A scientist in Belize hopes bats can galvanize locals to protect their forests
A Belizean bat scientist is looking to these fuzzy, flying mammals to act as emissaries to galvanize the people of Belize to protect their forests.
Environment
Anti-whaling activist arrested in Greenland, could be extradited to Japan
Canadian-American activist Paul Watson was en route to the North Pacific on a mission to intercept a new Japanese whaling ship when police boarded his vessel.
India's plan to reroute rivers could have unintended consequences on rainfall
More than a hundred years ago, a British engineer proposed linking two rivers in India to better irrigate the area and cheaply move goods. The link never happened, but the idea survived. Today, due to extreme flooding in some parts of the country mirrored by debilitating drought in others, India's National Water Development Agency plans to dig thirty links between rivers across the country. It's the largest project of its kind and will take decades to complete. But scientists are worried what moving that much water could do to the land, the people — and even the weather. Host Emily Kwong talks to journalist Sushmita Pathak about her recent story on the project.
Read Sushmita's full story here.
Interested in more science stories like this? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
Read Sushmita's full story here.
Interested in more science stories like this? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
Rogue waves can strike without warning. These scientists found a way to predict them
Scientists have created a new tool that can give 5 minutes advance warning of a dangerous rogue wave in the ocean.
Tons of dead fish cover a river in Brazil after alleged dumping of industrial waste
An estimated 10 to 20 tons of fish died on the Piracicaba River, prosecutors said. An initial investigation points to an "irregular discharge of wastewater" from a sugar and ethanol plant.
The next generation of firefighters learned how to fight fires while in prison
A nonprofit in California is aiming to remove roadblocks for previously incarcerated firefighters and expand the profession in the process.
Crows can count out loud like human toddlers — when they aren't cheating the test
A study finds that carrion crows can be taught to count and make vocalizations that indicate the number counted, much in the same way that human toddlers do.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife invokes federal water rights to protect huge swamp in Georgia
Parts of the massive Okefenokee Swamp are a wildlife refuge. Georgia is on the cusp of permitting a titanium dioxide mine next to it, prompting the federal government to invoke federal water rights.
The magic — and science — of synchronous firefly displays
Every year for two weeks between mid-May and mid-June, Congaree National Park in South Carolina is home to a fairy-tale-like display of flashing lights. These rhythmic performances happen all because of thousands of fireflies, flashing their belly lanterns at exactly the same time. According to the National Park Service, there are just three types of these synchronous fireflies in North America, making the experience all the more magical for the lucky visitors who get the chance to see them.
Firefly scientists and enthusiasts hope these displays in places like Congaree will inspire people to care about other kinds of fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, in the U.S., which are not as well-studied – or well-protected – as synchronous ones. Some community scientists are already taking on this mission with projects like the Firefly Atlas, where volunteers can help survey for fireflies and report sightings.
This story was originally reported for NPR by science correspondent Pien Huang. Read Pien's full story here.
Want more of the science behind wildlife wonders? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
Firefly scientists and enthusiasts hope these displays in places like Congaree will inspire people to care about other kinds of fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, in the U.S., which are not as well-studied – or well-protected – as synchronous ones. Some community scientists are already taking on this mission with projects like the Firefly Atlas, where volunteers can help survey for fireflies and report sightings.
This story was originally reported for NPR by science correspondent Pien Huang. Read Pien's full story here.
Want more of the science behind wildlife wonders? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
California’s wildfires are burning far more land so far this year than in 2023
Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler said the agency and its partners are equipped with with fire trucks, bulldozers, and newly introduced Blackhawk helicopters that can fly at night.