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Ancient, near-indestructible ‘water bears’ have crash landed on the moon

Ancient, near-indestructible 'water bears' have crash landed on the moon

A 3D-rendered illustration of a tardigrade a.k.a. water bear a.k.a. moss piglet. (3Dstock/Shutterstock)

Microscopic tardigrades, Earth’s most resilient species, were aboard a privately funded Israeli spacecraft

Thousands of ancient, eight-legged, nigh-indestructible creatures have crash-landed on the moon — and they’ll probably be there long after the human species is wiped off the face of the Earth. They’re called tardigrades, and 10,000 of them were suspended in artificial amber and loaded … [more…]

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Chicago water pollution may be keeping invasive silver carp out of Great Lakes, study says

Chicago water pollution may be keeping invasive silver carp out of Great Lakes, study says

Photo: Great Lakes. Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Invasive silver carp have been moving north toward the Great Lakes since their accidental release in the 1970s. The large filter-feeding fish, which are known to jump from the water and wallop anglers, threaten aquatic food webs as well as the $7 billion Great Lakes fishery. But, for the past decade, the invading front hasn’t moved past Kankakee. A new study, led by … [more…]

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Hawaiian Sunscreen: New Health Alert, Law and Suggestions

Hawaiian Sunscreen: New Health Alert, Law and Suggestions

Researchers announced today that chemical sunscreens may be far more dangerous than previously revealed, and that children may be even more at risk from these chemicals than adults. The study in today’s medical journal JAMA revealed that common sunscreen products containing avobenzone, oxybenzone, ecamsule and octocrylene need much more research. Blood concentration of these chemicals has for the first time been studied and found, after just one day’s use. Serum … [more…]

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Dwindling groundwater, ever-deeper wells could spell trouble for Arizonans

Dwindling groundwater, ever-deeper wells could spell trouble for Arizonans

Araceli Silva moved to her colonia near Yuma decades ago 27 years ago. She’s struggled with her wells, which have run dry more than once. A new study finds that wells that bring groundwater to the surface are being dug deeper to tap dwindling aquifers. (Photo by Maria Esquinca/News21)

PHOENIX – Wells are drying up because groundwater is being depleted, and that affects food production and access to drinking water. … [more…]

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Wichita’s new Pracht Wetlands Park is open to the public

photo: Pracht Wetlands Park in Wichita, Kansas - urban wetlands

Wichita’s newest public park is open and ready for visitors — sort of.

Pracht Wetlands Park, on 29th Street just east of Maize Road, had its official ribbon-cutting in late May, though the park is still technically a work in progress.

It hasn’t even been listed on the city’s Park and Recreation website yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t check it out now.

The 91-acre park, which has been … [more…]