Spotted lanternflies have been hopping around Rhode Island this year. Maybe you’ve been told to squish them when you see them. But why? This week on Possibly we’re taking a closer look at our new insect neighbors.
ecology
Posted inEnvironment, Local, Metro Desk
How an innocent mistake left a Cranston lake strangled by invasive plants
It may look beautiful, but the sacred lotus has been taking over Cranston’s Meshanticut Lake. When the plant native to East Asia (scientific name Nelumbo nucifera) sinks its roots into the lake bottom, it spreads a blanket of green lily pads and purple flowers across the water at a rate that can crowd out native […]
Posted inNPR
Scientists want to track the world’s biodiversity using DNA in the air
Scientists have found a way to sample DNA out of the air on a large scale — making it possible to one day track the health and well being of all kinds of species around the world.
Posted inNPR
Meet the ManhattAnt, the ant that’s taken New York’s streets by storm
The ManhattAnt has become the dominant ant species in the Big Apple, and scientists aren’t sure why.
Posted inNPR
This scientist has a bat tat and earrings. She says there’s a lot to learn from bats
Gliselle Marin is the only bat scientist from Belize to be part of the country’s yearly “Bat-a-thon,” a confab of researchers who study the winged mammals. Analyzing bat poop is one of her priorities.
Posted inNPR
Some plant names can be racist. Scientists are looking to rename them
An international group of researchers has voted to modify the scientific names of more than 200 plant species whose names carry a derogatory word.
Posted inNPR
How do we halt the next pandemic? Be kind to critters like bats, says a new paper
A team of scientists argue that new vaccines and treatments wouldn’t be critical if humans could figure out how to stop viruses from spilling over from animals in the first place.
Posted inNPR
California sea otters nearly went extinct. Now they’re rescuing their coastal habitat
California sea otter populations have rebounded in recent decades. New research finds that by feasting on shore crabs, these otters are helping to protect their coastal marsh habitat against erosion.
Posted inArticle, Environment
New England Is Losing Its Native Plants. Researchers Say It’s Time To Stop And Smell The Wildflowers
Where have all the wild orchids gone? A recent study finds that about one quarter of native New England wildflower species have been lost in the last 150 years. This means that purple-fringed orchids and pink lady slippers — once abundant in the region — are disappearing from some areas, often replaced by non-native species. Researchers […]
Posted inArticle, Environment
For 46 Years, Pilgrim Nuclear Plant Has Used Water From Cape Cod Bay. How Has It Impacted The Ecosystem?
The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth pumps about a half-billion gallons of water from Cape Cod Bay into the plant every day. The water cycles continuously, passing through the plant’s condenser, and returning to the bay about 10 minutes later — and 30 degrees warmer. Ever since Pilgrim began producing power in 1972, local […]
