Biodiversity

"In 10 flights over Japan, researchers found a host of bacteria and fungi. These high-altitude germs could help spread disease around the world."

"Urban wet markets are fertile grounds for viral transmission, experts say. Outbreaks of bird flu have already occurred."

"North Atlantic populations are at a historic low, and this year 33 of the country’s rivers were closed during the fishing season as salmon farming and the climate crisis threaten the fish’s future"

"In the Mojave Desert, rising temperatures, less rainfall, and more intense wildfires are killing off Joshua trees. California officials are working on a plan to protect the distinctive yucca tree and its desert ecosystem by establishing refuges and controlling development."

"Rebuilding degraded coral reefs started as a noble endeavor, but now some coral scientists are confronting a dark reality."

"An analysis published Thursday in the journal Science suggests farmers have increased their use of pesticides on crops in response to the population collapse of bats, potentially leading to the deaths of more than 1,000 human infants through intoxication from the chemicals."

"U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced Wednesday that the Apache trout — Arizona’s state fish — has been removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife following more than five decades of recovery efforts."

"No other region in the state had a comparable level of outbreaks. The Hochul administration is spending millions to help farmers limit nutrient runoff."

"The number of fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest region for the month of August surged to the highest level since 2010, government data showed on Sunday, after a record drought that has been plaguing the biome."