Note: hay fever has no connection to hay. In the 1800s, people believed freshly cut hay caused it, hence the name. The true cause—pollen—was discovered in 1859 by British scientist Charles Blackley. Climate change affects not only the health of the planet but also that of people, worsening conditions such as hay fever, formally known… Continue reading Climate change is making hay fever worse
Cape Town, South Africa, known for its great white sharks, is facing a new threat: rabid seals. In a significant outbreak, 11 seals have been found with rabies, marking the first major occurrence of the disease among marine mammals. The World Health Organization estimates rabies kills 55,000 people annually, mainly in Africa and Asia, with… Continue reading Rabies outbreak among seals in Cape Town sparks concern
A recent study by the School of the Environment at Queensland University in Australia found that humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off the country’s eastern coast experienced significantly lower stress levels and better overall health during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic due to the reduction of human activity in the ocean during this period.… Continue reading Reduced human activity during early Covid pandemic lowered stress levels in whales
Carbon dioxide is often highlighted in discussions about climate change, but methane is a more potent greenhouse gas, trapping 28 times more heat per molecule than CO2, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Recent reports and scientific papers have underscored the significant impact of animal production on climate change. Denmark has become the first… Continue reading Denmark to tax cows, sheep and pigs for emitting methane
Scientists have observed wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) consuming plants that have anti-bacterial and pain-relieving properties to heal themselves. They conducted detective work in the forests of Uganda, studying injured or sick animals and gathering evidence to construct a case. There were 13 members of the team who were botanists, ecologists, ethnopharmacologists, parasitologists and primatologists.… Continue reading Chimpanzees Use Plants as Medicine: A Breakthrough in Animal Behaviour and Pharmacology
In the vast desert of Kutch district, northwest India, where salt is harvested in colorful rectangular ponds, a circular feature in the otherwise flat Banni Plains has intrigued scientists for over a decade, with suspicions that it resulted from a meteorite impact remaining unconfirmed until recently. This crater, named Luna after the nearest village, measures… Continue reading Study Confirms Meteorite Caused Crater in India
The contraceptive pill revolutionized human society in the 1960s, ushering in the sexual revolution. Now, scientists are aiming to bring similar transformative effects to wildlife control. Trials are underway in the United Kingdom and other European countries to administer contraceptives to animals such as pigeons, squirrels, and wild boar. Deer and invasive parakeets are also… Continue reading Pigeons to Be Put on the Pill
There are only around 22,000 lions left in Africa, compared to about 100,000 in 1965. Kruger National Park has some of the best access to wild animals in all of Africa and is possibly the most famous game reserve in the continent. South African National Parks – Sanparks – has acknowledged that poachers have poisoned… Continue reading Lions in South Africa are being poisoned for their body parts
Residents of Devon have been instructed to boil tap water before drinking it after 46 confirmed cases and over 100 suspected cases of parasitic disease in the water. The primarily waterborne parasite, cryptosporidium, informally known as “crypto”, can cause cryptosporidiosis, impacting between 3,000 and 6,000 people in the United Kingdom every year, with symptoms developing… Continue reading Devon residents must boil tap water to avoid parasitic disease
Following heavy rains and flash flooding in various regions of Australia, toilet snakes have become a growing concern for residents. The inundation of floodwaters has forced snakes and other animals into built-up areas, causing them to seek refuge in unexpected places, including toilets and bathrooms. This phenomenon has sparked widespread attention on social media and… Continue reading Toilet snakes becoming a growing problem in Australia after heavy rains
