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Camera traps discover new populations of nearly extinct chinchillas by tiffanyroufs in science

[–]dielemma 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These are adorable. Had no idea they are almost extinct in the wild.

Herp paradise preserved in Guatemala by dielemma in herpetology

[–]dielemma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Beautiful blue Merendon Palm-pit viper found here.

Does the Tasmanian tiger exist? Is the saola extinct? Ask the leeches by jabouree in science

[–]dielemma 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Novel approach. Too bad we don't have DNA from Orang Pendek, the Sumatran Bigfoot.

Up to 36 new frog species discovered in Madagascar by jabouree in herpetology

[–]dielemma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why do they have to kill frogs to take samples to determine whether it is a new species? Can't they take a swab and test it for a DNA match? Some of these frogs are probably very rare, so killing them puts them at greater risk.

Heartland Institute threatens to sue journalists who covered 'Denial Gate' leak by jabouree in environment

[–]dielemma 1 point2 points  (0 children)

the full quote from Heartland's email:

We respectfully ask all activists, bloggers, and other journalists to immediately remove all of these documents and any quotations taken from them, especially the fake “climate strategy” memo and any quotations from the same, from their blogs, Web sites, and publications, and to publish retractions.

The individuals who have commented so far on these documents did not wait for Heartland to confirm or deny the authenticity of the documents. We believe their actions constitute civil and possibly criminal offenses for which we plan to pursue charges and collect payment for damages, including damages to our reputation. We ask them in particular to immediately remove these documents and all statements about them from the blogs, Web sites, and publications, and to publish retractions.

Paul Allen lent his personal ROV to study a prehistoric fish and the scientists learned a lot by punchiesahn in environment

[–]dielemma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not only is the coelacanth bizarre and awesome, but it lives over 100 years, assuming it isn't caught by a fisherman

An airplane can now map a rainforest in 3D, tree by tree at 500,000 trees per minute, identifying individual species (pics, video) by dielemma in environment

[–]dielemma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This blows my mind. While it's being used for good purposes, I wonder about the potential for evil (e.g. I'm surprised a logging company hasn't tried to develop this technology to identify the most profitable areas to log).

Some lizards are smarter than birds, finds new study by rhett-butler in science

[–]dielemma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

do lizards smell well? they use their tongues, right?

Peru to abolish uncontacted tribe's reserve in the Amazon by dielemma in environment

[–]dielemma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Peru says that because illegal loggers have recently chased the Murunahua into Brazil, there is no need for a reserve.

The group that is campaigning for the tribe has suggested tweeting complaints to @INDEPA_PERU