News

As representatives of nonpartisan philanthropic institutions, serving rural, urban, and suburban communities across the nation, we condemn the violence that broke out at the U.S. Capitol this week. The events in Washington are a stain on our nation’s history and a painful break in the peaceful transition of power that has been a defining hallmark of American democracy for more than 200 years.

From Medium

https://democracyletter.medium.com/philanthropies-condemn-political-violence-call-on-leaders-to-protect-democracy-and-get-back-to-242aaf86f253

A year after a global coalition of more than 11,000 scientists declared a climate emergency, Oregon State University researchers who initiated the declaration released an update today that points to a handful of hopeful signs, but shares continued alarm regarding an overall lack of progress in addressing climate risks.

From Phys.org

https://phys.org/news/2021-01-massive-scale-mobilization-climate-scientists.html

Parts of the planet that are diverse biologically and culturally are even more diverse than you’d expect. A group of researchers developed a theory to show why richer environments are also more complex environments, where you tend to find more species and languages.

Source: Santa Fe Institute

From Science Daily

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210106095327.htm

The Guardian’s biodiversity editor looks back on a year that put the state of the planet on the agenda in ways no one could have foreseen.

From the Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/22/2020-a-truly-unimaginable-year-for-biodiversity-aoe

Smoke from wildfires could be a surprising new route for the spread of infections, according to research.

From the BBC:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55350185

When a trio of beaked whales surfaced off Mexico’s Pacific coast, researchers thought they’d found the elusive Perrin’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon perrini), an endangered species that’s never been officially sighted alive. But upon closer inspection, the researchers realized they may have stumbled upon something even rarer — a new species of beaked whale altogether.

From EcoWatch
https://www.ecowatch.com/new-whale-species-2649480724.html

Researchers are continuing to explore the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on Earth’s environment and to consider any implications for public policy.

From Space News
https://spacenews.com/agu-covid-impacts/

A new study shows that strong and rapid action to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will help to slow down the rate of global warming over the next twenty years.

Source: Univ of Leeds

From Science Daily:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201207195140.htm

Climate change is resulting in profound, immediate and worsening health impacts, and no country is immune, a major new report from more than 120 researchers has declared.

From Phys.org
https://phys.org/news/2020-12-climate-resulting-profound-worsening-health.html

Tiny bits of plastic have made their way into the deepest sea and onto the highest peaks

From Science News
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/plastics-remote-places-microplastics-earth-mount-everest