The Nomination Of Unqualified Non-scientist Sam Clovis Is A Powerful Illustration Of The Trump Administration’s

The World’s Parasites Are Going Extinct. Here’s Why That’s a Bad Thing

A parasite, in essence, is any organism that makes its living off another organism (think bed bugs, leeches, vampire fish and even mistletoe). These freeloaders have been rather successful: up to half of Earth’s 7.7 million known species are parasitic, and this lifestyle has evolved independently hundreds of times. But in a study published this week in the journal Science Advances, researchers warn that climate change could drive up to one-third of Earth’s parasite species to extinction by the year 2070.

Tapeworms, like this one imaged using a scanning electron micrograph, weaken their victims but don’t typically kill them. (Mediscan / Alamy)

The Xpand Your Horizons Family just got bigger! Check out the new pages!

Xpand Your Horizons w/ Paleontology: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHFUouhBXdXF6kf0dbsVRghNyDzscVcKc

xyhor-paleontology: https://xyhor-paleontology.tumblr.com

Xpand Your Horizons w/ Archaeology: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHFUouhBXdXF6kf0dbsVRghNyDzscVcKc

xyhor-archaeology: https://xyhor-archaeology.tumblr.com

Don't forget to check out the rest of the family too: https://xpandyourhorizons.tumblr.com/xyhor-family

Full double rainbow, Hawaii

IFA 2017: SAMSUNG announces Gear Sport smartwatch, Gear Fit2 Pro fitness band and Gear IconX (2018) earbuds - Specifications, Video Read more ➦ http://j.mp/2xGWWif

This month, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary teamed up with partners to assess damage to the coral reef from Hurricane Irma. 

Preliminary reports from the team found extensive shifting of sand and heavy sediment accumulation, which can smother and prevent corals from getting enough sunlight, as well as some structural damage to individual corals and the reef itself. This effort is the first step in a longer recovery process. Here, a science diver notes reef conditions. 

Learn more about the assessment here and see more images here.

(Photo: Brenda Altmeier/NOAA)

6 Historic Events That Were Nothing Like You Picture Them - The Spit Take

A paper published this week confirmed a piece of speculation going all the way back to Darwin.

Massive whale faces extinction with just 100 breeding females remaining

Despite legal protection, North Atlantic right whales keep getting struck accidentally by fishing boats and entangled in gear.

For decades, whaling ships targeted right whales. Now that they’re protected, they are still victims of human activity, and it may be too late to save them. The WWF says that their population shows no sign of recovery.

Hawaii Becomes the First State to Pass a Bill in Support of Universal Basic Income

Hawaii's government is going to evaluate UBI.

As the threat of automation grows, governments will have to deal with growing unemployment. UBI is growing in interest, and while there’s still research to be done, I’m glad that people are at least having the conversation.

Also, since automation is coming for middle and upper class jobs too, I expect to see progress to be made a bit more quickly. Hopefully.