News & commentary on sustainability, activism, urban planning, politics, and our world.
A team of Dutch researchers (Verweij and Kema) , reporting in last December’s edition of the medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases suggest that over-use of the farm fungicide may be contributing to the growing resistance of the Aspergillus fungus to the disease-fighting chemicals.
Officials from 13 nations are meeting to discuss conservation efforts to save the endangered tiger. Officials from countries where tigers still roam – Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam - are taking part in the Asia Ministerial Conference (AMC) on Tiger Conservation. The conference runs from January 27 [...]
Recently, researchers have performed large scale genetic analysis of DFTD tumor cells and have discovered many clues to the cause and nature of the cancer. After sequencing tumor cell genes and analyzing small pieces of genetic material known as microRNAs (miRNA), the team has determined that the cancer is a “single clonal cell line propagated as a tumor allograft” and is transmitted from devil to devil through biting. An “allograft” is a transplantation of cells (or tissue) from one (non-genetically identical) member of species to another. Devils are generally solitary hunter-scavengers but are known to occasionally associate in small groups.
It’s a long-standing debate; just how much of a role should humans be playing when it comes to the environment and their influence on the natural order of things with regards to ecosystems and the animal kingdom. There is even more controversy when humans choose to be involved to rectify species decline that have occurred [...]
In an effort to prevent animal abuse, China is taking steps to end a centuries-old tradition. Recently proposed legislation would outlaw the human consumption or sale of cat and dog meat, often called “fragrant meat,” which is still considered a delicacy in some parts of China.
