LA JOLLA (July 18, 2024)—The negative impact of human activity on Earth doesn’t just affect our planet’s atmosphere—it goes much deeper, into its soils. For instance, excessive application of manure or sewage sludge can increase heavy metal concentrations in agricultural land where vital crops are grown. One of these heavy metals is zinc, a micronutrient necessary for plant and animal health. In excess, however, zinc can be extremely damaging to sensitive plant species.

Study reveals key gene protecting plants from harmful metals in soil

Where hidden water tables meet the Earth’s surface, life can thrive even in the driest locations. Offering refuge during times of drought, shallow groundwater aquifers act like water savings accounts that can support ecosystems with the moisture required to survive, even as precipitation dwindles. As climate change and human water use rapidly deplete groundwater levels around the world, scientists and policy makers need better data for where these groundwater-dependent ecosystems exist. Now, a new study maps these ecosystems in dryland regions globally, examines their protection status, and explores how they overlap with human communities.

Groundwater is key to protecting global ecosystems

Wyoming State

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WyoFile

Caitlin Tan wanted to breed her childhood horse, JP, because she’s been “amazing” — the type of animal any equestrian would be lucky to have once in a lifetime. Having access to coveted bloodlines increased the allure. Via the Miller Ranch, she could pair her 18-year-old mare with a stud descendent of Playboy’s Buck Fever.

Cream of the crop: a cremello foal is born in Wyoming

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Emily Standley Allard

Marriage is a significant life decision that requires extreme commitment, understanding, devotion and a heck of a lot of compromise. While many people dream of a lifelong partnership, others find the concept of marriage challenging. Astrology offers insights into personality traits and behaviors, suggesting that certain zodiac signs might face more difficulties in maintaining a traditional marital relationship. This article explores the five zodiac signs that are often considered less suited for marriage due to their unique characteristics and tendencies when it comes to lifelong commitment.

The 5 Zodiac Signs Not Meant for Matrimony

Total Apex Sports & Entertainment

Whenever you come across a sexy and extremely attractive person, bear in mind that such physical attributes may be influenced by their zodiac signs. Among all the signs of the zodiac, some signs tend to be more attractive than others. This is usually based on the planets that rule these signs and other astrological energies that could make them more appealing.

3 Zodiac Signs Who Are Sexy

New York City, NY

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Cheryl E Preston

Yesterday was the third time this year that an ad stating Chelsea Clinton lives in a beautiful Virginia home popped up on my laptop. My computer did not warn me this was a dangerous site, so this time, I clicked on the link.

Chelsea Clinton is rumored to be living in Virginia but probably still in NYC

Ocilla, GA

Daily Coffee Press

Last Thursday, agents from the South Central Drug Task Force (SCDTF) made an arrest following a successful execution of a search warrant at a residence in Ocilla. According to officials, the search yielded a significant quantity of drugs, including tablets suspected to contain fentanyl, associated with a criminal street gang.

Successful Drug Bust in Ocilla Leads to Arrest Linked to 'Local Criminal Street Gang'

The most threatened reef fishes are also the most overlooked by scientists and the general public. That is the startling finding of a team of scientists led by a CNRS researcher.1 In a study to be published in Science Advances on July 17, they measured the level of human interest in 2,408 species of marine reef fish and found that the attention of the scientific community is attracted by the commercial value more than the ecological value of the fishes. The public, on the other hand, is primarily influenced by the aesthetic characteristics of certain species, such as the red lionfish (Pterois volitans) and the mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus).

The most endangered fish are the least studied

How can Astrology tell you about your worst friends? Astrology is the concept of using the placement of the planets and their related astrological signs, or the Signs of the Zodiac, to determine the course of a life. These placements based on your birth date, time, and location can give you a wealth of information about your personality traits and character and predict events throughout your life based on your sign and current placements. Of course, this is a quick overview, and doing actual natal charts and horoscopes is much more complicated. But now you have a basic idea of what astrology is.

5 Zodiac Signs That Could Be Your Worst Friend

Kentucky State

Northern Kentucky Tribune

Kentucky’s Community Actions Partnerships have announced the starts date for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Subsidy, aimed at helping Kentucky households offset summer cooling costs.

LIHEAP Summer Subsidy program to help with summer cooling costs to begin enrollment July 16

Chicago, IL

Foodie in Chicago

Shortly before 3 AM, people in the Chicago area may have felt their houses shake as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of the city. (CHICAGO) The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 3.4-magnitude earthquake around Somonauk, IL. Somonauk is in DeKalb and LaSalle Counties, 64 miles west of Chicago.

Did You Feel the Earthquake?

Coral Gables, FL

Edmond Thorne

Tragic End for South Florida Hispanic Building Tycoon Sergio Pino. Fort Lauderdale, FL - In a shocking turn of events, prominent South Florida homebuilder Sergio Pino was found dead in his Coral Gables home on Tuesday morning. The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Pino died from an apparent suicide.

South Florida Tycoon Dead After FBI Raids on Homes and Office

Massachusetts State

Dianna Carney

The Animal Rescue of New England recently introduced Cagney and Lacey, two adorable German Shepherd puppies, who are now ready to find their forever home. These lively girls were saved from a shelter on the day they were due to be euthanized due to overcrowding. At approximately five months old, both puppies are brimming with energy and love.

Puppies Saved On The Day They Were To Be Euthanized Now Looking For Love

Denver, CO

David Heitz

A dangerous drug that is being mixed into fentanyl is causing those who inject it to develop a rash of sores that resembles a case of flesh-eating bacteria. People experiencing homelessness around Denver can sometimes be seen with these bloody, weeping wounds. I recently mentioned this phenomenon to a fentanyl user who told me about the xylazine connection.

Denver homeless people suffer sores as xylazine enters fentanyl supply

Bozeman, MT

BOZEMAN — Montana State University researcher James Crawford recently published a collaborative paper with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that marks a step forward in their quest for what he calls a “holy grail” of chemistry: converting the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into chemical building blocks which could be used to create myriad other materials.

Montana State researcher studies nano-scale materials that mimic enzymes to convert CO2 into chemical building blocks

Savannah, GA

Newly returned indictments in the Southern District of Georgia include felony charges for illegal firearms possession and drug distribution, while additional defendants have been sentenced to federal prison or await further proceedings after pleading guilty to federal gun charges.

Federal Charges in Southern GA: Indictments and Sentences for Firearms and Drug Offenses

Alameda, CA

Alameda Post

Western bluebirds are among the most beautiful birds in Alameda. The male is intensely blue with bronze highlights and the female is equally beautiful, with more subtle coloration. Western bluebirds are now quite common in open-space areas of the city, but that was not always the case. Before 2010 they were rarely seen here, and for a few years after that they were seen only in winter around Crown Beach , traveling elsewhere to nest during spring.

With a Little Help, Western Bluebirds Are Nesting in Alameda

Bedminster Township, PA

Bucks County Beacon

Something stinks in Pipersville and many local residents say the pungent smell is coming from Kingdom Provisions, LLC, a slaughterhouse located at 5960 Durham Road, where turkey buzzards are constantly perched in trees and an abundance of flies is considered commonplace.

Pipersville Residents Held Hostage By Slaughterhouse Horrors

Just look at that beautiful pup! Lima is an adorable 5-month-old Husky who is smart, friendly, and a total sweetheart. It’s hard to believe this sweet girl was brought to FAAS after being abandoned in a grocery store parking lot, tied to a pole with an electrical cord used as a leash. She was just a few months old.

Lima is Looking for Love

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Despite facing regional threats like deforestation and wildfires, the world's forests continue to be a powerful weapon in the fight against climate change. A new study reveals these vital ecosystems have consistently absorbed carbon dioxide for the past three decades, even as disruptions chip away at their capacity.

Forests endure as carbon sink despite regional pressures

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Earth BioGenome Project to sequence the genome of nearly 40,000 plant, animal and fungi species in Catalan-speaking territories

Biodiversity loss is one of the most alarming threads the planet faces. Degraded habitats, overexploited resources, climate crisis and invasive species are some of the factors...

Earth BioGenome Project to sequence the genome of nearly 40,000 plant, animal and fungi species in Catalan-speaking territories

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