News Links

Below are a few links to recent news stories related to the subjects of the courses I teach. This page is updated often during the academic semester. Newer postings are placed closer to the top of the page. Older links at the bottom of the page get removed once new ones are added at the top.

Orangutan in the wild applied medicinal plant to heal its own injury, biologists sayIt is "the first known case of active wound treatment in a wild animal with a medical plant," biologist Isabelle Laumer told NPR. She says the orangutan, called Rakus, is now thriving.

Study links gas stoves to 50,000 current cases of childhood asthmaNitrogen dioxide pollution from gas and propane stoves has caused about 50,000 current cases of childhood asthma nationwide. People living in smaller homes are more likely to be affected by air pollution from gas stoves.

The scavengers stalking the world's citiesFrom ibis to hyenas, a surprising variety of scavengers have been drawn to urban life. Here's how they're thriving in cities across the globe.

Texas' skyscrapers are going dark to keep billions of birds safeAbout two billion birds fly through Texas in the spring – and lit-up buildings pose a deadly risk. A growing campaign seeks to save birds with darkness.

Plastic-choked rivers in Ecuador are being cleared with conveyor beltsA start-up in Ecuador is using a conveyor belt to skim off and remove plastic from rivers – and working to stop polluters adding plastic to rivers in the first place.

Scientists push new paradigm of animal consciousness, saying even insects may be sentientFar more animals than previously thought likely have consciousness, top scientists say in a new declaration — including fish, lobsters and octopus.

Tall flowers, dead shrubs, ephemeral lake: Death Valley has become a picture of climate whiplashAfter ping-ponging between severe drought and record rainfall, the famed California desert is offering up strange scenes.

Biden is marking Earth Day by announcing $7 billion in federal solar power grantsBidenis working to energize young voters for his re-election campaign.

World's coral reefs hit by a fourth mass bleaching event, NOAA saysThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said reefs are showing signs of stress brought on by ocean temperatures that have set daily records for more than a year.

Water extraction and weight of buildings see half of China's cities sinkExtracting ground water for growing urban populations causes half of China's big cities to sink.

What to know about the new EPA rule limiting 'forever chemicals' in tap water : Short WaveWednesday the Environmental Protection Agency announced new drinking water standards to limit people's exposure to some PFAS chemicals. For decades, PFAS have been used to waterproof and stain-proof a variety of consumer products. These "forever chemicals" in a host of products — everything from raincoats and the Teflon of nonstick pans to makeup to furniture and firefighting foam. Because PFAS take a very long time to break down, they can accumulate in humans and the environment. Now, a growing body of research is linking them to human health problems like serious illness, some cancers, lower fertility and liver damage. Science correspondent Pien Huang joins the show today to talk through this new EPA rule — what the threshold for safe levels of PFAS in tap water is, why the rule is happening now and how the federal standards will be implemented.Read more of Pien's reporting on the EPA's first ever rule on PFAS in drinking water.Want to hear more about health and human safety? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we might cover your question on a future episode!

What biologists see from the shores of the drying Great Salt LakeHalf of the Great Salt Lake in Utah has now dried up but scientists say there's still some time left to reverse its decline.

California’s Commercial Salmon Season Is Closed Again This Year | KQEDFishery managers announced a closure of the state’s commercial salmon fishing season for the second year in a row due to low fish populations.

The scientists learning to speak whaleIn a world-first, scientists had a "conversation" with a whale. Now, researchers are trying to find out what they are actually saying.

The legal battles changing the course of climate changeGovernments, fossil fuel firms and airlines are increasingly becoming embroiled in climate litigation. Isabella Kaminski analyses what difference this legal action is making.

Where do 'forever chemicals' in drinking water come from?The US is introducing new environmental protections aimed at limiting long-lived PFAS chemicals in tap water, but these are only the tip of a very persistent iceberg.

Indigenous leaders want to protect whales by granting them legal personhoodIndigenous leaders across the Pacific have signed a treaty granting whales legal personhood. What protections will the designation offer the large mammals?

The US is bringing back nature's best firefighters: beaversFor decades, beavers were considered pests – trapped and shot on sight. Now the attitude towards nature's best engineers is changing, and farmers are working to bring them back.

How an English castle became a stork magnetHelped by a bold rewilding project, storks are migrating between Britain and North Africa again for the first time in 600 years. How can we make their journey safer?

Florida's manatees are addicted to power plants. Scientists are weaning them offPollution has driven Florida's manatees from warm springs to power plants. As the state switches to renewable energy, their new manmade homes are disappearing

Climate change: Logging decline after political change in Brazil, ColombiaBrazil and Colombia curbed logging in 2023, but other countries wiped out many of the gains.

Fish out of water story ends with 77,000 young salmon in the wrong waterThe Chinook got shook when their truck got cooked. Now the salmon are swimming — but in the wrong brook.

Do you love seafood? Here's how to eat it responsibly : Life KitFish populations are dwindling around the world due to overfishing. Here's how to make the right choices when dining out or buying fish at the market.

What to know about the risks of the bird flu outbreakCattle are getting sick with H5N1, and one person got sick in Texas. How bad could this be for dairy farms? Could it spread among people? Here's what scientists are learning.

How do we halt the next pandemic? Be kind to critters like bats, says a new paperA team of scientists argue that new vaccines and treatments wouldn't be critical if humans could figure out how to stop viruses from spilling over from animals in the first place.

Florida is paying bounty hunters to control its python populationWhen invasive snakes began killing the Everglades' native wildlife, Florida came up with a plan: bring in bounty hunters.

This often-overlooked sea creature may be quietly protecting the planet's coral reefsThe pickle-shaped bottom feeders may reduce the amount of microbes on the seafloor that could potentially sicken coral, scientists suggest

Bird Flu Decimating Seal Colonies; Scientists Baffled Virus is killing tens of thousands of seals

Rare sighting of gray whale off New England coastScientists say warming seas have allowed the species to return to the Atlantic, where it is locally extinct.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef suffers ‘extensive’ coral bleaching, as scientists fear seventh mass bleaching event | CNNThe southern Great Barrier Reef is suffering from extensive coral bleaching due to heat stress, the reef’s managers said Wednesday, raising fears that a seventh mass bleaching event could be unfolding across the vast, ecologically important site.

The cities stripping out concrete for earth and plantsFrom Australia to Ontario, cities are taking up unnecessary stretches of concrete and asphalt, allowing nature to take hold in their place.

The women, poems and menus saving Ecuador's beloved blue crabThe blue crab is more than just food for indigenous Esmeraldas, who live on Ecuador's emerald coast. It's an intrinsic part of the culture – and these women are fighting to save it.

Google to share oil and gas methane leaks spotted from space Working with the Environmental Defense Fund, Google will help pinpoint and map methane emissions with a focus on oil and gas infrastructure.

Reduce, reuse, redirect outrage: How plastic makers used recycling as a fig leafRecycling "does not solve the solid waste problem," the head of a plastics trade group said in 1989, around the time the industry was launching its recycling campaign.

Brumation and torpor: How animals survive cold snaps by playing dead-ishSocial media was recently taken aback watching as alligators in freezing weather appeared to go into a deep sleep to stay alive. They're not alone. Iguanas and hummingbirds do it too.

A man died from Alaskapox last month. Here's what we know about the virusThe first known fatality was an elderly man who lived alone in a forested area and was immunocompromised. Scientists say there's no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus so far.

Headed to Hawaii on vacation? Tourists may need to pay a climate tax. Here's what to knowHawaii Gov. Josh Green advocates for a $25 climate tax to address the environmental impact of tourism.

How removing 4 dams will return salmon to the Klamath River and the river to the peopleThe first of four dams on the Klamath River was removed in summer 2023, a first step toward restoring a place sacred to local tribes.

Climate change and loss of sea ice putting polar bears at risk of starvation, collar cameras showWhat is a day in the life of an Alaskan polar bear like? Researchers recently found out after strapping collar cameras to several bears.

Across the world, migrating animal populations are dwindling. Here's whyIn a landmark U.N. study, researchers found nearly half of the world's threatened migratory species have declining populations. More than a fifth of the assessed animals face extinction.

The race to build climate-resilient coral reefsThese innovations are speeding up the recovery of bleached corals.

How planting trees is bringing clean water to a tropical nationThe Dominican Republic has struggled in recent years with rising deforestation and its effect on water supplies. Replanting has had a powerful effect on a precious resource.

Climate change: The 1.5C threshold explainedAs leaders gather at COP28 in Dubai to discuss the climate crisis and negotiate commitments to address it, we consider one of the most important numbers: 1.5C.

Climate change will bring megafloods to CaliforniaClimate change is making it a matter of time before a megaflood hits the state.

California sea otters nearly went extinct. Now they're rescuing their coastal habitatCalifornia sea otter populations have rebounded in recent decades. New research finds that by feasting on shore crabs, these otters are helping to protect their coastal marsh habitat against erosion.

FDA move to ban formaldehyde in hair straighteners called too little, too lateThe FDA will soon move to ban formaldehyde in hair-straightening products. It's more than a decade after research raised alarms about health risks and other worrying chemicals remain in the products.

Bringing back California's redwood forestsRedwoods store more aboveground carbon than any forest on Earth. Now, work is beginning to restore these forests that once stretched across coastal Northern California.

'It feels like I'm not crazy.' Gardeners aren't surprised as USDA updates key mapThe USDA is updating an important map for gardeners and growers picking plants and flowers. The new map shows the contiguous U.S. is about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the last map 11 years ago.

Public schools across the country plagued by high lead levels in drinking waterMedical experts say that no level of lead in drinking water is safe, but there is no national database that keeps track of lead levels in public schools’ water supply.

Warmer winters mean ticks crawling and biting all year Being bitten by an adult tick in winter could mean you or your precious pet are at a higher risk of being infected with Lyme disease, experts say.

PepsiCo sued by New York state for plastic pollutionThe lawsuit against the world's second biggest food company is the latest in greenwashing cases against big firms.

Climate change: Seven ways to spot businesses greenwashingFirms often claim they are eco-friendly but how can you check they are as green as they make out?

A 'tropical disease' carried by sand flies is confirmed in a new country: the U.S.Leishmaniasis, a disease spread by a parasite carried by sand flies, is generally considered a tropical disease. Now, thanks to climate change, new research finds it's endemic to the United States.

To control rabies in wildlife, the USDA drops vaccine treats from the sky : Short WaveEvery year, the USDA drops millions of oral rabies vaccines across fourteen states, mostly along the eastern seaboard. In urban and suburban areas, they use vehicles, but in rural areas, they drop the vaccines from planes. Host Regina G. Barber talks to USDA wildlife biologist Jordona Kirby about the agency's goal to wipe out rabies in one population in particular: raccoons.

Why it matters that Earth is on the brink of 1.5 degrees Celsius in warmingEarth is already on the brink of surpassing 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming since the 1800s, according to new research.

Ozone hole over Antarctica grows to one of the largest on record, scientists sayThe annual ozone hole that forms over Antarctica has ballooned to near-record size, scientists say.

The Isle of Eigg: The community-owned island that powers itselfDespite being one of the smallest Scottish islands with just 110 residents, the Isle of Eigg is a model of forward-thinking, sustainable, eco-conscious living.

Carbon emissions threaten 1.5C climate threshold sooner than thought - reportFossil fuel emissions threaten a key climate threshold sooner than previously thought, a report says.

Installation underway of 15 acres of 3D-printed artificial reefs in coastal North CarolinaSeveral acres of 3D-printed artificial reefs are currently being planted in coastal North Carolina to bolster the region's biodiversity.

Multistate salmonella outbreak linked to recalled diced onion products | CNNA multistate salmonella outbreak has caused at least 73 illnesses across 22 states, including 15 hospitalizations, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

World shift to clean energy is unstoppable, IEA report saysThe world is shifting rapidly to clean energy but still investing too much in fossil fuels, the IEA says.

Big banks linked to products with pangolin and leopard partsThe companies include UK multinationals such as HSBC, Prudential, and Legal & General.

Comprehensive study of West Antarctic Ice Sheet finds collapse may be unavoidableThe study is the first attempt to model the uncertain atmosphere and ocean processes that could doom the sheet's ice shelves, leading to considerable sea level rise.

The science of forest bathing: 5 ways it can boost health and lower stress : Life KitSpending time in the forest isn't just enjoyable, it's good for your health. Here are some research-backed exercises to try the next time you find yourself under a canopy of trees.

21 species have been declared extinct, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service saysThe species, including birds, mussels and a bat, have been moved off the threatened and endangered list. They join 650 other species that have gone extinct in the U.S.

Ever tagged a butterfly? Volunteers are marking monarchs to track their migrationThe annual butterfly migration is underway. For decades scientists have relied on volunteers to tag butterflies to provide details about their journey.

How gas utilities used tobacco tactics to avoid gas stove regulationsGas stoves emit potentially harmful pollutants, but utilities and their trade group avoided regulation with tactics perfected by the tobacco industry to cast doubt on science showing health problems.

FDA faces pressure to act nationwide on red dye in foodRed No. 3 was banned from cosmetics three decades ago. Consumer advocates question why it's still allowed in food products, including many popular with kids.

Up to 70 North Atlantic right whales were spotted in Cape Cod BayAs many as 70 of the endangered whales were seen feeding off the Massachusetts coast on Friday. Fewer than 350 North Atlantic right whales exist in the world.

The EPA proposes tighter limits on toxic emissions from coal-fired power plantsThe rules would lower emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants that can harm brain development of young children and contribute to heart attacks and other health problems in adults.

A new flu is spilling over from cows to people in the U.S. How worried should we be?Pigs and goats likely catch it too. It's been found in humans' noses in the Southwest — and in the air at airports and at chicken farms in Malaysia.

'A win of epic proportions': World's highest court can set out countries' climate obligations after Vanuatu secures historic UN vote | CNNPacific Island nation of Vanuatu on Wednesday won a historic vote at the United Nations that calls on the world's highest court to establish for the first time the obligations countries have to address the climate crisis — and the consequences if they don't.

A wolverine has been seen outside of its normal range for the first time in 30 years In Oregon, wolverines are typically located in the Wallowa Mountains in the northeast of the state. But the animal was seen near Portland this week.

As Antarctica's penguins struggle with record low sea ice, one species is adapting -- and it offers lessons to us all | CNNOne hundred years ago, colorful canaries warned humans of the hidden hazards of digging for coal by riding shotgun down the mine and dropping dead.

Bacteria from meat could be causing more than half a million UTIs in the US every year, study estimates | CNNBacteria from meat could be responsible for more than half a million urinary tract infections in the United States every year, a new study says.

Cat poop may be killing California sea otters: Toxic parasite presents 'scary new challenge'Researchers warn others to watch for a deadly strain of parasite that killed four California sea otters and could spread to other animals.

Giant African snails, a voracious invader, are intercepted at Detroit's airportConsidered one of the most damaging snails in the world, the U.S. has worked spent over a $1 million over decades to eradicate them.

Cut emissions quickly to save lives, scientists warn in a new U.N. reportCutting greenhouse gas emissions rapidly and immediately will save lives, livelihoods and ecosystems around the world, scientists say. And there are lots of ways to go about it.

What is Babesiosis? A rare tick-borne disease is on the rise in the NortheastLyme Disease isn't the only tick-driven illness that residents of the northeast should worry about. The CDC says cases of Babesiosis, which can cause flu-like symptoms, are on the rise in 8 states.

South Korea has the world's lowest fertility rate, a struggle with lessons for us allSouth Korea's government has moved aggressively to encourage more childbirth, but its ongoing struggles point to the complexity of a challenge that is only becoming more salient around the world.

Clean-up of radioactive water leak ongoing at Minnesota nuclear plantA local nuclear plant is recovering 400,000 gallons of contaminated water that spilled in November.

What China’s baby woes mean for its economic ambitionsThe country's ageing population and shrinking workforce are a threat to its economic growth.

Brazilian researchers find 'terrifying' plastic rocks on remote island | CNNThe geology of Brazil's volcanic Trindade Island has fascinated scientists for years, but the discovery of rocks made from plastic debris in this remote turtle refuge is sparking alarm.

Pizza-sized predators to get federal protectionThe world’s fastest sea star could get a little boost from the U.S. government.

Newsom issues executive order to divert more rain, snowmelt into groundwater basinsThe order allows agencies to more easily divert flood waters by temporarily lifting some restrictions around permits. Some protections remain in place, like those created to safeguard wildlife and others meant to prevent storing contaminated water.

The EPA's new 'good neighbor' rule targets downwind pollution by power plantsNearly two-dozen states will have to cut harmful industrial emissions of nitrogen oxide and other pollutants, improving air quality for millions of people living in downwind communities.

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