If you’re in the U.S. you’ve probably seen the tall invasive reed known as phragmites, the scourge of wetlands. It takes over thousands of acres, creating a vast sea of phragmites instead of the diverse habitat that birds and other critters need. But beating phragmites back, as satisfying as it is, isn’t enough to restore a wetland, as researchers in Utah have learned:

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/11/nx-s1-5186952/killing-phragmites-wetlands-scourge-native-plants

#wetlands #ecology #invasivespecies #science #nature #plants #botany #birds

About two dozen former research chimps living on a military base in New Mexico will be moved to a sanctuary in Louisiana. Five years ago, gov’t officials said the chimps were too unhealthy and frail to make the move. But now the situation there has changed the risk/benefit calculation:

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/11/07/nx-s1-5183078/frail-chimps-headed-from-new-mexico-to-louisiana-sanctuary

#primates #animalwelfare #chimps #NIH #science #medicine #biology

STEAMBOAT is a rock star geyser. It's the tallest active geyser in the world, and famously unpredictable. But now, researchers say one major eruption seems to have been triggered by an nearby earthquake. And just this month, another small earthquake was followed by a Steamboat eruption. Is all this an intriguing clue about what controls Steamboat, or is it just coincidence?

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/23/nx-s1-5157788/when-steamboat-goes-whoosh-scientists-look-for-answers

#science #geology #volcano #Yellowstone #nature #earthquake
photo credit: Mara Reed

The American Ornithological Society recently announced a plan to change the English common names of 100+ birds: *all* birds named after people. The sweeping move, intended to remove embedded racism and colonialism, provoked strong responses. At the society's annual meeting this week; proponents and opponents will have their say:

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/03/nx-s1-5137123/birders-argue-plan-change-birds-named-people

#birds #birding #ornithology #STEM #science #biology #racism #colonialism #history #zoology #nature

Over 10,000 "rock glaciers" are in the western U. S. states, where this type of glacier outnumbers the regular ol' white kind. These rock-covered ice features have long been mostly ignored, but it turns out that they're much more resilient to warming temperatures, as all that rock acts as insulation. As other kinds of ice disappear, rock glaciers may be an important water source and a refuge for cold-loving species.

#geology #glaciers #climatechange
https://www.npr.org/2024/09/30/nx-s1-5109050/climate-resistant-glaciers-hold-water-cooler-temperatues
photo: M. Morriss

Birds don't just build nests off of hard-wired instinctual blueprints. Instead, they can learn from other birds and from their own past experiences. Some bird groups even have their own nest-building cultural traditions, a new study shows
#nature #birds #science #wildlife #biology & photo M. C. Tello-Ramos

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/29/nx-s1-5090967/birds-build-nests-tradition-culture-architecture

A team blasting off in a SpaceX capsule, as soon as early Tuesday morning, will attempt the first ever private spacewalk, planned for later this week. Spacewalks can be risky; one study found that historically, 22% of all spacewalks experienced significant incidents and/or close calls. The SpaceX capsule has no airlock, all 4 crew members will be exposed to the vacuum of space when the hatch opens. (Photo from SpaceX)

#NASA #Space #science #SpaceX