In Mexico, September means chiles en nogada season. But one key ingredient, a candied barrel cactus called biznaga, is now illegal because it’s vanishing in the wild.
extinction
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Next time you see a vulture picking over a carcass, say ‘thank you!’
Large scavengers like vultures and hyenas do an important job in protecting human health. But studies show these creatures are on the decline, allowing for the emergence of disease.
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A wolf walks into a flower — and appears to pollinate it
The bees and … the wolves? Turns out, the Ethiopian wolf may be a pollinator, too.
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How many species could go extinct from climate change? It depends on how hot it gets.
A new study projects biodiversity threats if global warming speeds up. Under the most extreme scenarios, about one in three species could be facing extinction by the end of the century.
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Once lost to science, these “uncharismatic” animals are having their moment
Historic numbers of animals across the globe have become endangered or pushed to extinction. But some of these species sit in limbo — not definitively extinct yet missing from the scientific record. Rediscovering a “lost” species is not easy. It can require trips to remote areas and canvassing a large area in search of only a handful of animals. But new technology and stronger partnerships with local communities have helped these hidden, “uncharismatic” creatures come to light.
Have other scientific gray areas you want us to cover in a future episode? Email us at shortwave@npr.org!
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Across the world, migrating animal populations are dwindling. Here’s why
In a landmark U.N. study, researchers found nearly half of the world’s threatened migratory species have declining populations. More than a fifth of the assessed animals face extinction.
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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.
