Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Evan Walker @ecologicalev.bsky.social · 13h

“It took us decades to accumulate the impact that we’ve got already today, and just in a few short years—25 years—we’re going to double, or maybe triple that.”

🌎 insideclimatenews.org/news/2609202...

Human Impacts on Ocean Could Double or Triple by 2050, a New UC Santa Barbara Study Warns - Inside Climate News

As climate change, fishing and other human activities threaten marine ecosystems, scientists predict which areas are most at-risk to better inform decision makers.

insideclimatenews.org

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Dezene Huber 🍁 🌻 @dezene.me · Jun 30

Great article on the rippling effects of ongoing insect declines.

"People may not be motivated to save the insects for their own sake, but a world without insects is a world without birds. It’s a world where nature offers no song to the rising sun."

🪲🪳🐦 🌎

www.smithsonianmag.com/science-natu...

Scientists Are Tracking Worrying Declines in Insects—and the Birds That Feast on Them. Here's What's Being Done to Save Them Both

In Vermont, researchers have investigated the types of creepy, crawly bugs that their avian predators consume and may have found the answers to keeping them both alive

www.smithsonianmag.com

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Christian Dimmer @remmid.bsky.social · 4d

“The e-bike market is skyrocketing, …outpacing electric cars…The question now is: Do officials double down on deadly car-centric urban design, or do they rethink cities to encourage people to ditch four wheels for two?”

grist.org/transportati...

E-bikes could cut carbon, congestion, and costs — if cities take them seriously

E-bike sales are booming, providing a clean form of transportation that also improves public health. Yet cities remain committed to cars.

grist.org

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 7d

Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Vatican’s commitment to fighting global warming in his first major climate speech.

Pope Leo XIV Calls for ‘Ecological Conversion’ to Face Climate Change

The Pope reaffirmed the Vatican’s commitment to fighting global warming in his first major climate speech, even as parts of the world backslide on cutting emissions.

bloom.bg

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Evan Walker @ecologicalev.bsky.social · 6d

Rest in peace, Jane Goodall. A groundbreaking conservationist, and an early inspiration for me.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o...

Jane Goodall, Who Chronicled the Social Lives of Chimps, Dies at 91

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Evan Walker

NPR @npr.org · 8d

A $7,500 tax credit is available for the lease or purchase of many electric vehicles — but only if contracts are inked by midnight on Sept. 30. The result: The market for EVs is a little distorted.

EV sales surge in the U.S. ahead of Sept. 30 tax credit deadline

A $7,500 tax credit is available for the lease or purchase of many electric vehicles — but only if contracts are inked by midnight on Sept. 30. The result: The market for EVs is a little distorted.

n.pr

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Journal of Ecology @journalofecology.bsky.social · 9d

🌿 Nitrogen inputs threaten non-N mineral nutrition and nutritional stability of forage in grasslands due to biodiversity loss🧪🌎

Nitrogen enrichment threatens non-N mineral nutrition and nutritional stability of forage due to biodiversity loss

buff.ly

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Joanna Bagniewska @joannabagniewska.com · 9d

🐻Why does #FatBearWeek matter, for bears and people?🐻

@antoniouzal.bsky.social writes for @theconversation.com:

theconversation.com/alaskas-fat-...

Meanwhile, vote in the semi-finals for your favourite chonky bear here: explore.org/fat-bear-week
🧪🌍🦊

Alaska’s Fat Bear Week is more than a bit of fun – for the animals, size is a matter of survival

Bears need to put on fat in order to survive the harsh Alaskan winters.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Greg Priest @gregpriest.bsky.social · 12d

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published OTD in 1962.

“[W]e have now acquired a fateful power to alter and destroy nature. But man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself.”

🌱🐋 # HistSTM 🧪🌎 #philsci #philsky #WomeninSTEM

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Evan Walker @ecologicalev.bsky.social · 13d

“The high seas are the world’s largest crime scene — they’re unmanaged, unenforced, and a regulatory legal structure is absolutely necessary”

🌎 apnews.com/article/high...

Nations ratify the world's first treaty to protect international waters

The first treaty to protect marine diversity in international waters will come into force early next year after being ratified by the 60th nation, Morocco.

apnews.com

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Evan Walker @ecologicalev.bsky.social · 13d

Ski resorts have been ringing alarm bells on this for decades.

Public News Service @publicnewsservice.bsky.social · 14d

Utah’s snowpack is melting midwinter. Scientists warn: climate change is shifting snow to rain across the West, and less snow = less water, more floods, and tougher adaptation.
#ClimateChange #Snowpack #Utah
Read the full story:

Scientists say climate change affects Utah, U.S. snowpack

Public News Service (PNS) is a member-supported news service that advocates journalism in the public interest. PNS's network of state-based news services distribute high quality public interest news…

app.publicnewsservice.org

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Wren Walker @wrenwalker.bsky.social · 15d

"The Trump administration canceled grants for street safety measures, pedestrian trails and bike lanes in communities.., each time offering a simple rationale for yanking back federal aid: the projects aren’t designed for cars."

#transportation #GasGuzzlers

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Trump Cancels Trail, Bike-Lane Grants Deemed ‘Hostile’ to Cars

The Trump administration canceled grants for street safety measures, pedestrian trails and bike lanes in communities around the country this month, each time offering a simple rationale for yanking ba...

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Bruce Webber @drbrucewebber.bsky.social · 17d

Addressing the connection between animal biodiversity declines and the carbon stored in our ecosystems can help to make smarter decisions about aligning responses to the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis.
🌐🌏 via @mongabay.com
news.mongabay.com/2025/09/anim...

Animals that spread seeds are critical for climate solutions

When a toucan plucks fruit from a tree in the Amazon Rainforest, it’s doing more than just finding lunch. Moving to a new location and depositing seeds via its droppings could be crucial in addressing...

news.mongabay.com

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Doctora Malka Older @older.bsky.social · 16d

Soaking up the storm: Sponge cities and the future of flood-resilient Southeast Asia
The climate crisis is causing increased extreme weather events in Southeast Asia. Could “sponge cities,” a city planning method engineered by Chinese architect, Yu Kongjian, help them weather the storm?

Soaking up the storm: Sponge cities and the future of flood-resilient Southeast Asia

The climate crisis is causing increased extreme weather events in Southeast Asia. Could “sponge cities,” a city planning method engineered by Chinese architect, Yu Kongjian, help them weather the stor...

globalvoices.org

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Evan Walker @ecologicalev.bsky.social · 19d

“A high-quality program needs to ensure that inclusive participation mechanisms are in place from the earliest stages of design and that community governance structures are involved in overall decision-making”

🌎 worldwildlife.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?...

Mega-scale forest carbon programs have major promise — and big challenges | Trellis

“There's a lot that can go wrong," said Barbara Haya, director of the Berkeley Carbon Trading Project.

worldwildlife.us14.list-manage.com

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 20d

Walkable cities aren't just more convenient, enjoyable places to live but it seems that they are also good for your health. www.cbc.ca/news/health/...

Moving to a more walkable city pays off for health, scientists find | CBC News

People who moved to a walking friendly city walked more, and at the brisk pace favoured to improve health and prevent disease, a new natural experiment shows.

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Evan Walker

David Green, PhD @ecologistgreen.bsky.social · 21d

Ever watched a scarlet macaw delicately work to get at a piece of fruit?

These birds are more than just pretty; they're also important seed dispersers.

Sometimes they even swallow fruit whole and plant new trees with their droppings!

🪶🌍🧪

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Evan Walker @ecologicalev.bsky.social · 22d

It’s always worth reflecting on success.

IPBES @ipbes.net · 22d

40 years ago, nations came together to take the first step in protecting the ozone layer – guided by science, united in action. Today, the ozone layer is healing.
—António Guterres, UN Secretary General

On #WorldOzoneDay, let's recommit to preserving the ozone layer for future generations. 🌎

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Wildlife Conservation Society @wcs.org · 23d

“With increased state presence, local communities should finally have the opportunity to engage as allies in the management, restoration and sustainable development of Mesoamerica’s largest national park,” says WCS’s Gabriela Ponce.

🌎 news.mongabay.com/2025/09/guat...

Guatemala closes oil field, increases security in Maya Biosphere Reserve

Officials in Guatemala have announced plans to occupy a recently closed oil field with the aim of increasing enforcement in protected areas badly hit by organized crime. The Xan oil field inside Lagun...

news.mongabay.com

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Anthropocene Magazine @anthropocenemag.bsky.social · 24d

Nuclear power is in a hole. To get out, this start-up kept digging.

They’re betting that they can take the cost out of nuclear power—and solve it’s waste problem — by putting small reactors a mile underground.
www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2025/04/nucl...

Nuclear power is in a hole. To get out, this start-up kept digging

They’re betting that they can take the cost out of nuclear power—and solve it’s waste problem — by putting small reactors a mile underground.

www.anthropocenemagazine.org

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Reposted by Evan Walker

George Harper @george-harper.bsky.social · 26d

Octopus taste with their suckers? Cool! As an evolutionary biologist, I find this week's show to be full of segments that I really enjoy. Tune in 7-9 p.m. GMT, 1-3 p.m. CT, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. PT or subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Science Friday @scifri.bsky.social · 26d

Happy Science Friday! Here’s what we’re covering today on the show. Listen on your local public radio station, 2-4 p.m. ET. 🐙 🍄🎧

A hummingbird flying through fog, which forms whirly shapes by its wings. Text says: September 12 Octopus suckers, stunning nature shots, invasive mushrooms, teamwork between species, and more.

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Reposted by Evan Walker

IPBES @ipbes.net · 27d

Amid the biodiversity crisis, stories of resilience and recovery offer hope. From monarch butterflies migrating to the reintroduction of species such as the Arabian oryx, nature's recovery inspires. 🦋 #ConservationOptimism 🌏🧪

Discover more with @theguardian.com

Hope, joy, absurdity and marvel: there is so much more to our world story than loss

Amid environmental tragedy, a hidden world of curiosity and wonder still exists. And in this, says Natalie Kyriacou, we can find glimmers of hope

bit.ly

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Reposted by Evan Walker

WWF UK @wwf.org.uk · 29d

Welcoming news from #DefraGovUK today. 👏

Almost all of the UK's peatlands are degraded. Protecting our uplands is a great first step for storing carbon, restoring nature, and reducing flood risk. 💧

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Burning on England’s deep peat banned

New rules come into force from 30 September in order to restore habitats and reduce flooding

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Evan Walker

Sensory Ecology Lab @sensoryecology.bsky.social · Sep 8

“Sargassum. The smelly, brown seaweed can put a damper on a day at the beach at best and hinder baby turtles on their way to the ocean at worst.”

#scicomm
#sensoryecology

www.popsci.com/environment/...
🧪 🐢 🐍

Sea turtle hatchlings struggle through a smelly seaweed maze

Sargassum strikes again.

www.popsci.com

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Evan Walker @ecologicalev.bsky.social · Sep 8

“We produce five times as much power as we consume”

🌎 www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2...

America’s greenest zoo? How the Cincinnati Zoo saves by being sustainable

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden manages to produce more power than it consumes. Here's what that means for Cincinnatians.

www.cincinnati.com

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