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01 / 05
From Edge of Extinction to Australia’s Croc “Paradise”

Phys.org | Conservation & Biodiversity

From Edge of Extinction to Australia’s Croc “Paradise”

“In the 1970s, an estimated 98 percent of the wild saltwater crocodile population had disappeared in the Northern Territory, driven by leather demand and culling.

Now, according to government figures, over 100,000 ‘salties,’ which can grow over six meters long and weigh more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds), hunt along the coasts, rivers and wetlands of the continent’s far north.”

From Phys.org.

ISAAA | Pollution

High-Yield Rice Emits up to 70 Percent Less Methane

“Rice, one of the world’s key staples, is responsible for 12 percent of global methane emissions. Now, an international team of scientists has identified chemical compounds released by rice roots that determine how much methane the plants emit…

When the research team grew these low fumarate and high ethanol (LFHE) rice varieties at various field sites throughout China, the LFHE rice produced 70 percent less methane on average compared with the elite variety from which it was bred. The LFHE crops also have high yields at yields—8.96 tons/hectare on average, compared to the 2024 global average of 4.71 tons/hectare.”

From ISAAA.

NBC News | Conservation & Biodiversity

Kangaroo Embryo Produced Through IVF for the First Time

“Researchers in Australia said Thursday that they have for the first time successfully produced the first kangaroo embryos through in-vitro fertilization, in a breakthrough that may help save endangered species from extinction…

The research will help scientists learn more about how marsupial embryos grow because the class reproduces differently compared to other mammals.”

From NBC News.

Phys.org | Forests

Earth Saw Record-High Greening in 2020

“The year 2020 was the greenest in modern satellite records from 2001 to 2020, according to a recent study published in Remote Sensing of Environment. Consistent growth in northern and temperate regions, combined with a brief period of tropical growth, primarily led to this remarkably verdant period…

To tease out the drivers of Earth’s green-up, they used machine learning and ecological simulations to explore how different environmental and human factors might have affected vegetation growth. Contrary to expectations, pandemic-related lockdowns had a limited effect on global greening…

The team found that 2020’s record-high greening was instead primarily associated with temperate and colder regions, fueled by rising CO2 levels, climate warming and reforestation efforts. The effects of climate warming were most prominent in cooler areas, such as boreal forests, where rising temperatures extended growing seasons.”

From Phys.org.

World Bank | Adoption of Technology

Senegal Closing on Universal Electricity Access

“Khady’s story reflects Senegal’s broader journey toward universal electricity access. The country has made significant strides, with a national access rate of 84% according to government sources. This progress has transformed millions of lives, yet the journey is far from over. While urban areas enjoy near-universal access, over 30 % of rural communities remain disconnected from the grid.”

From World Bank.