wildlife – Southern Fried Science

What goes up must come down: the toxic hangover from the Freedom 250 fireworks

July 6, 2026 Chris Parsons

The “Freedom 250” activities in Washington DC have been controversial for a number of reasons, but after the fireworks display in the early hours of July 5th, the environmental and health impacts of this event became a concern. In the aftermath of the fireworks display on the National Mall, Washington D.C.’s Air Quality Index went … Read More “What goes up must come down: the toxic hangover from the Freedom 250 fireworks” »

Southern Fried Science year-in-review, Palau’s Giant, a new challenge for deep-sea mining, Porgs are Puffins, and more! Monday Morning Salvage: December 25, 2017.

December 25, 2017December 25, 2017 Andrew Thaler

Weekly Salvage

Happy Holidays from the Southern Fried Science Team!

Fog Horn (A Call to Action)

The Saipan Blog’s Angelo Villagomez put together a list of extraordinary Indigenous Pacific Conservationists to Follow on Twitter in 2018. Go. Follow them. Learn what’s really happening in Pacific Conservation.

Flotsam (what we’re obsessed with right now)

Do-it-yourself science is taking off. A growing movement seeks to make the tools of science available to everyone (including you). I love that The Economist now has a “Punk Science” heading.
Palau now requires all tourists to sign an environmental pledge when they enter the country. All flights in now feature this delightful short film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhuY8eNLzBM

Arlo Guthrie was right! Cool short video of bipedal “walking” in gastropods. Clamzo boys, Clamzo!

Make for the Planet with Conservation X Labs and the Earth Optimism Summit!

April 11, 2017 Andrew Thaler 2 Comments

Conservation

Invasive species, overfishing, ocean plastics, wildlife tracking, and measuring ecosystem services, are some of the most daunting challenges in conservation.While these challenges require a combination of social, commercial, and regulatory cooperation to address, they can also be tackled through technological innovation, which can bypass some of the largest hurdles to implementing practical, timely solutions.

On April 21, 2017, 18 teams of conservationists, technologists, makers, and hardware hackers will gather in Washington DC and tackle five conservation challenges selected by a panel of experts at the Make for the Planet, part of the Smithsonian’s Earth Optimism Summit. Over three days, teams will work to develop prototypes, strategic frameworks, and model systems that address specific issues within the broader challenge prompt of terrestrial species invasion, overfishing, ocean plastics, wildlife tracking, and ecosystem services.

Please do not hug the dangerous wildlife …!

June 1, 2016June 1, 2016 Chris Parsons 1 Comment

Uncategorized

This week social media was afire with news that a child fell into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo, with the result that a male lowland gorilla was shot to protect the child. This is the third time a toddler has fallen into a gorilla enclosure. Comments on social media blamed the parent for not minding their child, the zoo for shooting the gorilla, and a few also blamed the zoo for not building a safer enclosure, which would prevent toddlers from being able to enter. I did not notice, however, any comments on how the public often perceives potentially dangerous wildlife – as something that is safe, and not actually life-threatening.