returntonow--2020-11-10--Bamboo Tower Produces Up To 25 Gallons of Water In A Day Without Electricity

A new , low-tech invention could quench the thirst of millions of thirsty Africans by soaking up water from the atmosphere Africa has long struggled to find clean drinking water for its people .
Millions of villagers spend 4 to 6 hours a day searching for water , and most of time it ’ s not even clean .
With Africa ’ s population ballooning at over a billion people , the problem is only going to get bigger and bigger .
Fortunately , a nonprofit has come up with a cheap , quick-to-assemble bamboo structure that will help bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their invention is the Warka Water Tower which is designed to harvest up to 25 gallons of water per day from the atmosphere .
This easy-to-maintain , passive structure relies only on gravity , condensation and evaporation .
Warka Water Tower is a 30-foot-tall tower made out of local , natural , biodegradable materials .
It has an orange , water-resistant mesh on the inside that collects fog from the atmosphere .
The “ Warka ” Water Tower is actually named after the Warka tree .
This giant fig tree is found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides shade , food , and a gathering place for Africans .
These structures only cost about a thousand dollars a piece , making them easy to build all over Africa .
With the low cost and readily available materials to make them , hopefully more Africans will have access to clean water in the very near future .

A new, low-tech invention could quench the thirst of millions of thirsty Africans by soaking up water from the atmosphere
Africa has long struggled to find clean drinking water for its people. Millions of villagers spend 4 to 6 hours a day searching for water, and most of time it’s not even clean.
With Africa’s population ballooning at over a billion people, the problem is only going to get bigger and bigger.
Fortunately, a nonprofit has come up with a cheap, quick-to-assemble bamboo structure that will help bring Africans clean water out of thin air.
Their invention is the Warka Water Tower which is designed to harvest up to 25 gallons of water per day from the atmosphere. This easy-to-maintain, passive structure relies only on gravity, condensation and evaporation.
Warka Water Tower is a 30-foot-tall tower made out of local, natural, biodegradable materials. It has an orange, water-resistant mesh on the inside that collects fog from the atmosphere.
The “Warka” Water Tower is actually named after the Warka tree. This giant fig tree is found in Ethiopia and is sacred because it provides shade, food, and a gathering place for Africans.
These structures only cost about a thousand dollars a piece, making them easy to build all over Africa.
With the low cost and readily available materials to make them, hopefully more Africans will have access to clean water in the very near future.


returntonow--2020-11-10--How to Tell the Difference Between a Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter Cactus

Thanksgiving cacti should be in full bloom right now .
Here ’ s how you can identify and collect all three so you can have cacti blooming for every holiday season !
If your “ Christmas Cactus ” is already blooming in November , chances are you actually have a Thanksgiving Cactus .
And if your winter-blooming cactus always seems to flower early , you might have an Easter Cactus .
Christmas Cacti are the most well known of the holiday cacti , probably because of their unique ability to brighten up the darkest , coldest time of year with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not overlook the also gorgeous Thanksgiving and Easter Cacti .
Below , we ’ ll tell you how to tell them apart so you can enjoy holiday cheer at the right time of year… or you can get all three to keep them blooming in waves from fall to spring .
The three main ways to tell them apart is when they bloom , what their flowers look like and the shape of their leaves : The most obvious clue is what time of year the plants start to flower , but this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cacti start to bloom in late October/early November .
Christmas Cacti begin to bud in late November/early December .
Easter cacti , as you probably guessed , bloom in the spring .
The tricky part is sometimes , Christmas and Thanksgiving Cacti also have a second round of blooms in the spring .
Easter Cacti only ever bloom in the spring though , and some years don ’ t bloom at all , according to DesertSucculents.com .
Thanksgiving Cactus flowers are are pink , red , white or yellow , with asymmetrical petals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flowers are usually a reddish magenta or white ( occasionally yellow ) .
The flowers have symmetrical petals and hang straight down , as if they are drooping .
Easter Cactus red , pink or purple flowers are brighter than those of the cold season cacti and star-shaped .
The leaves of the Thanksgiving Cactus have jagged or serrated edges with 2-4 sharp points on each side .
Easter Cacti also have rounder , scalloped edges , but also have little bristles on the end .
Where to find them While Christmas Cacti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the least commercially available .
What most nurseries advertise as “ Christmas Cacti ” are actually Thanksgiving Cacti .
To find a true Christmas cacti , you may have to ask your grandma or one of her friends .
If you find one simply break off a Y-shaped branch and plant it in a pot of wet soil .
It will root in no time , The Old Farmer ’ s Almanac says .
Christmas Cacti can live for over 100 years , so you can share yours with your grandchildren too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offers several helpful tips on how to care for your holiday cactus .
RELATED : 7 Reasons To Get a Christmas Cactus Instead Of — Or In Addition To — A Christmas Tree

Thanksgiving cacti should be in full bloom right now. Here’s how you can identify and collect all three so you can have cacti blooming for every holiday season!
If your “Christmas Cactus” is already blooming in November, chances are you actually have a Thanksgiving Cactus.
And if your winter-blooming cactus always seems to flower early, you might have an Easter Cactus.
Christmas Cacti are the most well known of the holiday cacti, probably because of their unique ability to brighten up the darkest, coldest time of year with their holly-red flowers. But we should not overlook the also gorgeous Thanksgiving and Easter Cacti.
Below, we’ll tell you how to tell them apart so you can enjoy holiday cheer at the right time of year… or you can get all three to keep them blooming in waves from fall to spring.
The three main ways to tell them apart is when they bloom, what their flowers look like and the shape of their leaves:
Blooming Season
The most obvious clue is what time of year the plants start to flower, but this can be a bit tricky.
Thanksgiving Cacti start to bloom in late October/early November. Christmas Cacti begin to bud in late November/early December. Easter cacti, as you probably guessed, bloom in the spring. The tricky part is sometimes, Christmas and Thanksgiving Cacti also have a second round of blooms in the spring. Easter Cacti only ever bloom in the spring though, and some years don’t bloom at all, according to DesertSucculents.com.
Flowers
Thanksgiving Cactus flowers are are pink, red, white or yellow, with asymmetrical petals that stretch out horizontally.
Christmas Cactus flowers are usually a reddish magenta or white (occasionally yellow). The flowers have symmetrical petals and hang straight down, as if they are drooping.
Easter Cactus red, pink or purple flowers are brighter than those of the cold season cacti and star-shaped.
Leaves
The leaves of the Thanksgiving Cactus have jagged or serrated edges with 2-4 sharp points on each side.
Christmas Cacti are tear-drop shaped with, rounder, scalloped edges
Easter Cacti also have rounder, scalloped edges, but also have little bristles on the end.
Where to find them
While Christmas Cacti have been around the longest, they are the least commercially available. What most nurseries advertise as “Christmas Cacti” are actually Thanksgiving Cacti. To find a true Christmas cacti, you may have to ask your grandma or one of her friends.
If you find one simply break off a Y-shaped branch and plant it in a pot of wet soil. It will root in no time, The Old Farmer’s Almanac says.
Christmas Cacti can live for over 100 years, so you can share yours with your grandchildren too!
The Old Farmer’s Almanac offers several helpful tips on how to care for your holiday cactus.
RELATED: 7 Reasons To Get a Christmas Cactus Instead Of — Or In Addition To — A Christmas Tree


returntonow--2020-11-11--Super Efficient Solar Hemp House Design Could Help Moroccans Live Comfortably Off Grid

A sphere of solar panels passively cools the earthen home while generating maximum electricity Moroccan architecture students have designed a unique solar hemp house capable of keeping off-grid desert dwellers cool in even the most extreme temperatures .
The all-natural hempcrete walls are surrounded by a sphere of solar panels , whose shape serves a dual purpose : shading the home , while maximizing the amount of electricity generated by capturing sunlight from all angles .
The 1000-square-foot earthen home was created as part of a competition sponsored by the U.S. and Moroccan energy departments called the Solar Decathalon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ composite using vegetable-based bio-resins , avoiding technical or synthetic components , and to power the home using nothing but solar energy .
The walls – a mixture of hemp , earth , volcanic ash and lime – are surrounded by a spherical hemp-wool shell , which house 24 flexible photovoltaic panels .
The hemp wool panels shade the home , while protecting the backside of the solar panels from temperatures that are often over 115 degrees in the shade .
The curve of the panels allows them to capture sunlight from all angles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of day .
“ The cylindrical envelope of the circular building … gives interior comfort through optimal damping and thermal phase shift , and osmosis of the components in the hempcrete formulation , ” Monika Brümmer , a German architect and natural builder who led the project , told Hemp Today .
“ This ‘ space-ship ’ is advanced in time and reflects a turn not only in North Africa but in hemp construction , which doesn ’ t have comparable prototypes anywhere in the world.
” The home was built for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the other solar homes in the contest .

A sphere of solar panels passively cools the earthen home while generating maximum electricity
Moroccan architecture students have designed a unique solar hemp house capable of keeping off-grid desert dwellers cool in even the most extreme temperatures.
The all-natural hempcrete walls are surrounded by a sphere of solar panels, whose shape serves a dual purpose: shading the home, while maximizing the amount of electricity generated by capturing sunlight from all angles.
The 1000-square-foot earthen home was created as part of a competition sponsored by the U.S. and Moroccan energy departments called the Solar Decathalon.
The challenge was to create a hemp composite using vegetable-based bio-resins, avoiding technical or synthetic components, and to power the home using nothing but solar energy.
The walls – a mixture of hemp, earth, volcanic ash and lime – are surrounded by a spherical hemp-wool shell, which house 24 flexible photovoltaic panels.
The hemp wool panels shade the home, while protecting the backside of the solar panels from temperatures that are often over 115 degrees in the shade. The curve of the panels allows them to capture sunlight from all angles, no matter what the season or time of day.
“The cylindrical envelope of the circular building … gives interior comfort through optimal damping and thermal phase shift, and osmosis of the components in the hempcrete formulation,” Monika Brümmer, a German architect and natural builder who led the project, told Hemp Today.
“This ‘space-ship’ is advanced in time and reflects a turn not only in North Africa but in hemp construction, which doesn’t have comparable prototypes anywhere in the world.”
The home was built for $120,000, around half the cost of the other solar homes in the contest.


returntonow--2020-11-12--STUDY: Daycares in Finland Built “Forest Floors” and Changed Kids’ Immune Systems

Within 30 days of playing in the forest soil and leaf litter , Finnish preschoolers had increased T-cell counts and far more diverse gut bacteria In a fascinating experiment , Finnish researchers recreated the environment of a forest floor on the playgrounds of four urban daycare centers .
They covered the play-yards with forest soil , moss , meadow grasses , dwarf heather , blueberries and crowberries and installed planter boxes for annual garden crops .
Daycare workers instructed the preschool-aged kids to play in the greenery and soil for an hour and a half a day for a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analyzed before and after the experiment and compared with those of children from normal urban daycare centers with standard sterile play-yards .
After just 28 days , the diversity of their intestinal and skin bacteria increased dramatically , as did their T-cell counts and other important immune markers in their blood .
“ The results of this study support the biodiversity hypothesis and the concept that low biodiversity in the modern living environment may lead to an un-educated immune system and consequently increase the prevalence of immune-mediated diseases , ” the authors write @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the forest floor was gammaproteobacteria , which appeared to boost the skin ’ s immune defense , as well as increase helpful immune secretions in the blood and reduce the content of interleukin-17A , which is connected to immune-transmitted diseases .
“ This supports the assumption that contact with nature prevents disorders in the immune system , such as autoimmune diseases and allergies , ” says research scientist Aki Sinkkonen , who led the study .

Within 30 days of playing in the forest soil and leaf litter, Finnish preschoolers had increased T-cell counts and far more diverse gut bacteria
In a fascinating experiment, Finnish researchers recreated the environment of a forest floor on the playgrounds of four urban daycare centers.
They covered the play-yards with forest soil, moss, meadow grasses, dwarf heather, blueberries and crowberries and installed planter boxes for annual garden crops.
Daycare workers instructed the preschool-aged kids to play in the greenery and soil for an hour and a half a day for a month.
Their gut and skin microbes were analyzed before and after the experiment and compared with those of children from normal urban daycare centers with standard sterile play-yards.
After just 28 days, the diversity of their intestinal and skin bacteria increased dramatically, as did their T-cell counts and other important immune markers in their blood.
“The results of this study support the biodiversity hypothesis and the concept that low biodiversity in the modern living environment may lead to an un-educated immune system and consequently increase the prevalence of immune-mediated diseases,” the authors write.
One of the microbes acquired from the forest floor was gammaproteobacteria, which appeared to boost the skin’s immune defense, as well as increase helpful immune secretions in the blood and reduce the content of interleukin-17A, which is connected to immune-transmitted diseases.
“This supports the assumption that contact with nature prevents disorders in the immune system, such as autoimmune diseases and allergies,” says research scientist Aki Sinkkonen, who led the study.


returntonow--2020-11-13--DIY: Learn The Simple, Yet Surprisingly Satisfying, Art of Rock Wrapping

Want to save money on Christmas gifts and teach the kids a cool new nature craft ?
Wrap up some @ @ @ @ @ hobby is trending on Pinterest , Etsy and YouTube – wrapping rocks .
It may @ @ @ @ @ for reason people are loving these plain old rocks wrapped with leather cord .
Inspired @ @ @ @ @ ’ s instructional videos , people are trying their own hands at the craft and @ @ @ @ @ over the internet .
The simple stones are transformed into stunning centerpieces and jewelry by @ @ @ @ @ and tying it into an elaborate series of knots .
The patterns can be as @ @ @ @ @ want .
You can start with something simple for the kids .
And when you @ @ @ @ @ try some of these : Learn to make dozens of these patterns yourself on this @ @ @ @ @ It All Together .
”

Want to save money on Christmas gifts and teach the kids a cool new nature craft? Wrap up some rocks!
A strange new hobby is trending on Pinterest, Etsy and YouTube – wrapping rocks.
It may sound silly, but some for reason people are loving these plain old rocks wrapped with leather cord.
Inspired by a world-famous knot tyer’s instructional videos, people are trying their own hands at the craft and sharing images of them all over the internet.
The simple stones are transformed into stunning centerpieces and jewelry by wrapping leather cord around them and tying it into an elaborate series of knots.
The patterns can be as complex or basic as you want.
You can start with something simple for the kids.
And when you want to go pro, try some of these:
Learn to make dozens of these patterns yourself on this awesome YouTube channel “Tying It All Together.”


returntonow--2020-11-16--Photographer Captures Perfectly Symmetrical Reflection of a Bald Eagle in a Pond

An amateur Canadian photographer was on his second visit to the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Ontario when he captured the shot of a lifetime .
On his previous visit he ’ d attempted to capture some reflection shots of Bruce , the Conservancy ’ s resident bald eagle , but the water was too choppy .
This time , the eagle stared and flew straight at him over calm waters , and he snapped as many photos as he could take .
“ It was only later when I went through my images and cropped in closer on him did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him squared off perfectly and staring daggers at me , ” photographer Steve Biro told TreeHugger.com .
“ I had decided to get down close to the water on a rock at the edge and he was , I think , annoyed with me being so close .
He flew towards me , staring at me often , and then a couple times definitely close enough for me to feel a breeze.
” “ He was staring quite a bit at me and when I moved away from the rock to get some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straight to it as if to say , ‘ This is my territory , pal . '
” For more spectacular wildlife photos check out Biro ’ s Instagram and Facebook pages .

Photographer snaps once-in-a-lifetime shot of our revered national bird
An amateur Canadian photographer was on his second visit to the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Ontario when he captured the shot of a lifetime.
On his previous visit he’d attempted to capture some reflection shots of Bruce, the Conservancy’s resident bald eagle, but the water was too choppy.
This time, the eagle stared and flew straight at him over calm waters, and he snapped as many photos as he could take.
“It was only later when I went through my images and cropped in closer on him did I realize how perfect it looked with him squared off perfectly and staring daggers at me,” photographer Steve Biro told TreeHugger.com.
“I had decided to get down close to the water on a rock at the edge and he was, I think, annoyed with me being so close. He flew towards me, staring at me often, and then a couple times definitely close enough for me to feel a breeze.”
“He was staring quite a bit at me and when I moved away from the rock to get some pics of him landing, he swooped straight to it as if to say, ‘This is my territory, pal.’”
For more spectacular wildlife photos check out Biro’s Instagram and Facebook pages.


returntonow--2020-11-18--Male Fin Whales Spread Their Songs Around the Seas, Scientists Discover

Migrating fin whales teach each other their tunes , so their unique songs can be heard all around the ocean Previously whale “ songs ” were thought to be quite simple .
Scientists thought individual whales knew only one distinct song pattern , which helped it identify other members of its group .
But now they ’ ve discovered each male fin whale can possess dozens of songs in his repertoire , tunes he picks up from other whale groups as he migrates around the ocean .
“ Male fin whales in the Pacific sing just two very low notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to create song , ” Dr. Tyler Helble of the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific tells Phys.org .
“ Previously , some marine mammal scientists thought that fin whales each sang a single pattern of notes , which was found only within their specific group and region .
Our research indicates that fin whale song is more complex than this.
” “ The fin whale song is more fluid than previously thought , and the song may change through cultural transmission between populations , ” study coauthor Regina Guazzo tells Treehugger .
Fin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasonally from breeding to feeding locations .
It ’ s during these migrations that the males are probably sharing their songs with males from other groups , researchers say .
Their are various purposes of the males ’ haunting vocalizations – to attract mates , to communicate their location , or to determine the friendliness of other males .
Fin whales are an endangered species .
An estimated 750,000 were killed in the 1970 ’ s for their fat , bones and oil .
Now their population is estimated at around 100,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainty around the fin whale population size and structure in the North Pacific , and so learning about the song could help us understand population dynamics in this region much better , ” Helble says .

Migrating fin whales teach each other their tunes, so their unique songs can be heard all around the ocean
Male fin whales engage in a fascinating song swapping behavior, a new study reveals.
Previously whale “songs” were thought to be quite simple. Scientists thought individual whales knew only one distinct song pattern, which helped it identify other members of its group. But now they’ve discovered each male fin whale can possess dozens of songs in his repertoire, tunes he picks up from other whale groups as he migrates around the ocean.
“Male fin whales in the Pacific sing just two very low notes, which are produced in different rhythms to create song,” Dr. Tyler Helble of the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific tells Phys.org.
“Previously, some marine mammal scientists thought that fin whales each sang a single pattern of notes, which was found only within their specific group and region. Our research indicates that fin whale song is more complex than this.”
“The fin whale song is more fluid than previously thought, and the song may change through cultural transmission between populations,” study coauthor Regina Guazzo tells Treehugger.
Fin whales have complex migration routes, traveling seasonally from breeding to feeding locations. It’s during these migrations that the males are probably sharing their songs with males from other groups, researchers say.
Their are various purposes of the males’ haunting vocalizations – to attract mates, to communicate their location, or to determine the friendliness of other males.
Fin whales are an endangered species. An estimated 750,000 were killed in the 1970’s for their fat, bones and oil. Now their population is estimated at around 100,000.
“There is still a lot of uncertainty around the fin whale population size and structure in the North Pacific, and so learning about the song could help us understand population dynamics in this region much better,” Helble says.


returntonow--2020-11-19--Here’s How Bees and Butterflies See Flowers. No Wonder They Love Them!

Humans are blind to ultraviolet light , but bugs can see it , and boy are they lucky !
Ultraviolet florescence photography gives us a hint of how flowers look to pollinators .
Insects see the world very differently from how humans see it .
They can ’ t see red light like we do , but can see ultraviolet wavelengths invisible to the human eye .
We ’ ll never be able to see the world exactly as they do , but a special type of photography called ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence photography can give us a hint at how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world of flowers , which emit their own florescence after being exposed to ultraviolet light .
California photographer Craig Burrows has done some amazing work with this type of photography , soaking the flowers in ultraviolet light , turning it off , and then snapping a photo of the flowers emitting the light they ’ ve just absorbed with a special lens filter .
It ’ s obviously not exactly as bugs would see the flowers , as they are seeing the UV light reflected off the flowers under the sun , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ darkened room , but it gives you an idea .
A 2019 study found the parts of the flowers that reflect UV light are important advertisements for attracting pollinators .
The UV reflecting vs UV absorbing ( UV dark ) parts of the flower , help the bees navigate between petals and pistils ( or stamens ) , helping them find the pollen , a 2009 study found .

Humans are blind to ultraviolet light, but bugs can see it, and boy are they lucky! Ultraviolet florescence photography gives us a hint of how flowers look to pollinators.
Insects see the world very differently from how humans see it. They can’t see red light like we do, but can see ultraviolet wavelengths invisible to the human eye.
We’ll never be able to see the world exactly as they do, but a special type of photography called ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence photography can give us a hint at how awesome the world looks to bugs… especially the world of flowers, which emit their own florescence after being exposed to ultraviolet light.
California photographer Craig Burrows has done some amazing work with this type of photography, soaking the flowers in ultraviolet light, turning it off, and then snapping a photo of the flowers emitting the light they’ve just absorbed with a special lens filter.
It’s obviously not exactly as bugs would see the flowers, as they are seeing the UV light reflected off the flowers under the sun, not fluorescing in the afterglow of a darkened room, but it gives you an idea.
A 2019 study found the parts of the flowers that reflect UV light are important advertisements for attracting pollinators.
The UV reflecting vs UV absorbing (UV dark) parts of the flower, help the bees navigate between petals and pistils (or stamens), helping them find the pollen, a 2009 study found.


returntonow--2020-11-21--Colorado Votes to Bring Back Wolves For the First Time Since the 1940s

Colorado voters approve historic ballot initiative to reintroduce gray wolves to the Rocky mountains , where they ’ ve been extinct for nearly a century Wolves once roamed all over North America , but were almost entirely wiped out by the government and farmers by the early 1900s , with only a small number surviving in the Great Lakes region .
They were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s , and were allowed to spread into Idaho , Montana , Washington , Oregon and Northern California , but no more than a lone wolf or two has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With millions of acres of suitable habitat in the Southern Rocky Mountains , Colorado voters have decided to once again share their state with the apex predators that came before them .
Wolves have been unable to spread from Yellowstone to Colorado on their own because they are hunted without restriction in most of Wyoming , which is why advocates say the animals need human help to transport them across state lines safely .
Repopulating Colorado could connect grey wolves in the Northwest to the Mexican grey wolves in Arizona and New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endangered and inbred populations there , Center for Biological Diversity conservationist Michael Robinson tells National Geographic .
While ranchers worry about wolves killing their cattle , only one in 10,000 have been killed in counties where wolves have been reintroduced in the Northern Rockies , according to Proctor .
The Colorado program will also reimburse ranchers for lost livestock .
Conservationists also point out the ecological benefits of apex predators as a keystone species .
“ They help thin out sick animals , maintaining healthy populations of deer and elk , thus limiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ By killing and competing with coyotes , wolves can support higher populations of other small carnivores , including foxes .
And the remains of wolf kills also provide food for many scavengers , including endangered wolverines , eagles , and bears , ” Robinson says .

Colorado voters approve historic ballot initiative to reintroduce gray wolves to the Rocky mountains, where they’ve been extinct for nearly a century
Wolves once roamed all over North America, but were almost entirely wiped out by the government and farmers by the early 1900s, with only a small number surviving in the Great Lakes region.
They were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s, and were allowed to spread into Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon and Northern California, but no more than a lone wolf or two has been able to make its way into Colorado.
With millions of acres of suitable habitat in the Southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado voters have decided to once again share their state with the apex predators that came before them.
“Reintroducing wolves will restore Colorado’s natural balance,” Defenders of Wildlife conservationist Jonathan Proctor told National Geographic.
Wolves have been unable to spread from Yellowstone to Colorado on their own because they are hunted without restriction in most of Wyoming, which is why advocates say the animals need human help to transport them across state lines safely.
Repopulating Colorado could connect grey wolves in the Northwest to the Mexican grey wolves in Arizona and New Mexico, introducing new genes into the endangered and inbred populations there, Center for Biological Diversity conservationist Michael Robinson tells National Geographic.
While ranchers worry about wolves killing their cattle, only one in 10,000 have been killed in counties where wolves have been reintroduced in the Northern Rockies, according to Proctor. The Colorado program will also reimburse ranchers for lost livestock.
Conservationists also point out the ecological benefits of apex predators as a keystone species.
“They help thin out sick animals, maintaining healthy populations of deer and elk, thus limiting overgrazing and erosion,” Proctor says.
“By killing and competing with coyotes, wolves can support higher populations of other small carnivores, including foxes. And the remains of wolf kills also provide food for many scavengers, including endangered wolverines, eagles, and bears,” Robinson says.


returntonow--2020-11-19--Whole Foods “Humane” Turkey Deception

Whole Foods “Humane” Turkey Deception

Lawsuit accuses Whole Foods ’ main turkey supplier of false advertising , claiming the birds ’ living conditions are anything but “ humane , ” they ’ re not “ hormone-or-antibiotic-free , ” and they receive “ severely toxic chemicals ” prohibited by FDA .
A lawsuit filed against one of Whole Food ’ s top turkey suppliers alleges turkeys are being fraudulently marketed as “ humane ” and “ hormone , antibiotic , and chemical-free.
” Diestel turkeys actually live in horrific conditions and routinely receive synthetic hormones , antibiotics and other drugs strictly prohibited by the FDA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have “ severe toxic effects in humans , ” alleges an amended complaint filed last November by the animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere .
Diestel turkeys tested positive for chloramphenicol , antibiotics , hormones and other pharmaceuticals on four different USDA inspection dates in 2015 and 2016 , according to the complaint ( Page 11 ) filed with a California Superior Court .
Here ’ s a complete list of drug residues the USDA ’ s Food Safety and Inspection Service ( FSIS ) National Residue Program found in Diestel turkeys : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the FDA in food production , known to have “ severe toxic effects in humans including bone marrow suppression or aplastic anemia.
” • Ketamine , a narcotic , described by The Drug Enforcement Agency as “ a dissociative anesthetic ” with “ hallucinogenic effects.
” The drug , sometimes referred to as Special K , is used illicitly at dance clubs and raves and as a tranquilizer by veterinarians .
Not approved for poultry .
• Amikacin , an antibiotic important for human use • Spectinomycin , an antibiotic important for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for veterinary use • Regano Liquid , encourages birds to eat during times of “ stress and disease challenge ” Diestel Turkey Ranch ’ s poster farm in Sonora , California was the first turkey farm ever to earn a 5+ rating on Whole Foods ’ 5-Step animal welfare rating system , Heritage breed turkeys live a picturesque , idyllic life on open pasture there : But you ’ re unlikely to ever see one of these turkeys on the shelf at Whole Foods .
This is how the vast majority of Diestel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diestel ’ s turkeys are rated Step 2 and Step 3 , which according to Whole Foods , is still supposed to be far superior to typical factory farms , but in reality their lives don ’ t look much different .
Direct Action Everywhere conducted a 9-month investigation on Diestel ’ s Jamestown facility and published a report on their findings : • As many as 20,000 birds per barn , surrounded by barren land • Birds trapped in feces a half-foot deep in some places • Many birds with swollen nostrils @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bruises • Records showing up to 7 percent of birds die in a single week If you ’ re familiar Whole Foods ’ Global Animal Partnership rating program , you know debeaking is never permitted in Whole Food ’ s chickens , not even Step 1 .
But look into the fine print on their standards for turkeys , and you ’ ll see beak trimming is allowed in Step 1 , 2 and 3 turkeys .
“ Our birds live in harmony with the environment , ” says the Diestel brochure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to grow slowly and naturally with plenty of room to roam.
” “ Our slow growing feed ratios ensure we don ’ t push the turkeys to grow up fast or larger than what is naturally intended , ” the company reiterates on its website .
“ On the contrary our thoughtfully raised birds grow slowly and naturally , with plenty of fresh air and room to roam , whether indoors or outdoors.
” However , the breed Diestel uses — broad breasted whites — has been bred to grow so fast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not keep up .
They can ’ t mate , perch or fly as their wild ancestors could , Direct Action Everywhere says .
Diestel ’ s response The farm put out a press release Nov. 17 , last year , defending their practices : “ We strongly believe that our advertising is not false in any manner … none of our packaging labels claim that the birds are ‘ free range ’ or ‘ humane , ’ … ” Until confronted by a USDA inspector about their unapproved use of the phrase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ humanely raised.
” Since 2015 , the label has changed to “ thoughtfully raised.
” In a Nov. 13 , 2017 , press release Direct Action Everywhere said Diestel turkeys are just one example of Whole Foods ’ “ corrupt ” animal welfare rating system .
The 5-Step Global Animal Partnership system is funded almost entirely ( 90 percent ) by Whole Foods itself , according to the non-profit ’ s tax records , and until recently was managed by a Whole Foods ’ employee .
Whole Foods ’ GAP-approved farms routinely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be criminal if done to a dog or cat , including castration , debeaking and nose ringing without anesthesia .
Although the lawsuit is still stuck in the court system , The Organic Consumer ’ s Association has started a petition asking Whole Foods to stop selling Diestel turkeys .
Not happy with your commercial turkey choices ?
Here ’ s a guide to raising your own for next year :

Lawsuit accuses Whole Foods’ main turkey supplier of false advertising, claiming the birds’ living conditions are anything but “humane,” they’re not “hormone-or-antibiotic-free,” and they receive “severely toxic chemicals” prohibited by FDA.
A lawsuit filed against one of Whole Food’s top turkey suppliers alleges turkeys are being fraudulently marketed as “humane” and “hormone, antibiotic, and chemical-free.”
Diestel turkeys actually live in horrific conditions and routinely receive synthetic hormones, antibiotics and other drugs strictly prohibited by the FDA, like chloramphenicol, which is known to have “severe toxic effects in humans,” alleges an amended complaint filed last November by the animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere.
Diestel turkeys tested positive for chloramphenicol, antibiotics, hormones and other pharmaceuticals on four different USDA inspection dates in 2015 and 2016, according to the complaint (Page 11) filed with a California Superior Court. Here’s a complete list of drug residues the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) National Residue Program found in Diestel turkeys:
Chloramphenicol, a drug strictly prohibited by the FDA in food production, known to have “severe toxic effects in humans including bone marrow suppression or aplastic anemia.”
Ketamine, a narcotic, described by The Drug Enforcement Agency as “a dissociative anesthetic” with “hallucinogenic effects.” The drug, sometimes referred to as Special K, is used illicitly at dance clubs and raves and as a tranquilizer by veterinarians. Not approved for poultry.
Amikacin, an antibiotic important for human use
Spectinomycin, an antibiotic important for human use
Hygromycin, an antibiotic for veterinary use
Ipronidazole, a veterinary pharmaceutical
Melengestrol acetate, a synthetic hormone
Sulfanitran, an antibacterial drug feed additive
Biosupreme, reduces ammonia fumes
Mucusol, a drug that reduces mucous in congested birds
10-Med 35, a chemical for controlling bacteria in contaminated water
Regano Liquid, encourages birds to eat during times of “stress and disease challenge”
Animal welfare deception
Diestel Turkey Ranch’s poster farm in Sonora, California was the first turkey farm ever to earn a 5+ rating on Whole Foods’ 5-Step animal welfare rating system, Heritage breed turkeys live a picturesque, idyllic life on open pasture there:
But you’re unlikely to ever see one of these turkeys on the shelf at Whole Foods. This is how the vast majority of Diestel turkeys actually live:
The majority of Diestel’s turkeys are rated Step 2 and Step 3, which according to Whole Foods, is still supposed to be far superior to typical factory farms, but in reality their lives don’t look much different.
Direct Action Everywhere conducted a 9-month investigation on Diestel’s Jamestown facility and published a report on their findings:
As many as 20,000 birds per barn, surrounded by barren land
Birds trapped in feces a half-foot deep in some places
Many birds with swollen nostrils, swollen shut eyes, open wounds and bruises
Ammonia fumes so bad, investigators couldn’t breath
Records showing up to 7 percent of birds die in a single week
If you’re familiar Whole Foods’ Global Animal Partnership rating program, you know debeaking is never permitted in Whole Food’s chickens, not even Step 1. But look into the fine print on their standards for turkeys, and you’ll see beak trimming is allowed in Step 1, 2 and 3 turkeys.
“Our birds live in harmony with the environment,” says the Diestel brochure at Whole Foods. “We allow them to grow slowly and naturally with plenty of room to roam.” “Our slow growing feed ratios ensure we don’t push the turkeys to grow up fast or larger than what is naturally intended,” the company reiterates on its website. “On the contrary our thoughtfully raised birds grow slowly and naturally, with plenty of fresh air and room to roam, whether indoors or outdoors.”
However, the breed Diestel uses — broad breasted whites — has been bred to grow so fast and big, its internal organs cannot keep up. They can’t mate, perch or fly as their wild ancestors could, Direct Action Everywhere says.
Diestel’s response The farm put out a press release Nov. 17, last year, defending their practices: “We strongly believe that our advertising is not false in any manner … none of our packaging labels claim that the birds are ‘free range’ or ‘humane,’ …”
Until confronted by a USDA inspector about their unapproved use of the phrase, Diestel’s turkeys were labeled “humanely raised.” Since 2015, the label has changed to “thoughtfully raised.”
Holding Whole Foods Responsible
In a Nov. 13, 2017, press release Direct Action Everywhere said Diestel turkeys are just one example of Whole Foods’ “corrupt” animal welfare rating system.
The 5-Step Global Animal Partnership system is funded almost entirely (90 percent) by Whole Foods itself, according to the non-profit’s tax records, and until recently was managed by a Whole Foods’ employee.
Whole Foods’ GAP-approved farms routinely get away with animal treatment that would be criminal if done to a dog or cat, including castration, debeaking and nose ringing without anesthesia.
Although the lawsuit is still stuck in the court system, The Organic Consumer’s Association has started a petition asking Whole Foods to stop selling Diestel turkeys.
Not happy with your commercial turkey choices? Here’s a guide to raising your own for next year:


returntonow--2020-11-29--Sleeping Whales: Photographer Reveals What Whales Look Like When They Snooze

Sperm whales organize themselves into strange vertical patterns at bedtime , appearing to sleep “ standing up ” It ’ s hard to imagine what an animal the size of a school bus looks like when it sleeps , but thanks to a French diver and photographer , now we know .
When sperm whales get tired , they take a deep breath , dive down about 45 feet and arrange themselves into perfectly-level , vertical patterns , according to National Geographic .
They sleep sound and still for up to two hours at a time between breaths , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presumably for protection .
No one knew whales slept vertically until a 2008 study documented the behavior .
And no one captured really great photos of it until 2017 .
French photographer and filmmaker Stephane Granzotto was documenting sperm whales in the Mediterranean for his photo book on the creatures , when he came across the strange behavior .
While sperm whales in captivity sleep with one eye open and half of their brain alert , there is evidence that they enter fuller , deeper sleep in the wild .
The study noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply until a ship with its engines off accidentally bumped into them .

Sperm whales organize themselves into strange vertical patterns at bedtime, appearing to sleep “standing up”
It’s hard to imagine what an animal the size of a school bus looks like when it sleeps, but thanks to British diver and photographer Patrick Dykstra and French diver and photographer Stephane Granzotto, now we know.
When sperm whales get tired, they take a deep breath, dive down about 45 feet and arrange themselves into perfectly-level, vertical patterns, according to National Geographic.
They sleep sound and still for up to two hours at a time between breaths, in pods of 5 or 6 whales, presumably for protection.
No one knew whales slept vertically until a 2008 study documented the behavior. And no one captured really great photos of it until 2017.
French photographer and filmmaker Stephane Granzotto was documenting sperm whales in the Mediterranean for his photo book on the creatures, when he came across the strange behavior.
While sperm whales in captivity sleep with one eye open and half of their brain alert, there is evidence that they enter fuller, deeper sleep in the wild.
The study noted sperm whales in Chile were observed sleeping deeply until a ship with its engines off accidentally bumped into them.
For more of Patrick Dykstra‘s work, check out his Discovery Channel TV series Chasing Ocean Giants.


returntonow--2020-12-01--New Glass-Domed Train Offers Breathtaking Views From Colorado Rockies to Utah’s Red Rocks

See the unseen Wild West on a “ glass train ” ride !
A new glass-topped train takes riders a 2-day adventure from Denver , Colorado to Moab , Utah .
The new “ Rockies to Red Rocks ” route offers panoramic views of mountain peaks , desert canyons and out-of-this-world red rock formations , winding alongside the Colorado River for much of its length .
The Rocky Mountaineer train company , which already offers three glass train routes in Canada , has been mapping out the perfect route through the U.S. portion of the Rockies for years and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The first leg of the journey takes passengers through the Gross Reservoir Dam , Byers Canyon and Gore Canyon , and ends in Glenwood Springs , where they spend the night .
The second day , the train ventures into Ruby Canyon , past Mount Garfield and into the scarlet city of Moab .
The route opens in August of 2021 .
The entire trip , including hotel , gourmet cuisine , and storytelling tour guides , costs $ 1250 .
While it might be one of the most luxurious vacations you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel good about supporting the environment .
Part of your ticket helps pay for conservation efforts by the Rocky Mountaineer , which won the “ Sustainable Train Journey ” award in Lonely Planet ’ s Best in Travel 2021 for planting trees and helping preserve the natural landscapes along its routes .
To book your trip in advance or learn more , visit their website .

See the unseen Wild West on a “glass train” ride!
A new glass-topped train takes riders a 2-day adventure from Denver, Colorado to Moab, Utah.
The new “Rockies to Red Rocks” route offers panoramic views of mountain peaks, desert canyons and out-of-this-world red rock formations, winding alongside the Colorado River for much of its length.
The Rocky Mountaineer train company, which already offers three glass train routes in Canada, has been mapping out the perfect route through the U.S. portion of the Rockies for years and they’ve finally laid down the tracks.
The first leg of the journey takes passengers through the Gross Reservoir Dam, Byers Canyon and Gore Canyon, and ends in Glenwood Springs, where they spend the night.
The second day, the train ventures into Ruby Canyon, past Mount Garfield and into the scarlet city of Moab.
The route opens in August of 2021. The entire trip, including hotel, gourmet cuisine, and storytelling tour guides, costs $1250.
While it might be one of the most luxurious vacations you ever go on, you can also feel good about supporting the environment. Part of your ticket helps pay for conservation efforts by the Rocky Mountaineer, which won the “Sustainable Train Journey” award in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2021 for planting trees and helping preserve the natural landscapes along its routes.
To book your trip in advance or learn more, visit their website.


returntonow--2020-12-02--People are Painting Acorns to Make Them Cuter than Ever

The above photo of acorns painted in psychedelic patterns is going viral on social media .
The little seeds of @ @ @ @ @ looked so adorable as they do with a coat of brightly colored acrylic paint and @ @ @ @ @ You might mistake them for tiny Easter eggs if not for their little brown hats @ @ @ @ @ the unknown artist was not alone in his or her crafty idea .
Acorns painted @ @ @ @ @ are popping up all over Etsy and Pinterest .
This craft blogger provides pretty simple @ @ @ @ @ your own… essentially : 1 .
Gather acorns in fall or buy them here if @ @ @ @ @ any oak trees 2.Bake them on 170 degrees for 2 hours 3 .
Paint with @ @ @ @ @ 6 .
Hot glue any caps that may fall off in the process You can @ @ @ @ @ every holiday season :

Have the kids make their own Christmas ornaments this year
The above photo of acorns painted in psychedelic patterns is going viral on social media.
The little seeds of the oak tree have never looked so adorable as they do with a coat of brightly colored acrylic paint and lots of tiny details. You might mistake them for tiny Easter eggs if not for their little brown hats.
And it looks like the unknown artist was not alone in his or her crafty idea. Acorns painted in all sorts of designs are popping up all over Etsy and Pinterest.
This craft blogger provides pretty simple instructions for how to make your own… essentially:
1. Gather acorns in fall or buy them here if you don’t have any oak trees
2.Bake them on 170 degrees for 2 hours
3. Paint with two layers of acrylic paint
4. Use fine brush to add details
5. Let dry
6. Hot glue any caps that may fall off in the process
You can make them into decorations for every holiday season:


returntonow--2020-12-04--Man Uses a GPS Tracker to Turn His Bike Rides Into Gigantic Drawings

If you ’ re having a bad day , remember there ’ s a man named “ Bichelangelo ” that makes masterpieces with his bike Canadian Stephen Lund sees pictures in maps the way some people see pictures in clouds .
He traces them , first in pencil and then with his bike – with his GPS tracker on – and the result is magnificent !
He uses an app on his phone called Strava that allows runners and cyclists to map their runs and bike rides ahead of time and then tells them how long they took to complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pop off the map , ” Lund tells Bored Panda .
“ I liken it to seeing shapes in the clouds .
I pour over a map of the city…The challenge is that the roads all have to connect — it has to be one continuous line.
” You can watch a video of him tracing back and forth over the lines like an Etch A Sketch on his website GPSdoodles.com .
Some sketches are simple and take only an hour and a half for Lund – also known as “ Bichelangelo ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like this Orca that appears to be jumping out of the Pacific Ocean .
His longest ride was “ The Mermaid of the Salish Sea , ” which took 4 hours and 13 minutes to complete : He finds pictures in maps all over British Columbia , and the landscape around the pictures often seem coincidentally fitting .
For example , “ The Wicked Witch of the West Coast ” : And the “ Thug Pulling a Gator Out of the Salish Sea ” : Sometimes “ Bichelangelo ” does portraits .
Check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ Statue of David ” : Sometimes he does animals : And one time , he drew a picture of himself :

If you’re having a bad day, remember there’s a man named “Bichelangelo” that makes masterpieces with his bike
Canadian Stephen Lund sees pictures in maps the way some people see pictures in clouds.
He traces them, first in pencil and then with his bike – with his GPS tracker on – and the result is magnificent!
He uses an app on his phone called Strava that allows runners and cyclists to map their runs and bike rides ahead of time and then tells them how long they took to complete the route.
“The best ones pop off the map,” Lund tells Bored Panda. “I liken it to seeing shapes in the clouds. I pour over a map of the city…The challenge is that the roads all have to connect — it has to be one continuous line.”
You can watch a video of him tracing back and forth over the lines like an Etch A Sketch on his website GPSdoodles.com.
Some sketches are simple and take only an hour and a half for Lund – also known as “Bichelangelo” – to complete on his bike, like this Orca that appears to be jumping out of the Pacific Ocean.
His longest ride was “The Mermaid of the Salish Sea,” which took 4 hours and 13 minutes to complete:
He finds pictures in maps all over British Columbia, and the landscape around the pictures often seem coincidentally fitting. For example, “The Wicked Witch of the West Coast”:
And the “Thug Pulling a Gator Out of the Salish Sea”:
Sometimes “Bichelangelo” does portraits. Check out “Queen Victoria” and Michelangelo’s “Statue of David”:
Sometimes he does animals:
And one time, he drew a picture of himself:


returntonow--2020-12-05--The “Christmas Star” Is About to Reappear for the First Time in 800 Years

What some astronomers believe to be “ the Star of Bethlehem ” will reappear in the night sky this Winter Solstice and last until Christmas Day The two largest planets in our solar system – Jupiter and Saturn – will align to create what appears to be a “ double planet ” or ultra-bright star on December 21 this year .
The last time the two planets aligned so closely to each other and to earth was almost 800 years ago !
German astronomer Johannes Kepler wrote in 1614 that he believed the ‘ Star of Bethlehem ’ in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Jupiter and Saturn .
The two planets actually align every 20 years or so , but typically in parts of the sky we can ’ t see from Earth .
“ But this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to one another , ” astronomer Patrick Hartigan of Rice University says .
“ ‘ You ’ d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4 , 1226 , to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two planets crossed each other ’ s paths in 7 BC and that three planets ( Jupiter , Saturn and Mars ) aligned in Pieces ( the sign of the fish , and secret symbol of ancient Christians ) for an even brighter conjunction in 6 BC .
Some believe this could ’ ve been the “ bright star ” the three magi , or wise men , were following to find their way to Bethlehem when Jesus was supposedly born .
“ On the evening of closest approach on Dec 21 they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separated by only 1/5th the diameter of the full moon , ” said Hartigan , a professor of physics and astronomy .
The event can be viewed anywhere on the planet , but will be the brightest for people living near the equator .
For people in the United States , Hartigan recommends looking southwest just after sunset , around twilight , just above the horizon .
The farther north you live , the lower in the sky it will be and the earlier you should start looking for it .

What some astronomers believe to be “the Star of Bethlehem” will shine brightest on the darkest day (Dec. 21) of one of our darkest years.
The two largest planets in our solar system – Jupiter and Saturn – will align to create what appears to be a “double planet” or ultra-bright star on December 21 this year.
The last time the two planets aligned so closely to each other and to earth was almost 800 years ago!
German astronomer Johannes Kepler wrote in 1614 that he believed the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ in the Nativity story could have been a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.
The two planets actually align every 20 years or so, but typically in parts of the sky we can’t see from Earth.
“But this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to one another,” astronomer Patrick Hartigan of Rice University says.
“‘You’d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4, 1226, to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky.”
Astronomers have calculated that the two planets crossed each other’s paths in 7 BC and that three planets (Jupiter, Saturn and Mars) aligned in Pieces (the sign of the fish, and secret symbol of ancient Christians) for an even brighter conjunction in 6 BC.
Some believe this could’ve been the “bright star” the three magi, or wise men, were following to find their way to Bethlehem when Jesus was supposedly born.
“On the evening of closest approach on Dec 21 they will look like a double planet, separated by only 1/5th the diameter of the full moon,” said Hartigan, a professor of physics and astronomy.
The event can be viewed anywhere on the planet, but will be the brightest for people living near the equator.
For people in the United States, Hartigan recommends looking southwest just after sunset, around twilight, just above the horizon. The farther north you live, the lower in the sky it will be and the earlier you should start looking for it.


returntonow--2020-12-08--After Surviving Two Ice Ages, The Muskox is Bouncing Back From Near Extinction

Muskoxen have outlived wooly mammoths and sabertooth tigers .
Efforts to repopulate the Arctic bring hope the prehistoric beasts can survive our latest warm spell .
Muskoxen have populated the planet for at least 2.5 million years , crossing the Bering Strait land bridge into North America 2 million years ago .
Other than reindeer , they are the only arctic megafauna surviving from the Ice Ages .
The wooly mammoths , sabertooth tigers and mastadons the muskox used to roam the frozen tundra with were not so lucky .
They disappeared around 10,000 years ago as the earth began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to boom .
The muskox almost joined them in the late 1800s , but efforts to repopulate Alaska , Russia and Scandinavia have provided hope they could survive the current warm period Earth has been experiencing for about 12,000 years .
There are currently about 170,000 muskoxen in the world , up from about 135,000 in 2008 .
Populations in some parts of the world are on the rise .
For example , the 30 muskoxen that were introduced to Alaska in the 1930s have increased to over 5000 today .
But they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the largest populations once existed .
In Banks Island , Canada , their population has dropped from 70,000 in the 1990s to 14,000 in 2014 .
Recent warm weather has brought rain , where their used to be only snow , creating layers of ice over vegetation the muskox used to rely on to get them through winter .
As the climate becomes more unpredictable , conservation and re-population efforts are more important than ever .
Here ’ s the product of one such effort at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ calf every two to three years .
Prints of the above photos taken by nature photographer Doug Lindstrand can be purchased on his website DougLindstrand.com .

Muskoxen have outlived wooly mammoths and sabertooth tigers. Efforts to repopulate the Arctic bring hope the prehistoric beasts can survive our latest warm spell.
Muskoxen have populated the planet for at least 2.5 million years, crossing the Bering Strait land bridge into North America 2 million years ago.
Other than reindeer, they are the only arctic megafauna surviving from the Ice Ages.
The wooly mammoths, sabertooth tigers and mastadons the muskox used to roam the frozen tundra with were not so lucky.
They disappeared around 10,000 years ago as the earth began to warm and the human population began to boom.
The muskox almost joined them in the late 1800s, but efforts to repopulate Alaska, Russia and Scandinavia have provided hope they could survive the current warm period Earth has been experiencing for about 12,000 years.
There are currently about 170,000 muskoxen in the world, up from about 135,000 in 2008.
Populations in some parts of the world are on the rise. For example, the 30 muskoxen that were introduced to Alaska in the 1930s have increased to over 5000 today. But they are declining in Canada and Greenland, where the largest populations once existed.
In Banks Island, Canada, their population has dropped from 70,000 in the 1990s to 14,000 in 2014.
Recent warm weather has brought rain, where their used to be only snow, creating layers of ice over vegetation the muskox used to rely on to get them through winter.
As the climate becomes more unpredictable, conservation and re-population efforts are more important than ever.
Here’s the product of one such effort at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
Muskox are slow breeders, producing one calf every two to three years.
Prints of the above photos taken by nature photographer Doug Lindstrand can be purchased on his website DougLindstrand.com.


returntonow--2020-12-11--Maps Show How Dramatically Fertilizer is Choking the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are turning into giant “ dead zones ” like the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic .
If we don ’ t change the way we grow food , we will destroy 1/5 of the world ’ s fresh surface water and all the fish in it .
National Geographic just published a series of maps revealing the extent of the damage the Great Lakes have suffered from agricultural fertilizers , sewage waste water , warming temperatures and invasive species .
The depressing images make it clear that our “ civilized ” lifestyles ( primarily our unsustainable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ dead zones ” in not only our oceans , but our lakes as well .
Dead zones are where oxygen levels are so low no aquatic life can survive .
The five Great Lakes contain 1/5 of the world ’ s fresh surface water , what National Geographic calls “ North America ’ s most valuable resource.
” “ Almost 40 million Americans and Canadians live in the Great Lakes watershed .
We drink from the lakes , fish on them , transport goods over them , farm their shores , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exist without the lakes .
The Great Lakes helped make the U.S. an economic powerhouse .
“ But the lakes are quickly becoming polluted , lifeless and useless as the very activities that enriched the region are now destroying their cash cow .
Primary among those activities is agriculture .
The Great Lakes are surrounded by 28 million acres of soybean , corn and hay fields .
Most of those fields are managed using intensive mono-cropping methods , which means a single crop , grown in rows for miles on end .
Each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bacteria killed , the nutrients in it released , and then it is artificially fertilized with tons and tons of mostly synthetic fertilizers and sometimes manure from factory farms .
Because the soil is so dead , lifeless and non-absorbant , much of the fertilizer runs off into streams and rivers and then into lakes and oceans every time it rains .
The fertilizers introduce unnaturally high loads of nutrients into lakes and oceans that create giant algae blooms that suck all the oxygen out of the water and block sunlight from deeper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
A recent investigation revealed Tyson Foods as the # 1 contributor to the world ’ s largest dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico .
Their Midwestern factory farms and mono-crop fields used to feed their animals are no doubt contributing to the dead zones in the Great Lakes as well .
Not only does this type of pollution destroy drinking water and fish , it also poisons nearby land animals and birds , who drink from the waters , National Geographic points out .
On top of that , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone calls the Amazon rainforest the lungs of the world , but it ’ s actually the diatoms in the oceans , rivers , and lakes of the world that make about half the oxygen in our atmosphere , ” Andrew Bramburger , a lake ecologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada , tells the magazine .
Diatoms are a type of algae that produce oxygen in the lakes that are destroyed by the toxic algal blooms .
The solution ?
Many ecologists agree the answer is small-scale , organic , bio-dynamic farming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of destroying it , such as composting , not tilling the soil , using cover crops , planting and diversity of crops and rotating them .
The question is whether we can turn convince the owners of mega-farms to the Titanic around fast enough .

The Great Lakes are turning into giant “dead zones” like the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic. If we don’t change the way we grow food, we will destroy 1/5 of the world’s fresh surface water and all the fish in it.
National Geographic just published a series of maps revealing the extent of the damage the Great Lakes have suffered from agricultural fertilizers, sewage waste water, warming temperatures and invasive species.
The depressing images make it clear that our “civilized” lifestyles (primarily our unsustainable farming methods) are creating gigantic aquatic “dead zones” in not only our oceans, but our lakes as well.
Dead zones are where oxygen levels are so low no aquatic life can survive.
The five Great Lakes contain 1/5 of the world’s fresh surface water, what National Geographic calls “North America’s most valuable resource.”
“Almost 40 million Americans and Canadians live in the Great Lakes watershed. We drink from the lakes, fish on them, transport goods over them, farm their shores, and work in cities that wouldn’t exist without the lakes. The Great Lakes helped make the U.S. an economic powerhouse. “
But the lakes are quickly becoming polluted, lifeless and useless as the very activities that enriched the region are now destroying their cash cow.
Primary among those activities is agriculture.
The Great Lakes are surrounded by 28 million acres of soybean, corn and hay fields. Most of those fields are managed using intensive mono-cropping methods, which means a single crop, grown in rows for miles on end.
Each year the soil is plowed, the bacteria killed, the nutrients in it released, and then it is artificially fertilized with tons and tons of mostly synthetic fertilizers and sometimes manure from factory farms.
Because the soil is so dead, lifeless and non-absorbant, much of the fertilizer runs off into streams and rivers and then into lakes and oceans every time it rains.
The fertilizers introduce unnaturally high loads of nutrients into lakes and oceans that create giant algae blooms that suck all the oxygen out of the water and block sunlight from deeper waters, killing fish and other aquatic life.
A recent investigation revealed Tyson Foods as the #1 contributor to the world’s largest dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Their Midwestern factory farms and mono-crop fields used to feed their animals are no doubt contributing to the dead zones in the Great Lakes as well.
Not only does this type of pollution destroy drinking water and fish, it also poisons nearby land animals and birds, who drink from the waters, National Geographic points out.
On top of that, it robs our air of oxygen.
“Everyone calls the Amazon rainforest the lungs of the world, but it’s actually the diatoms in the oceans, rivers, and lakes of the world that make about half the oxygen in our atmosphere,” Andrew Bramburger, a lake ecologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, tells the magazine.
Diatoms are a type of algae that produce oxygen in the lakes that are destroyed by the toxic algal blooms.
The solution? Many ecologists agree the answer is small-scale, organic, bio-dynamic farming that includes methods that regenerate the soil instead of destroying it, such as composting, not tilling the soil, using cover crops, planting and diversity of crops and rotating them.
The question is whether we can convince the owners of mega-farms to turn the Titanic around fast enough.


returntonow--2020-12-13--Court Says No to Drilling for Oil in the Arctic, a Huge Win for Polar Bears

A federal court has rejected the Trump administration ’ s plan to to drill for oil in polar bear habitat in the Arctic Ocean The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has overturned the Department of the Interior ’ s approval of an oil drilling project in the Beaufort Sea , north of Alaska .
The development , dubbed “ The Liberty Project , ” would have involved the construction of a 24-acre artificial island in about 20 feet of water , with a 6-mile underwater pipeline to pump the water to shore .
“ This is a huge victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Kristen Monsell , oceans legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity , which filed the lawsuit along with Friends of the Earth , Greenpeace , Defenders of Wildlife and Pacific Environment , all represented by Earthjustice .
“ The world can not afford to develop new oil prospects anywhere , but especially in the Arctic where warming is already taking such a significant toll , ” said Earthjustice attorney Jeremy Lieb .
The court ruled that the Fish and Wildlife Service had violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polar bears , including noise disturbance and damage to critical habitat .

A federal court has rejected the Trump administration’s plan to to drill for oil in polar bear habitat in the Arctic Ocean
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has overturned the Department of the Interior’s approval of an oil drilling project in the Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska.
The development, dubbed “The Liberty Project,” would have involved the construction of a 24-acre artificial island in about 20 feet of water, with a 6-mile underwater pipeline to pump the water to shore.
“This is a huge victory for polar bears and our climate,” said Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity, which filed the lawsuit along with Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Defenders of Wildlife and Pacific Environment, all represented by Earthjustice.
“The world cannot afford to develop new oil prospects anywhere, but especially in the Arctic where warming is already taking such a significant toll,” said Earthjustice attorney Jeremy Lieb.
The court ruled that the Fish and Wildlife Service had violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to analyze the effects of the project on polar bears, including noise disturbance and damage to critical habitat.


returntonow--2020-12-16--Man-made Stuff Outweighs Earth’s Total Biomass for First Time, New Study Finds

2020 is the first year human-made materials outweigh nature !
Materials manufactured by humans now weigh more than those made by nature , a new study finds .
The total mass of man-made “ stuff ” – including concrete , asphalt , bricks , metals , plastics , wood and glass – now outweighs the total mass of all living stuff – including humans , animals , plants fungi , and all the microorganisms that make up living soil , say researchers who tallied it all up .
In 1900 , the weight of human-produced things was only 3 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weight of human productivity has been doubling rapidly , every 20 years or so since then , until it finally reached over 100 % this year .
How is this possible ?
1 .
We ’ ve produced more stuff than people .
2 .
We ’ ve decreased Earth ’ s biomass as we produce that stuff .
One of the big living things we ’ ve reduced is trees .
We ’ ve clear-cut half the world ’ s forests in the last 150 years to make way mostly for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve replaced those forests with contain only a fraction of the mass of all those dense tree trunks and massive root systems , which are now locked up in buildings , furniture and paper products .
These shifts “ in global biomass have affected the carbon cycle and human health , ” write the authors of the study out of Israel ’ s Weizmann Institute of Science .
“ Since the first agricultural revolution , humanity has roughly halved the mass of plants .
”

2020 is the first year human-made materials outweigh nature!
Materials manufactured by humans now weigh more than those made by nature, a new study finds.
The total mass of man-made “stuff” – including concrete, asphalt, bricks, metals, plastics, wood and glass – now outweighs the total mass of all living stuff – including humans, animals, plants fungi, and all the microorganisms that make up living soil, say researchers who tallied it all up.
In 1900, the weight of human-produced things was only 3% of Earth’s biomass. But the weight of human productivity has been doubling rapidly, every 20 years or so since then, until it finally reached over 100% this year.
How is this possible? 1. We’ve produced more stuff than people. 2. We’ve decreased Earth’s biomass as we produce that stuff.
One of the big living things we’ve reduced is trees. We’ve clear-cut half the world’s forests in the last 150 years to make way mostly for agriculture.
And the crops we’ve replaced those forests with contain only a fraction of the mass of all those dense tree trunks and massive root systems, which are now locked up in buildings, furniture and paper products.
These shifts “in global biomass have affected the carbon cycle and human health,” write the authors of the study out of Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science.
“Since the first agricultural revolution, humanity has roughly halved the mass of plants.”


returntonow--2020-12-05--The “Christmas Star” Reappears for the First Time in 800 Years This Solstice

What some astronomers believe to be “ the Star of Bethlehem ” will shine brightest on the darkest day of one of our darkest years .
The two largest planets in our solar system – Jupiter and Saturn – will align to create what appears to be a “ double planet ” or ultra-bright star on December 21 this year .
The last time the two planets aligned so closely to each other and to earth was almost 800 years ago !
German astronomer Johannes Kepler wrote in 1614 that he believed the ‘ Star of Bethlehem ’ in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Jupiter and Saturn .
The two planets actually align every 20 years or so , but typically in parts of the sky we can ’ t see from Earth .
“ But this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to one another , ” astronomer Patrick Hartigan of Rice University says .
“ ‘ You ’ d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4 , 1226 , to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two planets crossed each other ’ s paths in 7 BC and that three planets ( Jupiter , Saturn and Mars ) aligned in Pieces ( the sign of the fish , and secret symbol of ancient Christians ) for an even brighter conjunction in 6 BC .
Some believe this could ’ ve been the “ bright star ” the three magi , or wise men , were following to find their way to Bethlehem when Jesus was supposedly born .
“ On the evening of closest approach on Dec 21 they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separated by only 1/5th the diameter of the full moon , ” said Hartigan , a professor of physics and astronomy .
The event can be viewed anywhere on the planet , but will be the brightest for people living near the equator .
For people in the United States , Hartigan recommends looking southwest just after sunset , around twilight , just above the horizon .
The farther north you live , the lower in the sky it will be and the earlier you should start looking for it .


returntonow--2020-12-18--Court Kills Attempt to Mine Gold at Yellowstone National Park’s Entrance

Judge agrees with conservationists that “ Yellowstone is more valuable than gold ” The Montana Supreme Court has squashed a @ @ @ @ @ to dig for gold in the mountains surrounding Yellowstone National Park .
The drilling was @ @ @ @ @ Emigrant Peak , right above Paradise Valley , one of the best views from the @ @ @ @ @ “ Never underestimate the power of a community united to preserve its values to move @ @ @ @ @ them , ” director of the Park County Environmental Council Michelle Uberuaga said .
Environmental @ @ @ @ @ Minerals ’ project would pollute the Yellowstone River with acid and toxic heavy metals , @ @ @ @ @ bears , lynx , elk and wolverines , and ruin the view of Emigrant Peak @ @ @ @ @ .
The mining project never would ’ ve gotten this close to happening without a @ @ @ @ @ in 2011 that allowed exploratory drilling to happen before an environmental impact review .

Judge agrees with conservationists that “Yellowstone is more valuable than gold”
The Montana Supreme Court has squashed a mining company’s attempt to dig for gold in the mountains surrounding Yellowstone National Park.
The drilling was about to take place on Emigrant Peak, right above Paradise Valley, one of the best views from the northern entrance to Yellowstone.
“Never underestimate the power of a community united to preserve its values to move mountains — and to protect them,” director of the Park County Environmental Council Michelle Uberuaga said.
Environmental group Earthjustice argued that Lucky Minerals’ project would pollute the Yellowstone River with acid and toxic heavy metals, disturb essential habitat for grizzly bears, lynx, elk and wolverines, and ruin the view of Emigrant Peak from the iconic National Park.
The mining project never would’ve gotten this close to happening without a sneaky amendment to state law in 2011 that allowed exploratory drilling to happen before an environmental impact review.
The judge’s ruling declared that amendment “unconstitutional.”


returntonow--2020-12-05--The “Christmas Star” Reappears for the First Time in 800 Years This Winter Solstice

What some astronomers believe to be “ the Star of Bethlehem ” will shine brightest on the darkest day ( Dec. 21 ) of one of our darkest years .
The two largest planets in our solar system – Jupiter and Saturn – will align to create what appears to be a “ double planet ” or ultra-bright star on December 21 this year .
The last time the two planets aligned so closely to each other and to earth was almost 800 years ago !
German astronomer Johannes Kepler wrote in 1614 that he believed the ‘ Star of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn .
The two planets actually align every 20 years or so , but typically in parts of the sky we can ’ t see from Earth .
“ But this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to one another , ” astronomer Patrick Hartigan of Rice University says .
“ ‘ You ’ d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4 , 1226 , to see a closer alignment between these objects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have calculated that the two planets crossed each other ’ s paths in 7 BC and that three planets ( Jupiter , Saturn and Mars ) aligned in Pieces ( the sign of the fish , and secret symbol of ancient Christians ) for an even brighter conjunction in 6 BC .
Some believe this could ’ ve been the “ bright star ” the three magi , or wise men , were following to find their way to Bethlehem when Jesus was supposedly born .
“ On the evening of closest approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a double planet , separated by only 1/5th the diameter of the full moon , ” said Hartigan , a professor of physics and astronomy .
The event can be viewed anywhere on the planet , but will be the brightest for people living near the equator .
For people in the United States , Hartigan recommends looking southwest just after sunset , around twilight , just above the horizon .
The farther north you live , the lower in the sky it will be and the earlier you should start looking for @ @


returntonow--2020-12-19--Salmon Spawn in Upper Columbia River First Time in Over 80 Years

A dam has blocked salmon from the upper Columbia River for almost a century , but Native American tribes carried them back , and now they ’ re having babies !
The Grand Coulee Dam has kept salmon out of the upper portion of the Columbia River , in Washington State , since its construction in the 1930s .
The nutritious fish were once a staple of the Native American diet in that region , but were sacrificed to provide electricity and agricultural irrigation for the growing population and industries .
In August of 2019 , the Confederated Tribes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lower portion of the river and released them in the upper part , to see if they would breed , and they did !
This fall , the tribes have found 36 salmon nests within a 6-mile stretch of where the adults were released .
“ Fish have a way of finding the right habitat and using it , when you give them a chance , ” Colville research scientist Casey Baldwin says .
This is the first step in a larger study funded by the reservation to determine if salmon can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So far , Baldwin says , the experiment looks promising .
“ Our ancestors carried a prayer that our salmon would one day return to the Upper Columbia .
With all the prayers that were made historically and today , combined with all the efforts of our fisheries staff , our leaders and many others who are joined in this effort , we can bring our fish home , ” Colville Business Council chairman Rodney Cawston said in a statement .
“ My grandma is probably up there just praying on us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she helped guide the fish into the water in 2019 .
“ They used to eat fish as part of their daily lives .
So much so that they were sick of fish .
It ’ s a luxury now .
To not have any fish is just making our tribe and this area sick .
”

A dam has blocked salmon from the upper Columbia River for almost a century, but Native American tribes carried them back, and now they’re having babies!
The Grand Coulee Dam has kept salmon out of the upper portion of the Columbia River, in Washington State, since its construction in the 1930s.
The nutritious fish were once a staple of the Native American diet in that region, but were sacrificed to provide electricity and agricultural irrigation for the growing population and industries.
In August of 2019, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation caught 100 fish from the lower portion of the river and released them in the upper part, to see if they would breed, and they did!
This fall, the tribes have found 36 salmon nests within a 6-mile stretch of where the adults were released.
“Fish have a way of finding the right habitat and using it, when you give them a chance,” Colville research scientist Casey Baldwin says.
This is the first step in a larger study funded by the reservation to determine if salmon can survive long-term in the upper river. So far, Baldwin says, the experiment looks promising.
“Our ancestors carried a prayer that our salmon would one day return to the Upper Columbia. With all the prayers that were made historically and today, combined with all the efforts of our fisheries staff, our leaders and many others who are joined in this effort, we can bring our fish home,” Colville Business Council chairman Rodney Cawston said in a statement.
“My grandma is probably up there just praying on us,” said tribal council member Norma Sanchez when she helped guide the fish into the water in 2019.
“They used to eat fish as part of their daily lives. So much so that they were sick of fish. It’s a luxury now. To not have any fish is just making our tribe and this area sick.”


returntonow--2020-12-24--Girl Scout Makes 88 Christmas Stockings for Lonely Nursing Home Residents

“ I don ’ t want anyone to feel they are forgotten and alone , ” Girl Scout says of nursing home residents , who won ’ t be getting any visitors this holiday A 12-year-old Girl Scout is gifting each member of a nursing home a homemade stocking , stuffed with a few gifts to cheer them up while they ’ re restricted from seeing their families this Christmas .
Olivia Coolidge decided to turn a fundraising project for the Girl Scout ’ s highest honor ( grades 6-8 ) – The Silver Award – into a gifting giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New York .
For each $ 10 donation Olivia made a stocking and stuffed it with a few gifts for seniors in Slate Valley for Rehabilitation and Nursing .
Up to $ 3 from each donation went to the Silver Award , while the rest went toward the stocking and gifts .
Olivia knows all about loneliness in nursing homes after spending many weeks in multiple facilities visiting her grandmother when she was younger .
“ My grandmother wasn ’ t doing well , and over two years , she would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing homes for rehabilitation , ” Olivia said .
“ My mom would take me when she visited and many people would come up to me and hold my hand or hug me .
“ One day , we were visiting and a nurse mentioned that they were doing a collection for items they needed to give to residents who had no one .
My mom ‘ adopted an elderly person ’ and we bought him some socks , lotion and PJs .
After that , it was something we just did each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016.
” Olivia was originally hoping to get enough donations for for 25 stockings , but with the help of social media , she collected enough for all 88 residents .
“ I wanted to give stockings to ‘ Forgotten Seniors ’ and when my fundraiser took off , I reached out to other nursing homes , but they didn ’ t call me back , ” Olivia said .
“ I told this to Slate Valley and they motivated me to donate more stockings to their other residents ( meaning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have families haven ’ t been able to see them and are depressed .
With COVID-19 and safety concerns , most residents haven ’ t been able to see loved ones or participate in community or facility events .
I don ’ t want anyone to feel they are forgotten and alone.
” Now that all the stockings are made , Olivia is working on her Silver Award project , which is a mural featuring Girl Scouts in uniforms from different time periods .
This graphic-photo design mural will serve as happy reminder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had eating Girl Scout cookies when they were kids .
Olivia ’ s message to her supporters is simple : “ Thank you to all who cared and gave a lonely elderly nursing home resident a present this Christmas .
”

“I don’t want anyone to feel they are forgotten and alone,” Girl Scout says of nursing home residents, who won’t be getting any visitors this holiday
A 12-year-old Girl Scout is gifting each member of a nursing home a homemade stocking, stuffed with a few gifts to cheer them up while they’re restricted from seeing their families this Christmas.
Olivia Coolidge decided to turn a fundraising project for the Girl Scout’s highest honor (grades 6-8) – The Silver Award – into a gifting giving surprise for senior citizens in a Granville, New York.
For each $10 donation Olivia handcrfted a stocking and stuffed it with a few gifts for seniors in Slate Valley for Rehabilitation and Nursing.
Up to $3 from each donation went to the Silver Award, while the rest went toward the stocking and gifts.
Olivia knows all about loneliness in nursing homes after spending many weeks in multiple facilities visiting her grandmother when she was younger.
“My grandmother wasn’t doing well, and over two years, she would have to go in and out of various nursing homes for rehabilitation,” Olivia said. “My mom would take me when she visited and many people would come up to me and hold my hand or hug me.
“One day, we were visiting and a nurse mentioned that they were doing a collection for items they needed to give to residents who had no one. My mom ‘adopted an elderly person’ and we bought him some socks, lotion and PJs. After that, it was something we just did each holiday, even after my grandmother died in 2016.”
Olivia was originally hoping to get enough donations for for 25 stockings, but with the help of social media, she collected enough for all 88 residents.
“I wanted to give stockings to ‘Forgotten Seniors’ and when my fundraiser took off, I reached out to other nursing homes, but they didn’t call me back,” Olivia said. “I told this to Slate Valley and they motivated me to donate more stockings to their other residents (meaning, those with families) because residents who have families haven’t been able to see them and are depressed. With COVID-19 and safety concerns, most residents haven’t been able to see loved ones or participate in community or facility events. I don’t want anyone to feel they are forgotten and alone.”
Now that all the stockings are made, Olivia is working on her Silver Award project, which is a mural featuring Girl Scouts in uniforms from different time periods. This graphic-photo design mural will serve as happy reminder to elders about the good times they had eating Girl Scout cookies when they were kids.
Olivia’s message to her supporters is simple: “Thank you to all who cared and gave a lonely elderly nursing home resident a present this Christmas.”


returntonow--2020-12-24--STUDY: Birds are Linked to Happiness Levels

The more bird species we live near , the happier we are , new study finds The greater the diversity of birds we are surrounded by , the better our quality of life , a new German study finds .
“ All across Europe , the individual enjoyment of life correlates with the number of surrounding bird species , ” the study ’ s authors write .
Living and working near a bio-diverse population of birds is as important to our happiness levels as our income .
A 10 % increase in bird diversity increases our satisfaction with life as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the researchers found .
They used data from the “ 2012 European Quality of Life Survey ” to determine whether there was a connection between birds and happiness in more than 26,000 adults from 26 European countries .
“ The happiest Europeans are those who can experience numerous different bird species in their daily life , or who live in near-natural surroundings that are home to many species , ” says the study ’ s lead author Joel Methorst , a doctoral researcher at Goethe University in Frankfurt .
As the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birds are good indicators of overall biological diversity , particularly in urban areas .
Even when they are not visible , they are the most audible of the wildlife humans typically encounter .
Most of us take for granted how much their cheerful songs do to boost our mood .
But there is also a second aspect of bird abundance that affects life satisfaction : the environment .
The places with the most bird species are typically the most natural , generally bio-diverse landscapes , with adequate green space ( forests ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and green spaces have been linked to happiness in many other studies .

The more bird species we live near, the happier we are, new study finds
The greater the diversity of birds we are surrounded by, the better our quality of life, a new German study finds.
“All across Europe, the individual enjoyment of life correlates with the number of surrounding bird species,” the study’s authors write.
Living and working near a bio-diverse population of birds is as important to our happiness levels as our income. A 10% increase in bird diversity increases our satisfaction with life as much as a 10% pay raise, the researchers found.
They used data from the “2012 European Quality of Life Survey” to determine whether there was a connection between birds and happiness in more than 26,000 adults from 26 European countries.
“The happiest Europeans are those who can experience numerous different bird species in their daily life, or who live in near-natural surroundings that are home to many species,”says the study’s lead author Joel Methorst, a doctoral researcher at Goethe University in Frankfurt.
As the most visible elements of the animate nature, birds are good indicators of overall biological diversity, particularly in urban areas.
Even when they are not visible, they are the most audible of the wildlife humans typically encounter. Most of us take for granted how much their cheerful songs do to boost our mood.
But there is also a second aspect of bird abundance that affects life satisfaction: the environment. The places with the most bird species are typically the most natural, generally bio-diverse landscapes, with adequate green space (forests) and blue space (water). Blue and green spaces have been linked to happiness in many other studies.


returntonow--2020-12-24--Antarctica’s Snow is Made Partly Out of Stardust!

In a recent analysis of snow from Antarctica , scientists made a surprising discovery – a good chunk of that white fluffy stuff is actually stardust .
A team of scientists recently collected 1000 pounds of snow from Antarctica , melted it , and sifted through the particles .
To their surprise , the snow contained significant amounts of a type of iron that isn ’ t found naturally on Earth .
The other-worldly iron , called iron-60 , has four more neutrons than Earth ’ s variety .
The super-heavy metal is the kind typically created , and spewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dying stars – or “ supernova.
” Younger stars fling out lighter “ metals ” like carbon and oxygen , while the older a star gets , the heavier the metals it produces , Inside Science explains : “ Iron is usually the last element a star could produce while still generating energy , and after its last throes of life , it explodes.
” “ It must have been a supernova , not so near as to kill us , but not too far to be diluted in space , ” says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National University .
Koll and his team published their analysis of the material in the journal Physical Review Letters .
The same rare iron isotope has been found previously deep in the ocean ’ s crust .
But because of its depth , that iron-60 likely settled millions of years ago .
The iron in Antarctica was found in fresh layers of snow that have accumulated over the past two decades .
Our planet probably picked up the stardust while traveling through the Local Interstellar Cloud , aka “ Local Fluff.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solar system is currently passing through and just about to exit , likely formed from exploding massive stars blowing out the hot gases in their outer layers into space , ” Koll says .

In a recent analysis of snow from Antarctica, scientists made a surprising discovery – a good chunk of that white fluffy stuff is actually stardust.
A team of scientists recently collected 1000 pounds of snow from Antarctica, melted it, and sifted through the particles. To their surprise, the snow contained significant amounts of a type of iron that isn’t found naturally on Earth.
The other-worldly iron, called iron-60, has four more neutrons than Earth’s variety.
The super-heavy metal is the kind typically created, and spewed out, by massive, old, dying stars – or “supernova.”
Younger stars fling out lighter “metals” like carbon and oxygen, while the older a star gets, the heavier the metals it produces, Inside Science explains:
“Iron is usually the last element a star could produce while still generating energy, and after its last throes of life, it explodes.”
“It must have been a supernova, not so near as to kill us, but not too far to be diluted in space,” says Dominik Koll, a physicist at Australian National University.
Koll and his team published their analysis of the material in the journal Physical Review Letters.
The same rare iron isotope has been found previously deep in the ocean’s crust. But because of its depth, that iron-60 likely settled millions of years ago. The iron in Antarctica was found in fresh layers of snow that have accumulated over the past two decades.
Our planet probably picked up the stardust while traveling through the Local Interstellar Cloud, aka “Local Fluff.”
“This 30 light-year-spanning region, which our solar system is currently passing through and just about to exit, likely formed from exploding massive stars blowing out the hot gases in their outer layers into space,” Koll says.