Author name: James Ayre

James Ayre's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy. You can follow his work on Google+.

Siberian Tiger Family Caught On Film — Adult Female, Adult Male, & Three Cubs

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An entire family or Amur Siberian tigers was recently captured on film via a camera trap set up by the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Russia Program — in partnership with the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve and Udegeiskaya Legenda National Park. The images mark the first time that an adult male, an adult female, and cubs (in this […]

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Overfishing In South Africa Greatly Worsened By Government Corruption, Research Finds

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Overfishing of South Africa’s already overexpoited marine fish stocks is greatly worsened by government corruption in the region, according to new research. The findings aren’t going to surprise anyone, but perhaps having it spelled out so clearly and succinctly in an official report will have some effect? “When I interviewed inspectors they are surprisingly open

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X-Class Solar Flare Released From The Sun On Wednesday March 11 — Caused Hour-Long Radio Blackout

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The first X-class solar flare in quite some time — and the first of year — was released from the Sun on March 11, 2015. The giant solar flare was actually directed exactly at the Earth, and is known to have caused an hour-long high-frequency radio communications blackout in many areas — according to researchers

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Experimental Animal Research Has Surged In The US Over Recent Years, Research Finds

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The use of animals in experimental research in the US has surged over recent years, according to a new analysis based on previously unpublished data collected by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The new analysis makes the trend pretty clear — the use of animals in laboratory research rose by 73% between the

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Tropical Deforestation Rates Have Soared Not Slowed Down, Satellite Data Shows, Contradicting UN Study

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Tropical deforestation rates have actually soared over recent years, rather than decreased as was previously estimated in a prominant report from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s Forest Resource Assessment, according to new research. The reason for this disparity is a simple one, the UN estimate was based on what people said they did, the

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Extinct Animal Not Extinct — Bird Last Seen In 1941 ‘Rediscovered’

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An ‘extinct’ animal known as the Jerdon’s babbler (Chrysomma altirostre) has been found to not actually be extinct after all, after being ‘rediscovered’ by researchers working in Myanmar. I guess this means that even if you’re declared extinct, that perhaps you’re not necessarily actually extinct…. Well if you’re lucky anyways… And being a small, easy

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Licorice Root Extract Protects Skin Against UV-Induced Damage By Strengthening Skin’s Own Defense Systems

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Licorice root (liquorice root) extract protects skin against the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, according to new research published in the journal Experimental Dermatology. Interestingly, the licorice root extract works by strengthening the skin’s own protective defense subsystems, rather than any specific direct action. Given the rising levels of sun-damage-induced skin damage in many

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2 New Species Of Peacock Spiders Discovered — Skeletorus & Sparklemuffin

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Two new species of peacock spiders — which have been dubbed “Skeletorus” and”Sparklemuffin” — have been discovered (and scientifically described) in Australia, according to recent reports. The two new species of peacock spider were discovered in southeast Queensland by a graduate student at UC Berkeley by the name of Madeline Girard — with help from

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Is Urbanization Causing Spiders To Get Bigger & Birds To Get Bolder? Research Exposes Rapid Evolution Caused By Human Changes To The Environment

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It’s been noted for a number of years now that urbanization has an effect on various animal and plant species — driving changes in various qualities or traits. Spiders in cities are known to generally be larger than their compatriots in rural areas, for instance (possibly due to reduced predation and higher temperatures, etc); salmon

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Dance Of The Planets Friday February 20, 2015 — Venus, Mars, Uranus, & The Moon Conjunct Tonight

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The Dance of the Planets is here yet again, with a conjunction of the planets Venus, Mars, Uranus, and the crescent Moon, all visible together tonight in the evening sky. Venus and the Moon will of course be the brightest of these, but the reddish body of Mars should be fairly visible as well, of

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Plants Much Less Affected By Mass Extinctions Than Animals, Research Finds

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Plants are apparently affected far less by mass extinctions than animals are, according to new research from the University of Gothenberg. Despite their ubiquity in the terrestrial environments of the last 400 or so million years, plants just don’t seem to be as affected by mass extinction events as animals are, according to the new

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8 Million Metric Tons Of Plastic Go Into The Oceans Every Year, Research Finds

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An estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the oceans every year, according to new research from the University of Georgia and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis. To be exact, the research found that between 4.8 and 12.7 million metric tons of plastic found its way into the ocean

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Milk Thistle Extract Fights Cushing Disease Brain Tumor, Research Finds

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Milk thistle extract (silbinin) works effectively to alleviate symptoms of Cushing Disease (caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland in the brain), according to new comprehensive research from the Max Planck Institute. The research included work done using cell cultures, animal models, and also human tumor tissue. The treatment appears to be so effective

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Antibiotics Do More Than Just Kill Bacteria, They Kill Intestinal Cells & Change Behavior Of Mitochondria, Amongst Other Things, Research Finds

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While it’s long been known that antibiotic use can cause problems for patients owing to the killing off of beneficial microbes throughout the body, notable further effects on human health have otherwise been sparsely recorded by the health/science establishment. New research supported by Oregon State University, the Medical Research Foundation of Oregon, and the National

Antibiotics Do More Than Just Kill Bacteria, They Kill Intestinal Cells & Change Behavior Of Mitochondria, Amongst Other Things, Research Finds Read More 👉

Costa Rican Coral Snake Venom Finally Gives Up It’s Secrets (At Least Some Of Them Anyways)

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The Costa Rican coral snake has finally given up some the secrets behind the lethality of its venom, — after more than a decade of research — thanks to new work from an international group of scientists. Until this work, the mechanisms behind the lethality of the venom of reclusive coral snake species Micrurus mipartitus

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Centaurids Meteor Showers (Alpha + Beta + Theta) Peaking Februrary 8, 2015 – February 10, 2015

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The various Centaurid meteor showers (Alpha, Beta, Theta) will begin reaching their peak over the next few nights. The night of February 8, 2015, was actually when the peak for the Alpha Centaurids was reached, but the peak for the Beta Centaurids and the Theta Centaurids is now nearly here. It should be noted up

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Snow Snake In Michigan, Ohio, & Pennsylvania — Is Deadly Snow-Living Snake Real? (+Ice Worms)

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Is there a deadly type of snake known as a “snow snake” killing people in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania? Is there even such a thing as a snow snake? Can someone actually read the viral clipping below without laughing? I have a hard time believing that someone could actually believe this, but, there you go,

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Mercury-Levels Rising Fast In Hawaiian Yellowfin Tuna, Research Finds

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Mercury levels in Hawaiian Yellowfin Tuna have been rising fairly rapidly over the last few decades, according to new research from the University of Michigan and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The work — which was done by compiling and re-analyzing three previously published reports on yellowfin tuna caught near Hawaii — found that, in

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20-25% Of All Well-Known Marine Species Headed Towards Extinction, Research Finds

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A significant proportion — 20-25% — of all well-known marine species are headed rapidly towards extinction, new research from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences has found. The new work — which made use of the most comprehensive conservation data available for both marine and non-marine organisms — demonstrates that marine

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Endangered Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee Subspecies Will See Population Plummet, Research Finds

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One of the most endangered primates, and the most endangered chimpanzee subspecies in the world — the Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) — is likely to see its numbers plummet over the coming years, according to new research published in BMC Evolutionary Biology. As it stands currently, there are around ~6,000 individuals of this subspecies

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Gold Mining Boom In Tropical Forests Of South America Causing Extensive Deforestation, Research Finds

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The ongoing ‘gold rush’ occurring in the tropical forests of South America has led to extensive deforestation over the last few years, new research from the University of Puerto Rico has found. Gold-mining in the region has been increasing rapidly in recent years — with a huge spike in such activity being seen since the

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GMO-Crops Don’t Live Up To The Hype With Regards To Pest Control, Research Shows

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New research from the University of Arizona has shown us yet another example of the many ways in which GMO-crops (genetically modified organisms) fail to live up to the hype. In this case, the research found that the efficacy of pest control via GMO-use has been notably exaggerated — and that many assumptions about the

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Giant Forest Hogs, Baboons, Agile Mangbeys, Crested Guinea Fowls, & Aardvarks (Camera Trap Footage From Bili Forest)

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Another day, another batch of fascinating videos taken by camera-trap in the Bili Forest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rather than forest elephants this time, or leopards eating/destroying cameras, we’ve got a variety of different animals to show — from giant forest hogs, to agile mangbeys, to olive baboons, to crested guinea fowl,

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Pitcher Plants Use Complex Strategy To Increase Number Of Ants They Capture, Amazingly, Research Finds

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Believe it or not, the carnivorous-plants known as pitcher plants actually use a relatively complex strategy to maximize the number of ants that they catch, new research has shown. The plants actually use what is probably one of the oldest tricks in the book as far as strategy goes — randomization, makes yourself one way

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Forest Elephants (Loxodonta Cyclotis) Caught On Camera Trap In Remote Bili Forest

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Some wonderful footage of wild forest elephants living in the remote Bili Forest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo recently came to my attention. They’re really quite interesting, I definitely recommend that you give them a watch. These videos are coming to us via the Lukuru Foundation. The foundation’s YouTube page features similar footage

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Super-Rare Half-Female, Half-Male Butterly Found By Scientists… Subsequently Killed, Preserved, & Put On Display

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If you were to find an incredibly rare and quite striking looking butterfly, what would be your first reaction? What would you do? Appreciate the experience perhaps? Wonder about the turns of fate that led you there? Committed the experience to memory? Or… kill it, preserve it, and put it on display in a museum

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28,000+ Endangered Lemurs Illegally Trafficked As Pets In Madagascar — Survival Of Multiple Species Threatened

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More than 28,000 endangered lemurs (across a variety of different species) are currently illegally kept as pets in the only country that they exist in, Madagascar, according to a recent study. Even important public figures, and also those who are supposed to enforce the ban, were apparently found by the study to keep them as

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Comet LoveJoy (C/2014 Q2) Peaking Tonight Wednesday January 7, 2015 — Will Remain Visible January 8 Through 15

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Comet LoveJoy — officially known as C/2014 Q2 — will be reaching its closest approach to the Earth tonight (~43.5 million miles), as well as its brightest-appearance as seen from the Earth. The comet is expected to reach a peak of about ~4.5 magnitude tonight — which means that it will be fairly visible (even

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Pillars Of Creation — NASA Takes New High-Def Image Of Iconic Columns Of Gas

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The iconic Pillars of Creation recently had their portrait retaken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope in high-def as part of the telescope’s 25th anniversary celebration. The new image — showing the trio of giant columns of gas illuminated by the light of massive stars next to the Eagle Nebula (M16) in def — is as

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DNA Startup Aims To Let Customers “Create Custom Animals”

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A startup out of San Francisco, based around the ‘custom’ manipulation of DNA, is apparently aiming to take its current business to the predictable next-step of allowing customers to create ‘custom’ animals, plants, etc, according to recent reports. Said company — Austen Heinz’s Cambrian Genomics — currently creates custom DNA for “major” pharmaceutical companies, universities,

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Comet LoveJoy Peak Begins January 7, 2015 — C/2014 Q2 Now Visible With Naked Eye

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The recently discovered Comet LoveJoy will be peaking in brightness sometime after January 7, 2015 (when it makes its closest approach to the earth), and before January 20, according to recent reports. The comet is actually already visible to the naked eye when observed from most dark rural locations late at night (if you’ve got

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Nitrate Levels Rising In The North Pacific Ocean Due To Human Activity, Research Finds

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Nitrate levels are rising relatively rapidly due in the North Pacific Ocean due to human activity, according to new research from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The rising levels are primarily due to industrial and agricultural processes and practices — this change is having a significant impact on the upper ocean nitrogen cycle in

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Fred The Cockatoo Turns 100 — Famous Bird Is Now (At Least) 100 Years Old

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Fred the cockatoo — the infamous sulphur-crested cockatoo currently living at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary — has just turned 100! Well, turned “at least 100” anyways, as the that number is a very conservative estimate. He could actually be considerably older than 100, going by what is currently known. The cockatoo’s birthday was actually recognized

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Salamanders Threatened With Extinction Via Emerging Disease Spread By Wildlife Trade

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European and American salamander species could very well cease to exist thanks to an emerging disease spread by the international wildlife trade if there’s nothing done to stop it, according to new research from the University of Maryland. The new disease — caused by a fungus brought to Europe from Southeast Asia — is already

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Racing Extinction — New Trailer Shows CO2 Emissions As They Occur Using Technology

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Ever wished that you could actually see carbon dioxide emissions as they occur? That people could actually see the huge quantities of the heat-trapping gas that are released from the industrial facilities and machines that cover our modern landscape? That would certainly make it easier to explain anthropogenic climate change to people who have trouble

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Cassini Observes Strange Feature In Hydrocarbon Seas On Saturn’s Moon Titan

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A rather strange-looking “feature” was recently observed forming, and changing, in the hydrocarbon seas of Saturn’s moon Titan by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft. The interesting feature covers an area of over 100 square miles (260 square kilometers) in Ligeia Mare — one of the biggest seas on Titan. Cassini has now observed the feature twice, with

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