Extraordinary adaptive powers of our species

The loss of crocodiles and alligators would have a devastating impact on other species, warned conservationists as they demanded better protection for the threatened amphibians. More than half of all crocodilians – which includes crocodiles, alligators and caimans – are facing extinction, scientists said. They say habitat loss, hunting, fishing and damming of rivers are all threats to crocs. Each species plays different, but important roles in the wider ecosystem, such as creating shelter for other animals by burrowing or by feeding on invasive, agricultural pests. Researchers led by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have studied the important ecological functions and have said that up to 38 percent of them are at risk of being lost. Lead author Phoebe Griffith said: "Many people think of crocodilians as large predators, grabbing zebra in wildlife documentaries, but that's just a small part of the behavior of a single species. "There are around 28 species of … [Read more...] about Loss of crocodiles, alligators would have devastating impact on other species

Will there be fewer birds in 60 years? Newly published German-English research shows that many species are at risk of extinction due to global warming, suggesting that this is the sad reality we’re headed for. But the biggest changes will be seen in migration patterns of certain types of birds in the northern regions of the planet, the study predicts. Climate change is threatening birds’ survival. And we can expect to see fewer varieties of them by 2080, if the current trend is not reversed, say researchers from Durham University in the UK and the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre in Germany. This study looked at 8,768 bird species around the world in order to predict the number of species that could disappear or migrate to new regions to adapt to climate change. These predictions are based on two climate scenarios, in which projected greenhouse gas emissions are at low or medium levels. Published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, The study did … [Read more...] about Global Warming Will Have Decimated The Number of Bird Species by 2080: Study

August 04, 2022 08:20 New Zealand released its first national plan Wednesday for dealing with the impact of global warming. The government in Wellington has warned that some communities could be abandoned as climate change triggers more intense storms and flooding. New Zealand's Climate Change minister, James Shaw, said severe weather events that had previously seemed unthinkable were "now happening at a pace and intensity we have never experienced before." He announced Wednesday the first long-term strategy to help New Zealand become more resilient and adaptable to a shifting climate. One possibility is that some homes near the coast could eventually be abandoned because of rising sea-levels. A guiding principle of the 200-page report was to prepare for adverse events before they occur, rather than after. Lifting properties above flood-prone land or boosting flood defenses are among dozens of potential options. Property developments in high-risk areas would not be … [Read more...] about New Zealand Unveils 1st National Plan to Adapt to Climate Change

BMW introduced a third all-electric model to its i4 range on Monday. The 2023 BMW i4 eDrive35 will join the more powerful eDrive40 and most powerful i4 M50 as the company's midsize electron-powered sedans, based on the traditional 4 Series model. Deliveries are expected to start in the first quarter of 2023. Unlike the i4 M50, the eDrive35 comes with just one electric motor on the rear axle, but uses the same fifth-generation powertrain technologies as the company's other electric sedans and the iX SUV . The new car's batteries are rated at 70.2 kilowatt-hours (kWh) gross and 66 kWh net. That's good for 281 horsepower (hp) and 295 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque, making for a zero-to-60 miles per hour (mph) time of just 5.8 seconds. BMW's newest i4 iteration has 54 and 255 hp less, respectively, than the i4 eDrive40 and i4 M50, and 22 and 291 lb-ft less. It's also cheaper, with the i4 eDrive40 starting at $55,400 and the i4 M50 carrying a base price of $65,900. Prices do not … [Read more...] about BMW adds cheaper, less powerful electric car to US portfolio

Vivo sub-brand iQoo had launched its latest premium offering, the iQoo Neo 6 in India back in June. The iQoo Neo 6 was launched in the highly competitive premium mid-range segment, and comes as a direct competitor to the likes of the Poco F4 5G, the OnePlus Nord 2T, the Realme GT Neo 3, and more. The iQoo Neo 6 is priced in India at Rs 29,999 onwards and goes up to Rs 33,999 for the top-spec variant of the smartphone. The smartphone is available for sale on Amazon, and there are a bunch of bank and exchange offers that buyers can avail, in order to get their hands on the iQoo Neo 6. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about the iQoo Neo 6, and if you should spend your Rs 29,999 on the latest smartphone from the Vivo sub-brand. DESIGN In terms of design, the iQoo Neo 6 comes with a hole-punch flat front display. On the back the smartphone has a slightly curved panel, with a rectangular camera module that holds the triple rear camera, and iQoo branding … [Read more...] about iQoo Neo 6 Review: Powerful Mid-Ranger But You May Not Like ColorOS

On the 12th day of the Monsoon Session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave her reply in the Rajya Sabha after the much-awaited debate on inflation. The Lok Sabha, meanwhile, passed the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 after a debate, with many Opposition MPs highlighting the classification of vermins, invasive species and state governments’ reduced role. Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed questions on the consistent fall of the rupee and said in the Rajya Sabha that there has been “no collapse” of the Indian currency. The Finance Minister added that even after a series of factors affecting the world economy, the Indian currency has “appreciated itself”. In the Lower House, DMK MP Thalikottai Baalu questioned the efficiency of the reservation and social justice policies of the government. Earlier on Monday, the Lok Sabha took up the long-awaited discussion on price rise in the presence of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who … [Read more...] about Parliament Monsoon Session updates | August 2, 2022

A miniature 'alligator' dating back more than 375 million years has been hailed as a 'missing link' in evolution. The four-legged creature was among the first to venture onto land after transforming fins into limbs. Named Qikiqtania wakei, it predates iconic alligators like Tiktaalik roseae which was discovered by the same team. With features more suited for swimming, it opted to return to life in the water unlike its adventurous cousin. Dubbed fishapods, they were unearthed in the Canadian Arctic and resembled fish and tetrapods which include all land-living vertebrates. At just 30 inches long, Qikiqtania was small compared to Tiktaalik which could grow up to 9ft. It was identified from parts of its upper and lower jaws, portions of the neck and scales. Mostly importantly, a complete pectoral fin with a distinct limb bone called the humerus lacks the ridges that would indicate where muscles and joints would be for walking. An illustration of Qikiqtania wakei … [Read more...] about Evolution’s ‘missing link’ is mini alligator that walked on land 375million years ago

close Video Man finds spider in his ear after feeling 'tickling,' hearing 'scratching' A United Kingdom man finds a spider in his ear after he feels a 'tickling' and hears a 'scratching' in his ear. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Spiders might keep some arachnophobes up at night — but do the creepy crawlers get any shuteye themselves? A new study leads some scientists to believe spiders may snooze just as humans do. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), involved monitoring the behavior of baby jumping spiders at night. GOOD LUCK OMENS! WHY THE PRAYING MANTIS, BUTTERFLY AND LADYBUG ARE THOUGHT TO BRING GOOD THINGS The footage revealed movements often experienced during normal sleep cycles, including limb twitching, leg curling and eye flickering. This photo provided by Daniela C. Roessler in August 2022 shows a jumping spider (E. arcuata) … [Read more...] about Do spiders sleep as humans do? Experts weigh in on new study suggesting they might

Social media proved this week that skepticism runs deeper than politics or conspiracy theories, when an astonishing viral video of a Komodo dragon in the wild sparked disbelief. Twitter watched what appeared to be raw footage of the extraordinary animal eating a fawn or small deer from snout to tail in just a few bites. Such was the shock, that many began to question whether the beast or (perhaps more pertinently) the video was real. With doubts in mind, Newsweek sought to separate the facts from the fantasy. The Claim A video posted on Twitter , viewed nearly 13 million times, shows what appears to be a Komodo dragon eating a fawn or some species of small deer whole. Many of the responses to this video were skeptical that a Komodo dragon could eat a whole deer, noting both the time it took to eat the animal and the size of the dragon itself. The Facts The video itself does feature some warning signs that are common with doctored footage. Although clear in what it … [Read more...] about Fact Check: Does video show Komodo dragon devour a whole Baby Deer?

The era of extreme climate change is upon us. And in spite of the ecological horrors to come, white sharks are in their element, as population numbers on California's Central Coast continue to climb with rising water temps. A study on the migratory patterns of white sharks, two decades in the making, was recently released by the Monterey Bay Aquarium . It tracks the movement of the juvenile population of the apex predator and concludes that the great white shark is not only surviving off the coast, but it’s also — in the time of an ever-warming planet — thriving. “These complete metadata sets can provide a vast amount of useful information to fisheries managers and other scientists,” wrote John O’Sullivan, the aquarium’s director of collections and lead author of the study. The study tracked the patterns, including depth and geolocation, of 63 juvenile white sharks. O’Sullivan noted the potential now exists for the scientific community to tag and study other aquatic species. … [Read more...] about ‘Pattern change’: Great white shark populations grow as Monterey Bay waters warm