Extinction rates are slowing—and conservation efforts may be paying off
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For years, headlines have warned that Earth is entering a sixth mass extinction. But new research suggests that this dire picture may be more nuanced, and even somewhat hopeful. A study by Kristen Saban and John Wiens of the University of Arizona's Read More...
Crab Trapper Whiskey: capturing invasive species and putting them in whiskey
An occasionally neglected fact of conservation is the encroachment of invasive species. Some non-native animals can wind up consuming all available resources for endangered species, and sometimes the endangered species themselves. This was the case with the lionfish, which Florida fishers addressed Read More...
Mosquitofish are a problem—a robotic bass could be the solution
What kind of feelings does the word “mosquito” bring up for you? Chances are they aren’t very positive feelings and are more along the lines of “annoyance,” or “irritation.” So, it shouldn’t be surprising to find out that the aquatic creature that bears the word “mosquito” in Read More...
How tiny wasps could solve the US’ invasive beetle problem
You may have never heard of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), but this little green beetle is the most invasive wood-boring insect in US history. The insects are native to Russia and Asia and were first discovered in Michigan in 2002. Today, they are wreaking havoc on ash trees across Read More...