Drug trade threatens bird wintering grounds

+ how decaffeination works; latest on long COVID US Edition - Today's top story: Counter-drug strategies in Central America are worsening deforestation, threatening many species of birds [View in browser]( US Edition | 24 July 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( If you’re a birder, like me, you may have used the online eBird program, either to see where birds are showing up in your area or to share your sightings. But scientists apply this data for many other purposes. In a recently published study, Amanda Rodewald of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and colleagues used eBird data to identify important forest landscapes for resident and migratory birds in Central America, an important wintering location for many species. Then they examined which of these areas were likely to become future spaces for drug trafficking, based on attributes such as remoteness and sparse human populations. They found that operations designed to disrupt drug networks and seize cocaine shipments may be [pushing drug-related activity into important bird areas](, where traffickers cut down forests to create businesses that can launder their profits. Rodewald suggests that initiatives to help local communities monitor and protect their land could help conserve these natural areas and protect residents from the impacts of the narcotics trade. Also in this week’s science news: - [Republicans were seen as posing greater infection COVID-19 risk]( - [The fragile foundation of our IT-dependent society]( - [Diabetes and obesity raise liver diseases risk]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Jennifer Weeks Senior Environment + Cities Editor Baltimore orioles breed in eastern and central North America, then migrate south to wintering grounds in Florida, the Caribbean and Central America. phototrip/istock via Getty Images [Counter-drug strategies in Central America are worsening deforestation, threatening many species of birds]( Amanda D. Rodewald, Cornell University Central America’s forests are critically important habitat for many forest birds, including endangered species. Narco-traffickers are cutting down trees, leaving birds with nowhere to go. Researchers obtained cylindrical core samples from almost 3,000 feet – nearly a kilometer – within the seafloor. Erick Bravo/IODP [Seafloor sediment reveals previously unknown volcanic eruption 520,000 years ago in south Aegean Sea]( Molly Colleen McCanta, University of Tennessee A newly discovered half-million-year-old layer of volcanic sediment beneath the Aegean Sea rewrites what scientists know about this area’s volcanic history – and potential future hazards. Jerry Seinfeld, who wrote and directed “Unfrosted,” poses next to a Pop-Tarts mascot at the Netflix film’s premiere in Hollywood, Calif., in April 2024. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP [Worried about the health effects of the sugar in your breakfast cereal? Little has changed since the days of ‘Unfrosted,’ the Pop-Tarts movie]( Nathaniel Johnson, University of North Dakota Many popular cereals have 10 to 14 grams of sugar per serving, which is nearly a third of the USDA’s recommended daily limit. [Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – the picture is unsettling]( Ziyad Al-Aly, Washington University in St. Louis A new study finds the risks of developing long COVID declined over the first two years of the pandemic. But unvaccinated adults were more than twice as likely to get long COVID compared with those who were vaccinated. [Retaining flavor while removing caffeine − a chemist explains the chemistry behind decaf coffee]( Michael W. Crowder, Miami University Even unstimulating coffee has stimulating chemistry. [Bugs thrive in urban Los Angeles – volunteers’ traps reveal biodiversity hot spots for city insects and spiders]( Laura Melissa Guzman, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Charles Lehnen, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Teagan Baiotto, University of Southern California City life can mean lots of pavement and habitat loss. But many bug species are hanging on, especially in neighborhoods with steady temperatures near the mountains. [Late bedtimes and not enough sleep can harm developing brains – and poorer kids are more at risk]( Emily C. Merz, Colorado State University; Melissa Hansen, Colorado State University Less sleep and later bedtimes are linked to a section of the brain involved in emotion regulation suffering reduced growth, along with weaker connections to other brain areas. - [Athletes looking for a competitive edge may find it within their gut microbiome]( Christopher Damman, University of Washington Athletes have different gut microbiomes compared with the general population. Some of these microbes are thought to improve endurance and recovery by optimizing the cell’s powerhouses. - [Cheesemaking is a complex science – a food chemist explains the process from milk to mozzarella]( John A. Lucey, University of Wisconsin-Madison Cheesemaking is an ancient practice, and modern methods and chemistry have made it a science. - [Sports in extreme heat: Warning signs of heat illness and how high school athletes can safely prepare for the start of team practices]( Samantha Scarneo-Miller, West Virginia University An athletic trainer explains why bodies need time time to acclimatize, and the risks to watch out for. - [What do genes have to do with psychology? They likely influence your behavior more than you realize]( Jessica D. Ayers, Boise State University Human psychology is influenced by a complex network of genes and environmental factors. Studying how and when genes fail to cooperate could broaden our understanding of behavior. - [Online rumors sparked by the Trump assassination attempt spread rapidly, on both ends of the political spectrum]( - [Diabetes and obesity can damage the liver to the point of failure – but few people know their risk of developing liver disease]( - [Massive IT outage spotlights major vulnerabilities in the global information ecosystem]( - [Republicans wary of Republicans – how politics became a clue about infection risk during the pandemic]( - [Cancer costs for Americans with private health insurance rose after the ACA rollout and fell for those with Medicaid]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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