A tantalising discrepancy from the standard model of particle physics hasn’t persisted in new results from CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC). While the previous result created a frenzy of hypotheses about new particles and adjustments to the standard model that could account for the discrepancy, there is growing evidence that it was not quite correct.
In 2022, researchers analysing archival data from the now-shuttered Tevatron collider in Illinois found that a fundamental particle called the W boson seemed to be …
In a heartwarming incident, a raccoon was recently rescued by the New England Wildlife Center after getting its head stuck inside a peanut butter jar.
The animal had been blindly navigating the underbrush, trying to free itself from the jar. Fortunately, a homeowner noticed the raccoon and alerted the rescue team, who worked tirelessly to track down and free the animal.
The rescue team used cat food as bait to lure the raccoon out of its burrow and then used a grabbing tool to remove the jar from its head quickly. The raccoon emerged from its burrow unharmed and was able to return to its life in the wild.
The rescue team urged community members to prevent situations like this from happening in the future by securing their garbage cans tightly and screwing lids back onto jars before trashing them. By taking these simple steps, we can all help protect wildlife and prevent unnecessary accidents like this from occurring.
This heartwarming story reminds us of the importance of wildlife conservation and the impact our actions can have on the world around us.
By taking small steps like properly disposing of our waste and supporting organizations like the New England Wildlife Center, we can all make a difference in the lives f animals and help create a more sustainable future for everyone.
If you would like to help other animals like the rescued raccoon, consider donating to the New England Wildlife Center. Every little bit helps, and together we can make a real difference in the world.
Let’s all do our part to protect and preserve the natural world for future generations to come.
This article by Nicholas Vincent was first published by OneGreenPlanet on 15 March 2023.
What you can do
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Fighting for Wildlife supports approved wildlife conservation organizations, which spend at least 80 percent of the money they raise on actual fieldwork, rather than administration and fundraising. When making a donation you can designate for which type of initiative it should be used – wildlife, oceans, forests or climate.
A wolverine, a threatened species, has been spotted by trekkers outside the mountains of Oregon. In Portland, the exceptionally rare wolverine sighting was documented on camera.
Two anglers saw the elusive animal on the banks of the Columbia River close to Portland on March 20, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
In more than three decades, a wolverine has not been seen outside of the Wallowa Mountains in Oregon.
Threatened Species, Wolverine
Wolverines are incredibly uncommon. There were thought to be only 300 in the US as of 2016. Although it was commonly thought that they had disappeared from Oregon by 1936, several sightings throughout the 1960s to 1990s were reported. Three wolverines were discovered during a monitoring project from 2010 to 2012 in the northeastern region of the state.
In Oregon, wolverines are classified as a threatened species. The largest member of the weasel family, they are occasionally mistaken for small bears.
The animals are most frequently spotted in mountainous regions and at high altitudes.
This recently spotted wolverine was probably leaving the state because the area around it is not where it prefers to live.
Since the species can travel more than 30 miles per day, biologists do not anticipate seeing the animal again. This means that by this point, it will have long since gone.
Hey, is that a wolverine…again? The bushy tail, blackish brown coat and pale brown stripe along its side certainly look wolverine-like! A second sighting of the wolverine was reported in Damascus, Oregon on Wednesday after an initial sighting along the Columbia River on Monday. pic.twitter.com/mpGjVKsxL5
— Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (@MyODFW) March 23, 2023
Rare Sightings
A wolverine was last seen in Oregon in 2022 in Wallowa County, before this most recent sighting.
Scientists from Oregon Fish and Wildlife teamed up with the nonprofit Cascadia Wild to set up two monitoring stations close to the wolverine upon reports of its most recent sighting.
In the unlikely event that the wolverine is still in the area, they will be able to detect any tracks it may have left behind.
If they are successful in obtaining the animal’s DNA, it might be possible to identify the individual and track the animal in the future.
The proximity of the area to Portland, according to biologist Dave Keiter of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, made this sighting unexpected.
When they were able to confirm the sighting, he said, biologists were “elated.”
Keiter expressed their gratitude to those who alerted them to this unusual occurrence and to Cascadia Wild, which assisted them in validating the report and starting their monitoring efforts.
Due to their rarity, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife together with Cascadia Wild is encouraging people to send in any photos they may have of wolverines.
One of the best sources of information on wildlife, according to Teri Lysak, a coordinator for Cascadia Wild’s wolverine tracking program, is from everyday individuals who pay attention to what they observe. Lysak also expressed her gratitude to the couple for taking the time to inform their team that they had seen this animal, Newsweek reports.
The Cascadia Wild Wolverine Tracking Project states that its objectives are to conduct wildlife surveys that broaden the body of knowledge used to make decisions about wildlife management, promote public involvement with local national forests, and educate participants about the natural world.
Sea otters in California are dying from a particularly virulent strain of toxoplasmosis, which may one day threaten both human and animal public health.
New Parasitic Strain, Four Sea Otters
This deadly condition is caused by a rare strain of the Toxoplasma gondii, a microscopic parasite that has so far been found in four stranded otters.
Even though toxoplasmosis in sea otters is common and can even be fatal, the authors emphasized that this particular strain seems particularly vicious and can quickly take the lives of healthy adult animals.
The researchers believe that this strain of Toxoplasma is a recent arrival because it has never been found on the coast of California before.
They expressed concern about possible contamination of the environment as well as the marine food chain as a result, stating that such conditions could be hazardous to the public’s health. But no infections in humans have been documented thus far.
Devinn Sinnott from the University of California said that for two main reasons, the discovery of this deadly strain of Toxoplasma in California coasts is alarming. Sinnott is the study co-author.
According to EurekAlert!, the four sea otters involved in the study, which washed up on shore between 2020 and 2022, all displayed “steatitis,” which is a severe inflammation of body fat.
Potential Environmental Contamination
Sinnott explained that these issues include the potential effects on a threatened species’ population health as well as the parasite’s capacity to have an impact on the health of other animals who are prone to Toxoplasma infection.
Because they live close to the coast and can be exposed to the parasite’s eggs through storm runoff and by consuming marine invertebrates that have the parasites, the authors noted that sea otters are particularly susceptible to Toxoplasma infection.
However, the occurrence of severe steatitis in sea otters with toxoplasmosis is a very unusual finding, the researchers noted.
According to the study, DNA testing revealed that all four stranded otters carried the uncommon strain of Toxoplasma known as COUG. Mountain lions in Canada were where this strain was first discovered in 1995.
The COUG genotype was never before described in sea otters, anywhere along the California coast, or in any other aquatic mammal or bird, according to Karen Shapiro, a graduate of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Shapiro is the senior author of the study.
According to the study, all four of the otters were exposed to Toxoplasma eggs through storm runoff because they all became stranded during times of heavy coastal rainfall. Three of the tested otters were adult females in San Luis Obispo County, about 16 miles apart from one another, and one was a young male who had become stranded in Santa Cruz County.
The corresponding author Melissa Miller from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife expressed concern that Toxoplasma could potentially cause disease in both animals and people who share the same environment or food sources because it can infect any warm-blooded animal. Such foods include raw or undercooked mussels, clams, oysters, and crabs.
Miller stated that others must be aware of the team’s findings, quickly identify cases, and take precautions to avoid infection because this parasite can infect both humans and other animals.
She continued by advising people to exercise extra caution if they notice inflamed systemic fat in sea otters as well as other marine wildlife, The Hill reports.
The study by Sinnott, Miller, Shapiro, and several colleagues was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
Weather reports said that hotter weather and bushfire season could likely emerge in Australia as the La Nina phenomenon ends.
Australians should keep updated with the weather. The hotter weather could likely cause risk to people vulnerable to hotter temperatures.
The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that millions of fish became washed up in southeastern Australia.
According to the report, the hot weather, flooding and possible oxygen levels might have caused the tragic deaths.
Possible hot temperatures and bushfire season
The El Nino phenomenon could significantly affect the weather, bringing hotter temperatures and challenging heat waves.
La Nina was helpful in unleashing cooler temperatures.
In the latest report, the 9news reported that the Bureau of Meteorology recently issued an El Nino watch in Australia due to the possible threat of El Nino.
(Photo : by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images) Sydney, Australia. As the La Nina phenomenon ends, weather reports noted that bushfire season and hotter weather could likely emerge in Australia, urging people to stay aware of the weather conditions.
The challenging weather conditions in Australia could result in dangerous heatwaves, as El Nino could cause hotter weather or temperatures.
According to the Australian Red Cross, heat waves and record-challenging heat could cause a significant health risk.
The report noted that heatwaves could kill.
The situation could become more problematic for at-risk or vulnerable people, especially older adults, children, Australia with medical conditions and outdoor workers.
As a result, knowing the weather conditions would be helpful for Australians to be better prepared for the possible impact of heat waves and hot weather outlook.
Here are essential reminders for Australians to prepare for the possible troublesome heat.
Stay updated with the weather conditions in Australia
The report explained that Australians should keep updated with the weather outlook in Australia, especially alerts from the Bureau of Meteorology.
It is best to stay at home when the weather is hotter. Australians could reschedule their outdoor activities when the weather is cooler.
Homeowners should also monitor the body temperatures of their family members for possible heat fatigue or heat stroke.
Check how your home becomes cooler
Air conditioning is helpful during the challenging heat. Homeowners should ensure that they check their homes to see how they can make them more relaxed or cooler.
The Australian Red Cross recommended installing awnings and having shade clothes to maintain a cooler environment.
As the La Nina phenomenon ends, there is a possibility that temperatures could become hotter due to the impact of El Nino.
This wound-monitoring smart patch could one day be used to speed healing in humans – so far it has been tested in mice and rats
Wei Gao, California Institute of Technology
A stretchy bandage that can monitor wounds, release drugs as needed and perform electrical stimulation has been shown to accelerate healing in rodents.
Wei Gao at the California Institute of Technology and his colleagues have developed the smart sticking plaster from a flexible printed circuit board. The dressing, which is just a few centimetres long, contains electrochemical sensors that analyse a range of biomarkers, including temperature …
