The Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL), a digital archive of natural world literature, has made over 64 million pages freely available. Despite its crucial role in scientific research and understanding biodiversity crises, BHL faces funding cuts and may cease operations by 2027.
New research suggests the Tasmanian tiger's reputation as a sheep killer was exaggerated, leading to its extinction. Factors like disease and habitat loss, alongside hunting, likely contributed to its demise.
Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotech startup backed by the CIA and Peter Thiel, has announced a new de-extinction project for the bluebuck, an extinct South African antelope. The project represents a strategic shift, with CEO Ben Lamm emphasizing that the reproductive technologies developed will be open-sourced for conservation. However, the company continues to face criticism from ecologists who argue that flashy de-extinction announcements distract from efforts to save critically endangered species that still exist.
