New study shows incredible results of pairing solar panels with agriculture
10 December 2024 - A study from the University of Sheffield (England) showed that practicing agrivoltaics -- which is where land for farming is also used to produce solar electricity -- led to better crop yields and generated solar power using less water than crops grown in open fields, Phys.org reported. (more)

Blending agriculture and solar could benefit Nova Scotia, experts say
8 December 2024 - Using solar panels on farmland could yield many benefits for Nova Scotia, according to renewable energy advocates. Agrivoltaics, a term that blends the words agriculture and voltaic cells, is the dual use of land for solar energy and farming. ...There are now more than 10,000 solar installations in Nova Scotia, according to the non-profit group that's trying to build up solar infrastructure in the province. That's up from 8,000 this time last year and just 200 in 2018. (more)

From field to farm: the US pro athletes trying their hand at agriculture
6 December 2024 - Former and current NFL [National Football League] and WNBA [Women's National Basketball Association] stars are ushering in a wave of athlete-farmers who see farming as a greater mission. Jason Brown is part of a small but growing cadre of current or former professional athletes who have taken up agriculture. Some see it as a rainy-day or retirement activity after years of physical exertion catch up with their bodies. Others view it as a business opportunity. And some use it to connect with family and rural backgrounds. Many of them are Black Americans. (more)

The mysterious origins of Fast radio bursts may finally be identified
5 December 2024 - From all over the sky, the Universe is hurling mysterious signals. We don't really know what they are, or what's making them; but a new analysis of where they are coming from gives us clues about the sources of the strange emissions we call fast radio bursts (FRBs). Lead by astronomer Kritti Sharma of the California Institute of Technology, an international team conducted a census and determined that FRBs are more likely to come from galaxies with relatively young star populations. (more)

Caterpillar fungus found to slow cancer cell growth
4 December 2024 - A type of fungus that grows on caterpillars can slow down growth of cancer cells, new research has found. ...The research, published in the journal FEBS Letters, said cordycepin was produced by Cordyceps militaris, an orange fungus which infects caterpillars. Scientists ... found cordycepin interrupts the cell growth signals that are overactive in cancer. Caterpillar fungus has been used as a medicine and has been a delicacy in parts of Asia for many years. (more)

US: What is GivingTuesday? How to donate on the annual day of charitable giving
3 December 2024 - Since it started as a hashtag in 2012, GivingTuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, has become one of the biggest fundraising days of the year for nonprofits in the U.S. In 2022 and 2023, GivingTuesday raised $3.1 billion for chartitable organizations, according to estimates from GivingTuesday. (more)

'Give to the Max' annual charity fundraiser breaks record with $37 million for Minnesotans
30 November 2024 - An annual fundraiser for charitable organizations and schools Minnesota has broken its record for donations after it received $37 million in just 24 hours. The donations will be sent to 6,556 charities, non-profit firms, and schools. GiveMN, the fundraiser's organizers, launched in 2009 as a collaborative venture led by Minnesota Community Foundation and other associations committed to helping make the state a better place. (more)

US: Minnesota donors give record-breaking $37 million on Give to the Max Day
30 November 2024 - Minnesota's 2024 Give to the Max Day is officially one for the record books. More than $37 Million in donations came in to support over 6,000 nonprofits and schools. This tops 2023's total of $34 million -- and toppled the record set in 2021. The cash came in from more than 10,000 donors. (more)

Azores create largest marine protected area in North Atlantic. What to know
29 November 2024 - The regional assembly of Portugal's Azores Islands approved the creation of the largest protected marine area in the North Atlantic to reach international conservation goals well ahead of time. ...The network will encompass almost 300,000 square kilometers (115,830 square miles) and ensures the preservation of underwater mountain ranges and vulnerable marine ecosystems, including deep-sea corals, hydrothermal vents, and marine species. (more)

The Azores creates largest marine protected area network in the North Atlantic
29 November 2024 - The Azores, an autonomous Portuguese archipelago, has approved legislation to create the largest marine protected area network in the North Atlantic Ocean. The new marine protected area network covers 30 percent of the ocean surrounding the archipelago. Half of the MPA network is 'fully protected,' while the other half is 'highly protected.' (more)

One Tech Tip: Home for the holidays? Show relatives you care with some tech support
28 November 2024 - It's time for the holidays, which means robust family conversations and seemingly never-ending courses of food. But for the more tech-savvy among us, the journey home could also mean we'll be called on to provide a backlog of tech support to parents, grandparents and other family members. And with generative AI ... it's also a good time to teach and not just fix. Here are some tips on how to manage your tech encounters this holiday season: (more)

Views on garden insects are changing. Why many former 'pests' are now valued
28 November 2024 - We're all familiar with beneficial insects like ladybugs, dragonflies, and bees, but it's high time we reconsider our definition of 'pests' and collectively add other, less-familiar insects to the friendly bug list. ...Fortunately, as gardeners learn more about the relationships between different life-forms, they are viewing insects as essential components of a sustainable landscape rather than nuisances. (more)

'Supergiant' gold deposit discovered in China is one of the largest on Earth - and is worth more than $80 billion
27 November 2024 - Chinese officials have announced the discovery of a massive deposit of high-quality gold ore, potentially worth around $83 billion, which could end up being the largest known deposit of the precious metal anywhere in the world. (more)

Hats off to NASA's Webb: Sombrero Galaxy dazzles in new image
27 November 2024 - Powerful mid-infrared instrument resolves clumpy nature of dusty disk. There's somewhat of an inside joke in the astronomical community that researchers aren't the best at naming things. For example, the first star observed by Webb is named HD 84406. Not so catchy. Neither is galaxy cluster MACS0416, a deep field imaged by Webb recently. There are exceptions to this, though. Think the Hourglass Nebula, the Cigar Galaxy, or the Cat's Paw Nebula. All named for the objects on Earth that they resemble. The Sombrero Galaxy is aptly named for its likeness to the wide-brimmed hat. (more)

New Zealanders save more than 30 stranded whales by lifting them on sheets
27 November 2024 - More than 30 pilot whales that stranded themselves on a beach in New Zealand were safely returned to the ocean after conservation workers and residents helped to refloat them by lifting them on sheets. 'It's amazing to witness the genuine care and compassion people have shown toward these magnificent animals,' Joel Lauterbach, a Department of Conservation spokesperson, said in a statement. 'This response demonstrates the deep connection we all share with our marine environment.' ...New Zealand's Indigenous people consider whales a taonga -- a sacred treasure -- of cultural significance. (more)

UK: Ronald Blythe's home to become nature reserve
26 November 2024 - The Akenfield writer's ancient Essex farmhouse will be opened up as a sanctuary for people and wildlife. Sitting in the folds of the Essex countryside at the end of a sunken lane, the modest home of writer Ronald Blythe is to become an unlikely nature reserve. ...'It's not our natural territory but it's an amazing gift for the trust,' said Rich Yates, the chief executive of Essex Wildlife Trust. (more)

In southern India's tea country, small but mighty efforts are brewing to bring back native forests
25 November 2024 - Scattered groves of native trees, flowers and the occasional prehistoric burial ground are squeezed between hundreds of thousands of tea shrubs in southern India's Nilgiris region -- a gateway to a time before colonization and the commercial growing of tea that reshaped the country's mountain landscapes. ...The teams bringing back the forests -- home to more than 600 native plants and 150 animal species found only here --know that they still need to work around their neighbors. (more)

US: University of Texas, MIT, and others announce free tuition for some undergraduates
24 November 2024 - Nearly half a dozen institutions of higher education separately announced plans this week to make tuition free for undergraduates who meet certain income requirements, reflecting a growing nationwide effort to make college more affordable. The schools span states from Massachusetts to New Mexico, and include some of the country's leading universities. (more)

Salmon return to lay eggs in historic habitat after largest dam removal project in US history
23 November 2024 - Less than a month after four towering dams on the Klamath River were demolished, hundreds of salmon made it into waters they have been cut off from for decades to spawn in cool creeks. The completion of the hydroelectric dam removal project on October 2 marked a major victory for local tribes. (more)

Huge deforested areas in the tropics could regenerate naturally, study finds
22 November 2024 - A new study shows that millions of acres of degraded and deforested land in the tropics could regenerate naturally. The Nature study suggests the ecological conditions are right for about 215 million hectares (531 million acres) of land in the tropics to regrow into forests. Tropical forests top the list for restoration because once they grow back, they provide habitat for a multitude of species and at the same time keep carbon out of the atmosphere where it would accelerate climate change. If all of the areas identified in the study grew back, it would pull 23.4 billion metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere in a 30-year period, the analysis found. That's the equivalent of more than twice as much carbon dioxide as the world emitted for energy in 2023. (more)

What makes walking so great for your health
21 November 2024 - Medical experts agree that walking is an easy way to improve physical and mental health, bolster fitness, and prevent disease. While it's not the only sort of exercise people should do, it's a great first step toward a healthy life. 'You don't need equipment and you don't need a gym membership,' said Dr. Sarah Eby, a sports medicine physician with Mass General Brigham. 'And the benefits are so vast.' (more)

US: Serviceberry is an underused native tree that helps wildlife and is worth planting
20 November 2024 - Because it's one of the earliest spring bloomers, the serviceberry is an important food source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Later, its berries sustain dozens of bird species and mammals, including humans, who can make them into jams [and] jellies ... There are more than 20 species of the North American native tree. Here are four favorites. (more)

New eagle camera is going live in Minnesota to the delight of global viewers
19 November 2024 - Eagle lovers around the world ... will get another viewing opportunity when a new eagle camera in Minnesota goes live on Thursday [21 November]. ...The old camera had viewers in 50 states and around 160 countries, in homes, classrooms, and nursing homes, according to Lori Naumann, a spokesperson for the DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program, which runs the cameras. Minnesota has the largest eagle population in the lower 48 states. (more)

US: For brilliant foliage, look no further than native trees
19 November 2024 - If you're in the market for new trees, consider planting natives. They are generally lower maintenance than exotic species, require less water, fertilizers, and pesticides, and often cost less, too. Native trees also support our native wildlife, which evolved alongside them, so recognize them as food. (more)