Spring 2020 has left many around the world looking for new ways to spend their free time while “social distancing.” If you’re drawn to video games and the latest apps, why not become a citizen scientist at the same time by helping NASA map coral reefs? NASA’s NeMO-Net (Neural Multi-Modal Observation and Training Network) makes marine science more accessible than ever and ...
The Spekboom Challenge: Using Shrubs to Combat Climate Change
Credit: Mountain Crest Gardens Centuries ago, over 1 million hectares of South Africa was covered by lush, green thickets of succulents known as Spekboom (Portulacaria afra). Also referred to as elephant bush or the dwarf jade plant, these plants have suffered a dramatic decline, primarily due to overgrazing. Recently, the #SpekboomChallenge has begun to draw attention on ...
Stories of Hope in the Midst of Australia’s Wildfires
Recent headlines have been dominated by updates about the tragic bushfires ravaging Australia. As of January 13th, 2020, 28 people and millions of wild animals had lost their lives, 3,000 homes had been destroyed, and 17.9 million acres of land had burned. It is during great tragedy, however, that we see the most inspiring side of humanity. People from all areas of the world ...
High Schoolers Compete to Develop App that will Clean the Chesapeake Bay
While most high schools are in the midst of competing for football championships, six high schools in Virginia are competing to create an app that will help clean up the Chesapeake Bay. Over 100,000 derelict crab traps litter the Bay, abandoned after their float lines are unintentionally cut and fisherman can no longer locate them. The traps remain in waterways for up to 7 ...
New Insights into the World’s Largest Amphibian Revolutionize Conservation Efforts
The Chinese Giant Salamander is an impressive animal. Weighing over 100 pounds with a length of over 5 feet, these amphibians are the largest in the world. These salamanders diverged from other amphibians approximately 170 million years ago and were once abundant in the central, eastern, and southern regions of China. Unfortunately, over the past 30 years their numbers have ...
