YOU WONT BELIEVE: 22 - What They Never Told You

TikTok video leads to discovery of translucent underground eel species in India

Scientists manually pumped thousands of litres of water from local handpumps to procure a specimen

The Independent UK · Aug 18

In 1960, Chicago gave Japan’s future emperor 18 bluegill as a friendship gift, and their descendants spread in Japan and reached an estimated 25 million in Lake Biwa

During his 1960 visit to Chicago, Crown Prince Akihito inadvertently introduced bluegill fish to Japan. The species thrived and proliferated, wreaking havoc on local ecosystems by outcompeting native fish. In response to this ecological crisis, Japanese officials enacted bounties and regulations aimed at curbing the bluegill's expansion. Years later, Emperor…

The Times of India · Aug 18

In 2020, a $186 million cleanup began at Minnesota's Spirit Lake; four years later, 1.3 million cubic yards had been remediated and a 14-acre fish-spawning bay created

For over a century, the industrial engines of Minnesota’s Iron Range drove the economy of Duluth. Raw iron ore moved down through the St. Louis River basin, feeding massive manufacturing plants along the shore. But that industrial output came with a long-term environmental tax. At Spirit Lake, which is a…

The Times of India · Aug 18

Climate change is driving some entire communities to relocate – but simply moving isn’t enough

The abandoned houses of Old Podampetta on India’s east coast tell the story of a small fishing village that no longer exists. Families once woke up to the sound of the sea and made their living by reading the tides and winds. But years of coastal erosion and relentless cyclones…

The Conversation · Aug 17

In 1905, Hawaii introduced mosquitofish to fight mosquitoes. More than 100 years later, the fish is threatening native wildlife

An invasive species, mosquitofish, introduced to Hawaii in 1905 poses a significant threat to the islands' native freshwater ecosystem. These aggressive fish not only prey on native damselflies but also compete with the unique gobies for essential food resources. Rapid reproduction and dietary adaptability exacerbate the situation. Conservation efforts are…

The Economic Times · Aug 17

A Florida couple bought a 45-acre swamp to protect it from development; 15 years later, 275 wood storks were nesting there in a thriving ecosystem filled with wildlife

A Florida couple made an unusual decision more than a decade ago when they bought a 45-acre cypress swamp beside their home in Tallahassee, Florida, rather than allowing the land to be cleared or developed. Jim Stevenson and Tara Tanaka purchased the swamp in 2007 after recognising its importance as…

The Times of India · Aug 17

How a mosquitofish brought in to kill mosquito larvae became major freshwater ecosystem problem

A fish introduced to Hawaii over a century ago now threatens native freshwater wildlife. The mosquitofish, brought to control mosquitoes, now preys on native aquatic insects. These invasive fish have caused significant declines in Hawaiian damselfly populations. Mosquitofish also compete with native gobies and consume endemic crustaceans. Conservation efforts now…

The Economic Times · Aug 17

Word of the Day: Aspic - Meaning, usage and origin of the wordle answer

Aspic is a savoury jelly traditionally made from gelatin-rich stock and used to encase meat, fish, vegetables or eggs. This Word of the Day explores the meaning, pronunciation and French origin of aspic, along with the unusual history of the once-popular culinary technique.

The Economic Times · Aug 17

Do Insects Feel Pain? What Neuroscience Reveals About Insect Sentience and Animal Suffering

The nervous system that wasn't supposed to matterA fruit fly injected with a small dose of acid will drag the affected limb, avoid using it, and protect it from further contact. That behaviour has a name in biology: nociception. It is the detection of damaging stimuli by specialised sensory neurons,…

Times Life · Aug 17

In 1905, Hawaii introduced mosquitofish to control mosquitoes; the tiny fish later became linked to declines of native damselflies and other threatened species

The introduction of mosquitofish in Hawaii has dramatically affected the ecosystem, leading to notable declines in native aquatic insects. These invasive fish fiercely prey on local species, disrupting food chains. The native damselflies, unprepared for such predation, are particularly vulnerable, seeing their populations plummet. Additionally, mosquitofish compete with endemic fish…

The Times of India · Aug 16