Microscopic Ecosystem Buried for 130 Years Wakes Up After Wetland Restoration in Toronto
Worms, plankton, water fleas, sedges, algae, and cattails—the foundations of the food web in Toronto’s Don River ecosystem, simply woke up again after 130 years of entombment, stunning scientists. The Don River was tamed and turned into a canalized, industrial waterfront at the turn of the century, and was recently the focus of one of […]
Coyote Statues Are Guarding Local School Playgrounds Keeping Pests Away
A creative solution from up north for how to stop crows and geese from leaving droppings all over a school playground has left several residents in a dreadful fright. The story comes from the city of Menlo Park in California, where a pair of “coyotes” are scarring these birds and the neighbors too. Local news […]
A Plant-Eating Croc? Newly Identified Species Demonstrates Crocodilian Versatility
Measuring no more than 2 feet long from nose to tail, a newly-described crocodilian nicknamed “Elton” likely lived its entire life on land where it lounged in the Cretaceous Montana sunshine, eating plants and insects. Elton was about the size of a big lizard, according to Montana State University professor of paleontology David Varricchio, whose […]
New Airship-style Wind Turbine Can Find Gusts at Higher Altitudes for Constant, Cheaper Power
A new form of wind energy is under development that promises more consistent power and lower deployment costs by adapting the design of a dirigible, or zeppelin. Suspended 1,000 feet up where the wind is always blowing, it presents as an ideal energy source for rural communities, disaster areas, or places where wind turbines aren’t […]
A Nation That’s 90% Rainforest Announces New Protections for Over 25 Million Acres
Huge news broke recently when a country with more intact forests than any other on Earth decided that 90% of all forest cover would be preserved by law. Made in New York in advance of a UN summit that will see the party members to the Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meet for the […]
Wichita ‘Taco Hero’ Gets Year of Free Tacos for ‘Mind-Blowing’ Kindness After Card Reader Went Down
When the sales and payment software went down at a Wichita taco restaurant, the staff were anxious, and the line for the register, long. Tensions were high, and when the Shear family finally got through the out-the-door-wrap-around line, they were told that Tacos TJ 664 was only accepting cash. They were craving the fresh shrimp […]
First Antidote for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ‘Cleans’ Blood in Minutes
It’s invisible, it’s lethal, and it’s been with us for decades, but carbon monoxide poisoning can now be fought with the first-ever antidote that rapidly removes the toxic molecule from the bloodstream. Carbon monoxide or CO, poisoning accounts for 50,000 emergency room visits in the US each year and causes about 1,500 deaths, each one […]
Biodegradable Plastic Made from Bamboo Is Stronger and Easy to Recycle
GNN has reported previously on how versatile bamboo is for construction and craft, so it maybe shouldn’t be a surprise that researchers in China have found a way to turn this miracle plant into plastic. While many biodegradable materials have already been developed for replacing lighter, flexible plastic, durable or rigid plastic replacements are few. […]
Fires and Fire Deaths from Almost All Causes Fall by Two-Thirds Since 1980
One of the big problems with measuring progress in averting accidents is that you’re looking for nothing—because nothing happened. But determined to show how nothing is a big something indeed, Vox’s Bryan Walsh set out to measure America’s progress in preventing fires and fireproofing homes after he himself heard of a fire ripping through a […]
Police Actually Follow up on iPhone Theft Reports and Bust Global Smuggling Ring
In the rare occurrence that police actually looked into the case of a woman who had her phone stolen in London, it turned into the crumbs on a bread crumb trail which led to a huge organized crime effort. The sirens quiet now, and the London Met. Area Police report that approximately 40% of all […]