cannot help the most urbanized islands, noting that once engineered approaches like concrete seawalls have been adopted, "these islands have already irreversibly lost their natural adaptive capacity." Scientists are pioneering nature-based solutions that show remarkable promise. Researchers have discovered that healthy ecosystems create a powerful defense system. When seabird guano makes its way into reefs, its nutrients help to support coral growth and the fish populations, causing guano-fed reefs to grow faster — and produce more sediment. Conservation efforts are already showing results. At Tetiaroa Atoll, in French Polynesia, conservationists have almost fully eradicated rats and plan to target overpopulated coconut palms with the goal of eliminating 80% to 90%, according to Yale Environment 360. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Research by Ruth Dunn at Lancaster University shows that there is the potential to boost coral growth rates by at least 25% if they are able to restore native vegetation and eliminate rats in the Chagos Archipelago, and the report indicates the islands could become home to "more than 280,000 additional breeding pairs of seabirds." Supporting ocean conservation efforts and reducing plastic waste that harms marine ecosystems can help protect these vulnerable communities. Installing solar panels in conjunction with a battery system can also make your home more resilient and help you prepare for extreme weather events with extended grid outages — and save you some serious money in the process. EnergySage makes it easy to compare quotes from vetted local installers, potentially saving you up to $10,000 on solar installations as well. 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.
Gizmodo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
The Next Wave of 17-Year Cicadas Is About to Party, Scream, and Die
Brood XIV will emerge this summer to overwhelm predators, shake up ecosystems, and terrify everyone with eardrums. A special brood of cicadas—an ancient lineage of the periodical insects—is set to burst from the soil this May and June, covering more of the United States than any other 17-year brood. These bugs—collectively known as Brood XIV—have been biding their time underground since the last Bush administration, biding their time and counting the years go by. Now they're back with two goals: Get loud and get laid. This isn't just any swarm. Brood XIV is considered the original brood, from which all other 17-year cicada broods split off, according to YaleEnvironment360. This is the motherlode of massive, crunchy, droning insects. For a few wild weeks to come, the skies will fill with their raspy mating calls, as the insects rise up simultaneously. The synchronized emergence isn't just for flair. It's a numbers game: By surfacing in the billions, cicadas overwhelm their predators—birds, squirrels, snakes, you name it—who are so sated by the plenty that the cicadas' arrival sends waves through the food chain. When cicadas emerge, populations of cuckoos, blue jays, and some woodpecker species swell. But not all the effects are good: Because the birds are busy eating cicadas, caterpillar populations can go unchecked, allowing those bugs to damage oak trees to a greater degree. Most of the insects will get eaten, but enough will survive to keep the brood going. Once the survivors lay their eggs—their purpose fulfilled—they die. The brood's tiny offspring disappear underground for another 17 years, from which they will rise again in 2041. The cicadas are expected to appear as far west as Kansas, as far north as Wisconsin and Michigan, down through the Mississippi Delta to New Orleans, and along much of the East Coast from Georgia and South Carolina up to Connecticut. You can review a detailed map of broods, including where they historically have emerged and are expected to emerge again, at this University of Connecticut site. And as with everything else these days, climate change could be messing with the cicada clock. A Japanese study found that warming temperatures are pushing some cicadas to emerge earlier in the year. Over time, hotter conditions might even shrink their 17-year underground snooze. But those are longer term forecasts, and Brood XIV's timing is imminent. In the next weeks, if you hear droning and you're not near a construction site, there's no need to panic: It's just billions of bugs on a once-in-a-generation bender.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Officials make disturbing discovery as online trend drives rare plants toward extinction: 'We experienced a big increase in demand'
A biodiverse region in South Africa is experiencing a plant poaching crisis due to social media trends, driving some species to extinction and threatening the area's ecosystem. According to Yale Environment 360, ecologists call this region in South Africa the Succulent Karoo biome. It's a desert-like area rich with flora, especially minuscule succulents. There are roughly 6,400 native plant species, 2,500 of which exist nowhere else on Earth. These tiny plants are in danger. Thanks to "plantfluencers" on platforms like TikTok, the succulents became a trendy item. People traveled far to buy seeds or illegally dig up succulents to take home. Christine Wiese of Kokerboom Nursery told Yale Environment 360, "In 2014-2015, we experienced a big increase in demand from East Asia." This was only the beginning. In the last decade, the demand for these succulents has skyrocketed, plummeted, and soared again. It's difficult to estimate how many plants have been poached and sold. But by May of 2024, over 1.16 million plants had been seized. Due to the severe poaching, at least eight plant species are now "functionally extinct." A few may exist in the wild, but the population is too small to sustain itself. And many more species are nearing extinction. The poaching is crippling the region's biodiversity. Every plant and animal species plays a distinct role in its ecosystem. Losing just one can have unforeseen consequences. Ecosystems become unbalanced, leading to more extinction and fewer resources. Biodiversity and balance are crucial. Removing species from their native habitats weakens ecosystems. This can cause food and water insecurity, climate instability, disease spreading, and more problems for humans. Furthermore, smuggling plants to foreign locations introduces invasive species. The succulents are typically kept as houseplants, but planting them outdoors could harm ecosystems. Invasive plants can push out native species, disrupting the ecosystem. It can introduce diseases, deplete resources, and alter habitats. Unfortunately, there's no clear path toward solving this issue, according to Yale Environment 360. Replanting seized succulents is not simple. And even if replanted, poachers could return. Do you think we use too much plastic in America? Definitely Only some people Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While South African authorities and conservationists have made efforts to stop the poaching, it's difficult for them to keep up. The best way to preserve the surviving species in the Succulent Karoo biome is to avoid being enticed by plant trends and rare foreign species. Instead, nurture native species that will support your local ecosystem and its pollinators. Choose plants that will be at home where you live, not stolen away from their natural habitat. This keeps delicate, diverse ecosystems intact while making your local ecosystem healthier. 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
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Government risks catastrophic fallout by stripping protections from millions of acres: 'Many ... forests are considered to be at high wildfire risk'
Over 112 million acres of once-protected forests are opening for business, mostly in Western states. An emergency order issued this month will allow logging companies to operate on nearly 60% of National Forest System lands, as USA Today reported. The Secretary of Agriculture's memorandum, which followed up on previous executive orders, rolls back federal environmental protections, claiming that it will help manage wildfires, increase timber supply, and create jobs. Geopolitical uncertainties may have at least partly motivated the move, as USA Today said tariffs on Canada, the top exporter of timber to the United States, could impact the lumber supply. In 2021, Canada sent $28 billion worth of lumber to the U.S., per The New York Times. With deteriorating relations caused by tariffs and annexation threats, the administration appears to be turning to domestic sources for lumber. While this is a win for the logging industry, which made Donald Trump the biggest recipient of political donations in the 2024 election cycle, per the research group OpenSecrets, scientists and environmental groups have reacted to the order with dismay. The Sierra Club decried the perceived motivations behind the order, calling it "a giveaway to logging" and stating, "Again and again, the Trump administration has shown it's more interested in boosting the bottom lines of corporate polluters than protecting our national forests and public lands." The benefits of forest lands to people and the planet go beyond the value of their lumber. As the U.S. Forest Service itself has noted, healthy forests help supply clean air and water as well as recreational opportunities that are invaluable to communities. Trees also store heat-trapping carbon pollution, but the effects are most apparent in mature trees around 70-125 years old, according to Yale Environment 360. Unfortunately, those older, larger trees are exactly the type that are most valuable to logging companies. Planting new trees is helpful, but keeping mature forests intact is a much better move. Opening up the nation's forests to logging to reduce forest fires is a debated strategy, as USA Today pointed out. The John Muir Project has argued that wildfire suppression and logging has actually been part of the problem. "Land managers have requested, and received, increasingly more money for forest 'thinning' operations under the guise of 'fuel reduction,'" the organization noted, adding that "the discredited policies of the past, including fire suppression and removal of mature, fire-resistant trees, has continued — even increased in many cases." As USA Today also noted: "Many U.S. forests are considered to be at high wildfire risk, due to climate change and almost a century of wildfire suppression policies that have resulted in overgrown, fire-prone land. Neither are mentioned in the memorandum." Additionally, removing protections in national forests places endangered species at risk of habitat loss. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The first laws to protect land as national forests began with Benjamin Harrison, a Republican president, in 1891. These were expanded by Teddy Roosevelt, another politician who started as a Republican, with the creation of the Forest Service in 1905. Yet another Republican, Richard Nixon, signed the Endangered Species Act of 1973 into law. Experts hope existing laws such as these will provide the framework for legal challenges against the changes to forest protections. "The federal government still has to comply with federal law even if the president doesn't want to," Washington state Commissioner of Public Lands David Upthegrove told Fox 13 Seattle. Polling indicates the majority of Americans want to protect public land. Local and individual acts can make a big impact on conservation efforts. Contacting your local representative is easy with the right tools for using your voice, too. 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
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists take step forward on quest to create super-healthy food of the future: 'Unprecedented ability to improve the nutritional quality'
Lettuce is one of the few vegetables with a low nutritional content. But the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is hoping to change that. Professor Alexander Vainstein and his research team from the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment have created a lettuce with higher levels of vitamins and antioxidants. They achieved these results by combining modifications in different biochemical pathways, which in turn boosted nutritional values of multiple vitamins and minerals simultaneously through one action. The gene-editing technology used is called CRISPR, which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. This technology differs from traditional genetic modification (GMO) because it can make targeted changes without affecting the plant's genetic code, whereas GMO introduces foreign DNA. The result of CRISPR was improved levels of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene (provitamin A) in the lettuce without affecting the crop. "Gene-editing provides us with an unprecedented ability to improve the nutritional quality of crops without altering their growth or yield," said Prof. Vainstein. "This study is an important step toward developing healthier food options that can help address widespread nutrient deficiencies in modern diets." Upping the nutritional quality of basic food items is a win for everyone, regardless of dietary preference. It is especially important for those who are food insecure, as it means they have to eat less to get the needed nutrients to stay healthy. Plants are an essential part of a healthy diet, and a fully plant-based diet is considered to be one of the healthiest for longevity, mental health, sleep, and performance. Plant-based diets also produce 75% less heat-trapping gases, use 75% less land, and cause 75% less water pollution, according to Yale Environment 360. If more vegetables and other food items are engineered to increase their nutritional value, it would have a big impact on everything from the amount of land that is used for agriculture and pastureland to our overall health. The more land that's utilized for plant-based options and other eco-friendly foods high in nutritional value, the more the food industry can reduce its carbon footprint. Why do you eat plant-based foods? The health benefits It's cheaper It's good for the planet I prefer the taste Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
