Elcio Perpetuo Guimaraes, the director general at Embrapa Rice and Beans Research Center in Brazil, stands near the entrance of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway on Feb. 25, 2025. Crop Trust / LM Salazar
14,000+ Crop Seeds Added To Svalbard Global Seed Vault For Preservation
by Paige Bennett, EcoWatch
More than 14,000 seed samples are headed for the Svalbard Global Seed Vault this week, where they’ll be preserved and protected against climate change, war, and other events that can threaten crops and plant diversity. The latest addition of 14,022 seed samples come from 21 different genebanks around the world, and the latest deposit will include thousands of samples from countries facing conflict and extreme weather events that can threaten seed genebanks. Sudan, which is currently undergoing a civil war, deposited 15 samples, including different varieties of sorghum and pearl millet.
Humpback Whales Are Singing More: Number Of Songs Has Doubled As Food Sources Became More Abundant
by Good News Network
Eavesdropping on whale songs over the last six years is providing new information vital to answering questions about these giants of the ocean. The number of whale songs detected is associated with shifting food sources, according to the California scientists—and the number of days humpbacks have been singing has nearly doubled. When monitoring baleen whale songs in the Pacific Ocean, researchers found year-to-year variations corollated with changes in the availability of the species they forage on. In vast oceans, monitoring populations of large marine animals can be a “major challenge” for ecologists, explained Dr. John Ryan.
For Seniors With Hoarding Disorder, A Support Group Helps Confront Stigma And Isolation
by Sarah Boden, KFF Health News
A dozen people seated around folding tables clap heartily for a beaming woman: She’s donated two 13-gallon garbage bags full of clothes, including several Christmas sweaters and a couple of pantsuits, to a Presbyterian church. A closet cleanout might not seem a significant accomplishment. But as the people in this Sunday-night class can attest, getting rid of stuff is agonizing for those with hoarding disorder. People with the diagnosis accumulate an excessive volume of things such as household goods, craft supplies, even pets. In extreme cases, their homes become so crammed that moving between rooms is possible only via narrow pathways.
Philadelphia Continues Long History Of Black-Led Protest Meetings Aimed At Fighting Racial Inequity And Prejudice
by , The Conversation
A meeting in Philadelphia, held at a senior center on a bitter cold Saturday afternoon in late January 2025, drew nearly 300 people. They came for two key reasons. One was to voice outrage at the upsurge in policies and proposals nationwide that attack the advances of African Americans – many of which were secured in part through 1960s-era civil rights protests. The other was to begin to develop a “Black agenda” to counter those attacks in Philadelphia. In gathering communally to voice their concerns, attendees continued a legacy of Black-led protest meetings that spans over two centuries in the city.
A Masterpiece In The Making? Movement Aims To Unite Artists From Every Country In The World
by Fern McErlane, Positive News
A new movement aims to connect creators from every country across the world, asking if art could be the ‘one language that unites us all’. Project 195, launched by art platform 13AM Studio, began on 17 February and will run until 31 August. Creatives from 71 nationalities are already on board. George Ripton, founder of 13AM Studio, explained: “Art is the purest form of connection – it crosses borders, cultures and languages without hesitation. 195 in 195 isn’t just about numbers, it’s about proving that creativity can unite us in ways nothing else can.” Each new addition is more than a name on a list, it’s a story, a culture, a perspective brought to life, he said.
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