Category Archives: Species loss

Big Digital Tech Moves Into Synthetic Biology: The Generative AI Rush / Black Box Biotech P1/2

A new report, Black Box Biotech, warns of the biodiversity and error risk of AI engineered proteins, aka synthetic or “generative biology”.

Insects: Apocalypse Soon?

The world-wide decline of insect populations, strengths and weaknesses of the studies, causes and effects

Exporting Extinction: The Global Political Economy of Biodiversity Loss

A new report, Exporting Extinction, delves into the economic and political drivers of species-destroying resource exploitation.

Resources to Save ‘Every Creeping Thing of the Earth’ Are Limited. What Would Noah Do?

A discussion of Martin Weitzman’s ideas about the best way to look at species preservation.

EPA Fast-Tracking of Gene-Altering Pesticide Sparks Concerns

The EPA is rushing a gene-changing pesticide through the approval process which would open the door to similar products from Big Chemical

Book Review: How Our Roads Have Become an Invasive Species

In “Crossings,” Ben Goldfarb explores the science of road ecology, or how roadways affect plants and animal life.

With Whales in Trouble, Conservationists, Fishers, and Others Team Up to Protect Them

A California program aims to help the fishing industry and marine wildlife adjust to warming oceans. Whales as a case study.

In Search of Safer Shelters: The Challenges of Replicating Nature

Human-made shelters don’t always keep creatures out of harm’s way. Can technology help design a better birdhouse?

Amid Steep Global Bird Declines, Farmers Create Refuges

While this post confirms the sightings by many readers, of a fall in bird populations, it also describes a program to help rebuild their numbers.

Global Biodiversity Panel Warns Humans’ Introduction of Invasive Species Threatens Nature, Food Security

With major drivers of change set to worsen. increases of invasive alien species and their negative impacts are likely to intensify.

As Offshore Wind Ramps Up, Scientists Flag Potential Impacts

Offshore wind farms can create their own local climates and may alter currents. How does that affect marine ecosystems?

Energy Destinies – Part 8: Pathways

Satyajit Das concludes his series on the future of energy by looking at curbing demand, aka radical conseration.

Economics v. the Earth: New Book Explores the History of a Tense Relationship

Fredrik Albritton Jonsson and Carl Wennerlind discuss how belief in infinite growth came to seem reasonable in philosophy and economics.

An EU Double Standard With Massive Impact on the Global Environment

The EU is exporting more than 10,000 tons of bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides a year to megadiverse countries despite having banned these chemicals from its own farms to protect pollinators.

How Declining Population Growth Might Portend a Future of Increasing Resource Scarcity

Slowing and stallling population growth could actually increase resource demands.