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US dams, wood‑pellet pollution, monk seals, polar bear adoption...
Mercredi 17 décembre 2025 à 22:01
Environment Spotlight
US Dams at Risk of Catastrophic Failure
PopSci reports that more than 2,500 of the United States’ 16,700 dams are classified as “high‑hazard” and are in “poor condition,” raising the specter of massive downstream loss of life and property if they collapse. Radar analyses suggest many of these structures are deteriorating unseen, a problem compounded by the aging average of 61 years for U.S. dams.
popsci.com
Drax Wood‑Pellet Mill Sparks Health Concerns in Mississippi
The Guardian notes that residents of Gloster, Mississippi, have filed a lawsuit against the Amite Bioenergy mill, operated by UK‑based Drax, alleging illegal emissions of methanol, acrolein and formaldehyde that are linked to cancer and respiratory illness. While Drax argues the plant cuts carbon footprints by exporting wood pellets, locals say the air quality has worsened dramatically since the plant opened in 2014.
The Guardian (Environnment)
Greek Monk Seals Find Refuge in Protected Caves
According to the Guardian, the Mediterranean monk seal—one of the world’s rarest marine mammals—has been spotted nesting in a sea cave within Greece’s Alonissos Marine Protected Area, where strict access limits human disturbance. Conservation officials hope the sanctuary will allow the dwindling seal population to rebound, as the species has fewer than 700 individuals worldwide.
The Guardian (Environnment)
Rare Polar Bear Adoption May Boost Cub Survival
PopSci describes a unique case in Churchill, Manitoba, where a female polar bear was observed caring for an orphaned cub that was not her own, a behavior captured by cameras during the annual migration. Researchers from Environment and Climate Change Canada suggest the adoption could improve the cub’s chances of surviving the harsh Arctic winter.
popsci.com
Patagonia Pumas Shift Diet to Penguins, Altering Ecosystem Dynamics
Live Science explains that reintroduced pumas in Argentina’s Patagonia have begun preying on a penguin breeding colony, a shift that has increased tolerance among the usually solitary predators and reshaped local food webs. Ecologists warn that such novel interactions could have unpredictable consequences for both predator and prey populations.
Live Science
Health Insights
High‑Fat Cheese Consumption Associated with Lower Dementia Risk
Popular Science highlights a new study in Neurology linking regular intake of high‑fat cheeses such as cheddar, Brie and Gouda to a reduced incidence of dementia, though researchers caution the findings show correlation, not causation. The analysis suggests that the saturated fats and certain bioactive compounds in these cheeses may play a protective role in brain health.
popsci.com
Science Frontiers
Lemon‑Shaped Exoplanet Defies Conventional Models
Scientific American reports that the James Webb Space Telescope has identified an exoplanet with an unmistakably lemon‑like silhouette, challenging existing theories of planetary formation and atmospheric composition. Astronomers are scrambling to model how such an extreme shape could persist under stellar radiation.
Scientific American
Titan’s “Slushy Tunnels” Revise Ocean‑World Theory
Live Science and Scientific American together reveal that new analyses of data from NASA’s Cassini and the James Webb telescopes suggest Saturn’s moon Titan may host a network of “slushy tunnels” rather than a global liquid ocean, reshaping expectations for habitability. Researchers argue that these semi‑solid reservoirs could still provide niches for microbial life, albeit very different from Earth‑like oceans.
Live Science
Scientific American
International Developments
Bolivia Turns to Lithium and U.S. Support to Revive Economy
The World Street Journal notes that Bolivia’s new government is courting both lithium investors and the United States for financial assistance, aiming to lift the country out of a prolonged economic slump. Officials argue that leveraging Bolivia’s vast lithium reserves could attract U.S. aid and stabilize the nation’s fiscal outlook.
World Street Journal (International)
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