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UN Proposal to End Bottom Trawling on Seamounts Withdrawn Due to Opposition from Major Fishing Nations

UN Proposal to End Bottom Trawling on Seamounts Withdrawn Due to Opposition from Major Fishing Nations

A proposal to phase out bottom trawling on seamounts in international waters by December 31, 2027, was withdrawn during negotiations for the UN General Assembly’s Sustainable Fisheries Resolution. Armenia, the country that introduced the language, pulled the proposal after facing significant opposition led by Japan. Other nations opposing the measure included the European Union, Russia, the United States, and Australia. Supporters of the deadline included Monaco, the United Kingdom, Canada, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu. The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) reported that Armenia withdrew the text to avoid a veto or amendments that would have weakened its intent. While the specific deadline was removed, some language regarding the protection of seamounts from destructive fishing, referencing a Convention on Migratory Species resolution and earlier General Assembly commitments on vulnerable marine ecosystems, remains in the negotiated text. The final resolution is expected to be...

Exotic Pet Trade and Animal Cafes Pose Significant Wildlife Disease Risks to Livestock and Humans

Exotic Pet Trade and Animal Cafes Pose Significant Wildlife Disease Risks to Livestock and Humans

The exotic pet trade, both legal and illegal, is creating numerous opportunities for diseases to transfer from wildlife to livestock and humans. Increased human-wildlife interaction in settings like pet cafes, petting zoos, and public events further amplifies this risk. Experts are highlighting that weak regulations and insufficient oversight make it difficult to trace disease transmission pathways. A stronger 'One Health' approach, which integrates both animal and human health considerations, is deemed essential for all wildlife trade, particularly the expanding exotic pet market. This approach calls for more research, vigilant surveillance, and enhanced oversight of wild animal imports and exports to mitigate potential public health crises. The issue is compounded by the stressful conditions animals endure during capture, transport, and confinement, which compromise their immunity and increase susceptibility to pathogens. Crowding and exposure to diverse species from around the world in unsanitary condit...

Baby sloth welcomed at Zoo Atlanta. When can you see fuzzy critter?

Baby sloth welcomed at Zoo Atlanta. When can you see fuzzy critter?

Hoffmann's two-toed sloth Nutella gave birth to a new baby on Oct. 30 at Zoo Atlanta, the organization announced. When can guests see it?

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Contribute to Landmark Brain Cell Atlas for Disease Understanding

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Contribute to Landmark Brain Cell Atlas for Disease Understanding

Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), specifically its Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS), have played a critical role in developing the first-ever comprehensive, multi-species atlas of basal ganglia cell types. This atlas, released by a large group of scientists from over 50 institutions, includes data from humans, macaques, marmosets, and mice. The UMSOM team contributed by developing the NeMO Archive (Neuroscience Multi-Omic Archive), a research tool designed to make scientific data openly accessible, discoverable, and integrable across multiple studies and technologies. The NeMO Archive now houses genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and spatial transcriptomic data from more than 50 million brain cells. This landmark effort, funded by the National Institute of Health’s Brain Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN), aims to elucidate the roles different cells play in brain diseases like schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, and addiction.

USDA Reports Sharp Increase in New World Screwworm Infestations Across Southwest States

USDA Reports Sharp Increase in New World Screwworm Infestations Across Southwest States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported a significant surge in confirmed New World screwworm infestations across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, with cases climbing to 128 since June. Federal agricultural data indicates a tenfold increase in detections during October alone, with 33 domestic cases reported in October and an additional 42 cases in the first 11 days of November. The majority of these 128 cases involve domestic livestock and pets, with two wild elk also affected in West Texas. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing severe damage and potentially death if untreated. In response, state and federal officials have implemented movement restrictions, inspection checkpoints, and quarantine protocols in affected zones, which now include 21 Texas counties and portions of New Mexico and Arizona.

California Coastline Experiences Unprecedented Sea Lion Strandings Due to Toxic Algae Bloom

California Coastline Experiences Unprecedented Sea Lion Strandings Due to Toxic Algae Bloom

The California coastline is currently experiencing an unusually high number of sea lion strandings, primarily attributed to a widespread harmful algal bloom (HAB) event. This bloom involves pseudo-nitzschia, a microalgae that produces domoic acid, a potent neurotoxin. Sea lions consume organisms like anchovies, sardines, and squid that have ingested this toxic algae, leading to domoic acid poisoning. Symptoms in affected sea lions include lethargy, disorientation, unpredictable behavior, twitching, tremors, and seizures. The Marine Mammal Center, a Sausalito-based nonprofit, has reported that this year's outbreak is the largest in its history since domoic acid toxicosis was first diagnosed in California sea lions in 1998. The center has rescued 291 sea lions affected by domoic acid poisoning as of October, with most rescues occurring since July, significantly exceeding the typical annual range of 75 to 90 cases. Warming oceans and ocean acidification are identified as contributing factors to the proliferat...

NCINGA to Develop Sri Lanka's First AI-Powered National Information Platform

NCINGA to Develop Sri Lanka's First AI-Powered National Information Platform

NCINGA has been contracted by GovTech to design and develop Sri Lanka's inaugural AI-enabled national information platform. This platform is intended to serve the trilingual Government Information Centre (GIC) and will establish a centralized, authoritative source for government information. The initiative aims to simplify how Sri Lankan citizens access and navigate queries regarding public services. This project is part of several AI-driven initiatives launched under Sri Lanka’s new Institutional Framework for the Governance and Execution of the Digital Economy Roadmap. The platform will feature trilingual agentic AI chat and voice bots, along with a dedicated hotline offering AI-assisted responses to ensure digital inclusivity and cater to diverse language preferences and abilities.

Dr. Bronner's Pioneers Regenerative Organic Certified Standard in Cocoa Supply Chains

Dr. Bronner's Pioneers Regenerative Organic Certified Standard in Cocoa Supply Chains

Dr. Bronner's Pioneers Regenerative Organic Certified Standard in Cocoa Supply Chains

Soil Ecologist Jordan King Explores Florida Everglades' Invasive Species and Ecosystem Changes

Soil Ecologist Jordan King Explores Florida Everglades' Invasive Species and Ecosystem Changes

Soil ecologist Jordan King, known as Kid Flames online, is actively engaged in exploring the Florida Everglades at night, focusing on invasive reptile species such as green iguanas and basilisk lizards. King, accompanied by Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, conducts 'herping' expeditions to locate and observe these creatures. During their nocturnal searches, they encountered several invasive species, including a green iguana and multiple basilisk lizards. King emphasizes that while his professional work is in soil ecology, his passion for wildlife, particularly reptiles, drives these explorations. He also highlights the significant presence of invasive species in Florida, many of which were introduced through the exotic pet trade or accidental means. The expeditions also shed light on the ongoing transformation and degradation of the Everglades due to human development, noting that much of South Florida was once part of this unique ecosystem.

Oregon Becomes 22nd State to Detect Bird Flu in Dairy Cattle, USDA Confirms

Oregon Becomes 22nd State to Detect Bird Flu in Dairy Cattle, USDA Confirms

U.S. and Oregon agriculture officials have confirmed the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, in dairy cattle in Oregon. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the case on Tuesday, following routine testing by state agriculture officials. The virus was identified in a herd located in Morrow County. This detection makes Oregon the 22nd state to report HPAI in dairy cattle since the nationwide outbreak began in March 2024, which has now affected over 1,200 cattle across the country. Federal officials reiterate that the risk to pasteurized milk and dairy consumers remains low, and the general public faces a low risk, though precautions are advised for individuals working with birds or mammals.

Deep-Sea Mollusk Discovered with Novel Organelle for Bacterial Symbiosis

Deep-Sea Mollusk Discovered with Novel Organelle for Bacterial Symbiosis

Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with international teams, have discovered a novel specialized organelle, named the 'dracosphera' (dragon ball), within the deep-sea mollusk *Chaetoderma shenloong*. This mollusk, found in cold seep environments of the South China Sea, has evolved this unique cellular structure to house and maintain a symbiotic relationship with sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The dracosphera, a spherical structure wrapped in over 20 membrane layers, accommodates hundreds to thousands of these bacteria, providing the mollusk with its primary source of nutrients and energy. This discovery sheds new light on how deep-sea organisms adapt to extreme, oxygen-depleted environments and suggests a potential new pathway for organelle evolution.

National Organic Standards Board Recommends Reinstating Ivermectin for Organic Dairy in Response to Screwworm Threat

National Organic Standards Board Recommends Reinstating Ivermectin for Organic Dairy in Response to Screwworm Threat

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) has recommended that ivermectin, a synthetic parasiticide, be reinstated on the National List of substances allowed in organic livestock, specifically for dairy and breeding animals. This recommendation comes in response to the spreading New World screwworm (NWS) threat across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The NWS, eradicated in the U.S. in 1966, reappeared in June 2026 and has seen a significant increase in confirmed cases. The FDA authorized over-the-counter ivermectin injections for emergency use to prevent NWS in cattle, excluding lactating dairy cows. The NOSB's proposal would allow ivermectin use only for NWS and would reduce the exclusion period for milk from treated organic dairy cows from 12 months to 90 days. Ivermectin was removed from the National List in 2019 due to environmental toxicity concerns and the availability of other parasiticides. The USDA's National Organic Program has not yet declared the outbreak an emergency treatment program, which ...