Dare to explore the spookier side of nature

A fishy ghost story in time for Halloween [Nature]

Ghost fishing, as it’s known, is when marine life is drawn into nets and traps by the dead and decomposing bodies of marine animals already caught in these fishing devices. This problem goes largely unnoticed yet the ‘dead’ gear is often responsible for more sea creature deaths than kills during active use.

The inevitable climate fact no one wants to recognize [New Scientist]

The UN’s analysis finds that our world’s nations have fallen short of what’s required to effectively limit greenhouse gases. It seems now that time would be better spent on preparing for a world that will become two degrees warmer than it is now.

Universally cherished treat faces impending shortage [Christian Science Monitor]

National chocolate day was October 28, but this treat, that is appreciated throughout the world, may become much harder to come by. Due to unsustainable supply chain models and climate change, chocolate is facing an impending shortage crisis.

Biased climate change reports aren’t beneficial for anyone [Mongabay]

We’re all affected by climate change, so shouldn’t we all be informed about it? Especially people in places being affected the most? A recent study shows the opposite to be the case – scientific knowledge about climate change is geographically imbalanced and biased.

These species were named after monsters [Treehugger]

Halloween is right around the corner, making it a perfect time to check out the spookier side of nature. If you’re so inclined, this list is a convenient place to start. Check out these eight species named after mythological and modern monsters.

This could be the next biggest thing in conservation…literally [Huffington Post]

A proposed mega-corridor in South America could be the largest protected area the world has ever seen. The corridor would involve connecting large swaths of land that are already protected throughout the Andes and the Amazon.

When life gives you flooded rice fields, make sushi [Yale e360]

Some innovative environmentalists in California have turned the problem of flooded rice fields into a project to raise threatened species of Pacific salmon. The flooded fields mimic the floodplains where the salmon once thrived.

The fire that’s polluting more than all of the U.S. combined [Treehugger]

For months, smoke has been choking Indonesia and fires destroying a rainforest already threatened by unsustainable agriculture practices. According to the World Resources Institute, these fires are emitting more CO2 than the average daily emissions of the U.S.

They’re not so scary when they’re babies [Mother Nature Network]

Giant squids may have inspired the tale of the Kraken, a legendary sea monster, but they’re not so terrifying when they are still babies. This photo represents the first time that giant squid babies have every knowingly been caught.

 

MONGABAY HIGHLIGHTS

Can we save the earth’s oldest living mammal?

New Guinea’s three species of echidna are all Critically Endangered. The country’s unique socio political cultural status quo will require unusual conservation strategies to save them.

The king of the African savanna is in trouble

Researchers predict that under current levels of conservation efforts, half of Africa’s lion populations could disappear in the next 20 years. A recent study found that only four countries had lion populations that were either stable or increasing.

Reduced deforestation may be saving thousands

Forest clearing is often done through burning, releasing harmful particulates into the atmosphere. Researchers found that a reduction in deforestation resulted in fewer deaths due to particulate-caused cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer.

The key to harnessing information age technology

While technology has played a major role in advancing civilization, these advances typically seem to exhaust resources rather than conserve them. These publications focus on what can be done to change this lopsided application of emerging technology.