Has Jurassic Park fostered misunderstanding about extinction?

While the blockbuster franchise might have given us a distorted view of science's capabilities to address species extinction, new research might come close to "resurrecting" lost species' DNA.

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  • Jurassic Park has fueled public misconceptions about science's abilities to bring extinct species back to life.
  • De-extinction technology can resurrect genetic material from extinct species into their living relatives in a way that can assist conservation efforts.
  • Fostering empathy for other-than-human lives through stories might be the key to addressing the current ecological catastrophe.
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The debate is over: Cats care, study shows

A study at the University of Oregon puts a longstanding myth to rest.

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  • Cats form attachments to their caregivers at the same rate as humans and dogs, a new study shows.
  • Seventy kittens were tested in the initial study, followed by another with 38 cats over one year of age.
  • Cats speak a different language than dogs, which likely caused confusion as to their nature.
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How we view our environment impacts our wellbeing, says Australian philosopher

In his book, Earth Emotions, Glenn Albrecht coins "psychoterratic."

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  • Australian environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht has written the manual for understanding how societies must grapple with climate change.
  • Language not only reflects reality but produces it, prompting Albrecht to coin several new words.
  • Among them is psychoterratic, which relates to how our view of nature impacts our wellbeing.
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Dead bodies keep moving for more than a year after death, new study finds

So much for rest in peace.

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  • Australian scientists found that bodies kept moving for 17 months after being pronounced dead.
  • Researchers used photography capture technology in 30 minute intervals everyday to capture the movement.
  • This study could help better identify time of death.
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Michigan plants 1,000 'happy trees' to honor Bob Ross

Trees rising from the canvas to the sky.

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  • Michigan state parks have partnered with the Bob Ross artist's estate for its reforestation efforts.
  • The trees were grown by prisoners in the correctional facilities' educational program.
  • Hundreds of volunteers have planted them in state parks denoted with signs of Ross' likeness and famous tag lines.
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