Federal protection for monarch butterflies could help or harm this iconic species, depending on how it"s carried out
Monarch butterflies are among the most beloved insects in North America. They are brightly colored and unique, both as caterpillars and later as mature insects. Monarchs are found in every U.S. state except Alaska, so nearly everyone has seen a monar.....»»
Fossil discovery reveals giant worm lizard with snail-cracking jaws
An international team of researchers has discovered a new fossil worm lizard species in Tunisia. Terastiodontosaurus marcelosanchezi is the largest known species of the Amphisbaenia group, with a skull length of over five centimeters......»»
Educating young people about social media could be far more effective than a ban—Finland can show us how
The federal government's proposed social media ban for under-16s has sparked widespread debate, affecting millions of young Australians, their families and educators. But will it actually work?.....»»
More than 40% of coral species face extinction, according to new research
Following a global assessment, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has revealed that 44% of reef-building coral species globally are at risk of extinction. The announcement was made at the ongoing COP29 UN climate conference......»»
DOJ indicts Phillips 66 for Southern California refinery allegedly dumping industrial wastewater into sewer
A federal grand jury in Los Angeles voted to indict Texas-based oil refiner Phillips 66 for allegedly dumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater from its Carson refinery into the Los Angeles County sewer system and then failing.....»»
Feds release options for future of Colorado River as negotiations between states stall
Federal officials released a range of scenarios on Nov 20 that could be used to manage the over-allocated and shrinking Colorado River as time for the seven basin states to reach an agreement grows short......»»
Piedmont power line plan: Environmental groups worry of "unintended consequences"
On Nov 20 some Maryland environmental groups formally entered the fray over the Piedmont power line proposal, issuing a letter that calls for the project to receive a stringent environmental review through a federal law......»»
Humpback whale nursery hotspot detected in Australian waters
Marine biologists from The University of Western Australia have recommended protection measures for a humpback whale nursery ground in the Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia's Pilbara region......»»
School did nothing wrong when it punished student for using AI, court rules
Student "indiscriminately copied and pasted text," including AI hallucinations. A federal court yesterday ruled against parents who sued a Massachusetts school district for punish.....»»
FCC chairwoman announces departure, paving way for Republican majority
Rosenworcel had to lead agency without Democratic majority for most of her term. Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced today that she will lea.....»»
Fewer than 7% of global hotspots for whale-ship collisions have protection measures in place, researchers report
According to the fossil record, cetaceans—whales, dolphins and their relatives—evolved from four-legged land mammals that returned to the oceans beginning some 50 million years ago. Today, their descendants are threatened by a different land-base.....»»
Race-blind college admissions harm diversity without improving quality, study finds
Critics of affirmative action in higher education have argued that the policy deprives more qualified students of a spot at a university or college. A new study by Cornell researchers finds that ignoring race leads to an admitted class that is much l.....»»
Urgent need to enable more farmers and contractors to revive England"s network of hedgerows
A new comprehensive survey has highlighted an urgent need to enable more farmers and contractors to revive England's hedgerows to meet national restoration targets. While agri-environment schemes (AES) have improved the condition of these iconic land.....»»
DNA-based methods found highly effective for identifying insect species
A team of researchers from Linnaeus University and Linköping University, extensively evaluated DNA barcoding and metabarcoding methods. A comprehensive study has demonstrated that DNA-based methods are remarkably reliable for identifying insect spec.....»»
Wild chimpanzees play as adults to better cooperate as a group, researchers suggest
Compared to children, adults don't play as much, but social play into adulthood is considered a universal human trait. Play has a role in building tolerance, cohesion, bonding, and cooperation. By comparison, play in adults of other species has been.....»»
Self-driving vehicle rules set to loosen under Trump, report says
The Trump transition team plans to make a federal framework for self-driving vehicles a top priority for the transportation department, according to a report......»»
5 charged in “Scattered Spider,” one of the most profitable phishing scams ever
Phishing attacks were so well-orchestrated that they fooled some of the best in the business. Federal prosecutors have charged five men with running an extensive phishing scheme t.....»»
Scientists uncover cross-species neural mechanism for early detection of life motion in visual processing
Visual systems of both humans and animals can detect life motion from the environment at the earliest stage of visual processing, research by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) uncovered......»»
Apple will now be treated like a bank, says US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The popularity of Apple Pay will now see the Cupertino company regulated by the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a watchdog whose role is normally limited to banks and financial services companies. The decision means that the burea.....»»
US government steps up oversight of Apple Pay and rivals
The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says it will apply rigorous oversight to Big Tech payment systems such as Apple Pay.Apple Pay on an Apple WatchThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently fined Apple and Goldman Sachs a $90 mi.....»»
Ukrainian cyberwar experience becomes blueprint for TRYZUB cyber training service
The Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine (CERT-UA), part of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection (SSSCIP), has joined forces with the simulation training platform Cyber Ranges to unveil TRYZUB, a cyber resilie.....»»