Earthly matters 🌱

Coffee under pressure

Scientists are busy ensuring the future of our coffee habits – and the incomes generated by them. Coffee is particularly vulnerable to climate change and yields are often affected by conditions such as droughts. For Nature, Davide Castelvecchi writes about the ways in which researchers are tackling this crisis, from “improving the resilience of the two main species, to experimenting with relatives in the Coffea genus, to squeezing more coffee out of current crops with clever chemistry tricks.”

The thorny topic of cactus smuggling

For The Conversation, Jared Margulies, an environmental governance lecturer at UCL, writes about “Robin Hood conservationists” – specifically, cactus experts who illegally harvest plants for conservation purposes, a movement perhaps shaped by its Soviet history.

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What happened to Kerstin Gurtner?

William Finnegan reports on the trial of Thomas Plamberger, who was facing a charge of homicide by gross negligence in the death of his girlfriend, Kerstin Gurtner. The couple had attempted to climbed Grossglockner, the tallest mountain in Austria, but Gurtner never made it down. Within the mountaineering community, there is a general sense that alpine accidents shouldn’t be criminalised – but, as Finnegan writes, “Kerstin’s death seemed different.”

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading Poacher – an account of South Africa’s abalone trade, co-authored by former poacher Shuhood Abader and journalist Kimon de Greef.

I’m watching Skywalkers: A Love Story, a doc about the couple that scaled the Empire State Building – at the top of which they got engaged and the bottom of which they were arrested – earlier this week.

I’m listening to Lulu Garcia-Navarro interview Robby Hoffman.

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Other articles that caught my eye this week: one about the baboons and people of Rooiels in South Africa and another about the places that wish UNESCO would take them off the World Heritage List. Happy reading!

(FYI, there’ll be no roundup next week because I’ll be travelling to and settling into my home for the next two months, the mountain resort of Bansko in Bulgaria!)

Earthly matters 🌱

Can ecosystems fail?

Ecologist John Drake argues that ecosystems shouldn’t be seen through a lens of their usefulness to humans – for example, a wetland that holds less carbon that it used to is not necessarily “malfunctioning”. It’s an interesting examination of how we view and study the natural world.

South African village demonstrates unusually peaceful coexistence with baboons

Nowhere is human-baboon conflict better documented – or more controversial – than in Cape Town. But Rooiels, a village just outside the city, has demonstrated how it’s possible for people to coexist with baboons. While there are some useful learnings, this Mongabay piece also makes the point that, due to the particular nature of Rooiels, it’s probably an exception.

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Places that no longer want to be a World Heritage site

For BBC Travel, Bailey Berg writes about the places that no longer want to be on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which includes the likes of Machu Picchu and Venice. Although the designation brings perks – notably money to protect heritage sites – it also brings tourism, often lots of it. For some places this can be overwhelming to the point of seeking a UNESCO de-listing.

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading the final pages of The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste set during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in the 1930s – it has taken me ages to finish, not because it isn’t brilliant (it is), but because I’ve been reading at a snail’s pace recently.

I’m watching the series finale of Hacks. Honestly, a perfect show.

I’m listening to The Conversation’s episode on Australia’s social media ban for teens.

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In other news, there have been protests in Kenya over a huge parking lot planned inside Nairobi National Park, and a piece from the States details all ways FIFA and the US have tried to ruin this World Cup.

Earthly matters 🌱

Great white shark filmed in the Med

Possibly for the first time, an adult great white shark has been filmed in the Mediterranean Sea. Divers from NGO Healthy Seas filmed the shark swimming around an offshore shipwreck. White sharks are known to live in the Mediterranean, but the population has severely declined at least in part due to fishing pressures – so they’re extremely rare to see. Click here for the video!

Kenyans protest development of Nairobi National Park

Earlier this week, several people were arrested after protesting development plans for Nairobi National Park in the Kenyan capital. As reported by Reuters: “Protesters…say ⁠the plans, including a parking area for more than 1,000 vehicles, will encroach on one of Kenya's most famous protected areas.”

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The worst ever World Cup?

For Defector, Aaron Timms writes about what might be the worst World Cup of all time (and you thought Qatar was a bad choice of host) – from extortionate tickets and transport to hotter-than-hell temperatures and a ban on refillable water bottles. Throw in the Americanisation of the event (including a half time show at the final) and the fact that the US has made it difficult to impossible for many participants and fans to attend – and it all sounds entirely dreadful. (I feel bad for Mexico, the only appropriate host country in this trio.)

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading a follow-up to last week’s news about Hillary Dawa Sherpa’s against-the-odds survival on Everest.

I’m watching Rafa on Netflix, a brilliant doc about a brilliant player.

I’m listening to Cardi’s Am I the Drama? (again).

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On the travel side, I read about Dawa Sherpa, an Everest guide who was missing on the mountain without food or oxygen for nearly a week before he was found crawling towards base camp. The world awaits his story – until then, I hope he recovers well.

Earthly matters 🌱

Atlantic sturgeons’ noisy spawning

The “thunder” sounds produced by Atlantic sturgeons while spawning may allow researchers to track their mating events from afar. This is based on a study of the endangered fish – a species that can grow to the size of a car – in New York State’s Hudson River. To mate, female sturgeons release up to two million eggs whilst males release a fluid containing sperm. It’s not yet clear what causes the noises – it could be communication, thrashing or “the jiggling of the sturgeon’s swim bladder.” Have a listen via this Scientific American piece about the findings.

Albanians protest Kushner-linked resort in protected area

This week, reports The Guardian, Albanians took to the streets of Tirana in their thousands to protest the controversial development of a €1.4 billion resort on an undeveloped stretch of coastline – an area that includes the Vjosa-Narta protected wetland, home to flamingos, Mediterranean monk seals and sea turtle nesting sites. The project is being funded by the investment firm founded by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

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Missing Sherpa found after a week on Everest

A remarkable story from Mount Everest – a Sherpa guide who’d been missing for six days was found crawling towards base camp by a crew dismantling ladders and ropes as the season wraps. As reported by the Associated Press, Dawa Sherpa was last seen descending on 29th May – his client arrived at base camp, but Dawa did not. His family had started funeral rituals when they received the news that he had, miraculously, survived.

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading this Grist piece on the possible consequences of a “hyperscale” data centre in Utah.

I’m watching Beef S2 on Netflix – I loved the first season and hoping this one will be just as good.

I’m listening to The Daily’s episode about life on board the ships stranded for months in the Strait of Hormuz.

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Earthly matters 🌱

A sacred baobab is dying

One of the largest and oldest baobab trees in Madagascar is dying, reports The New York Times. Tsitakakantsa roughly means “if you sing on one side of the trunk, your singing cannot be heard from the other side” – its name gives an indication of the size of this tree, thought to be between 1,000 and 1,500 years old and considered sacred by the surrounding communities. Factors including climate change mean all the island’s baobabs are under “huge amounts of stress”.

On making friends with trees

Kate Morgan writes about forming relationships with individual trees – something a study in Finland indicates is actually very common, with the majority of participants having a favourite tree. Most people don’t expect trees to respond in the same way we communicate, but, as master arborist RJ Laverne says, it’s a symbiotic relationship “if we understand all of what they provide for us. Not just the wood, but the shade, the wind-shielding. They take pollutants from the air, reduce stormwater runoff.”

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A pan-African road trip

Frida Nsonde reports on a West African journey undertaken by a bunch of creatives, with the aim of exploring and promoting pan-Africanism. Crossing multiple borders in their bus, they experienced the frustrations of corruption and a lack of freedom of movement or sense of unity amongst African countries. But along the way they were able to meet other pan-Africanists and spread the word on Afrocentrism. The Continent, page 22.

The future of safari

The Economist looks at the multitude of challenges facing the safari industry, from making it fair for communities living around parks and reserves to protecting wildlife that can suffer from the presence of too many vehicles. It’s a tricky issue that doesn’t have a straightforward solution.

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading this piece on the white South Africans who went to the US as “refugees”.

I’m watching this surprise pacer at last weekend’s Cape Town Marathon. The panicked glancing back cracked me up.

I’m listening to this barn owl sneezing.

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Earthly matters 🌱

“Gardening is all about sex”

James Whiting designed “Aphrodite’s Hothouse” with an aim of getting more people talking about sex. The garden – sponsored by sex toy brand Lovehoney – won gold in the houseplant studios category at the Chelsea Flower Show. As reported by The New York Times, Whiting used “trumpet-shaped calla lilies for their evocative form, caladiums for their resemblance to painted hearts, and carnivorous nepenthes for their bulbous pitchers.”

Climate-resilient buildings look to the past

This UN Environment Programme piece looks at the Hikma Community Centre in Dandaji, Niger, as an example of the buildings we’ll need to survive climate change. On the edge of the Sahara Desert, Dandaji can get extremely hot, but the Hikma’s mosque and library – designed by Mariam Issoufou and Yasaman Esmaili – remain relatively cool. No, not thanks to energy-guzzling AC, but as a result of traditional earthen brick walls, high ceilings, strategically placed doors and windows, and a tree-filled garden.

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Paul Salopek starts final leg of epic journey

I remember when journalist Paul Salopek started his 42,000km (26,098-mile) Out of Eden Walk, retracing the migration path of Stone Age humans out of Africa. In the 13 years since then, he’s walked from Ethiopia to Japan. Now he’s arrived in North America for the final stretch to Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. As he explains to Alaskan outlet KTOO, he’s switching up his mode of travel for this part of the journey.

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading an update on a story I highlighted last week, about a whale stranding and eventual release – the whale’s carcass was found last Friday, 15th May.

I’m watching Apex on Netflix, Charlize Theron’s new film – a fun/creepy watch.

I’m listening to New Scientist’s new brain health podcast Change Your Mind.

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Earthly matters 🌱

How a humpback whale stranding became a media circus

This New Yorker piece by Jessica Camille Aguirre tells the tale of a humpback whale stranding in Germany and how a bunch of influencers and animal lovers fought the initial decision to let the whale die. We don’t know if the whale suffered more or less as a result – but it’s a good story about the characters that so often crop up in cases of animal welfare.

Public support doubles when climate change is framed as a health issue

A new study found that people are twice as likely to change their attitude to the climate crisis when health impacts are highlighted. South Africa’s Mail & Guardian outlines the findings, noting that across Brazil, Japan, India and South Africa, “certain health themes consistently shaped opinion. Messages on extreme heat, food and water insecurity and children’s health had the strongest and most consistent influence.”

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Kamryn Renae’s PCT hike goes viral

For Outside, Grayson Haver Currin writes about thru-hiking’s newest “micro-celebrity”, Kamryn Renae. She’s taking on the 2,600-mile/4,184km Pacific Crest Trail in her own way, from wearing whatever she wants to funding her hike through OnlyFans – and, of course, that’s a problem for some people. Good for her, I say.

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading this dramatic ground-level imagining of what happened when the dinosaur-killing astroid hit Earth.

I’m watching Real Housewives of Rhode Island, which might be a new favourite RH franchise. I had no idea people from RI sound like that.

I’m listening to this interview with Patrick Radden Keefe about his new book, London Falling, on the death of a young man who’d been pretending to be a Russian oligarch’s son and why it was never properly investigated by the police.

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On a lighter note, the UK’s National Trust has relaunched its livestream of the Farne Islands’ puffin colony as the birds settle in for a season of breeding and raising their little pufflings – scroll down to see what they’re up to.

Earthly matters 🌱

Tigers in, people out

For People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI), Priti David reports on Indians displaced due to expanding tiger reserves – a form of fortress conservation (in short: wildlife in, people out). David notes that as people are swiftly removed from protected areas for tigers and cheetahs, projects such as river linkage, mining and storage reservoirs are commissioned in these same reserves, buffer zones and wildlife corridors.

Green colonialism in Kenya

Kariũki Kĩrigia, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s School of the Environment and African Studies Centre, writes about wildlife conservancies and “green colonialism” in Kenya for The Conversation. His research shows that, while there might be some benefits, protected areas often largely disadvantage local people.

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What a Cape Town bike ride reveals about apartheid legacy

The New York Times’ Johannesburg bureau chief John Eligon took a bicycle ride through Cape Town with Young Urbanists, a non-profit organisation promoting fair, sustainable urban redevelopment. Cycling from the city centre to Langa, a township, he saw some of the “formidable physical and psychological barriers left over from a system of intense racial segregation.”

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading this interview, initially scrapped after Jason Lee’s lawyers got involved due to a question about Scientology. Defector eventually published it – good for them.

I’m watching Dan Levy’s new show, Big Mistakes, on Netflix. It’s fun!

I’m listening to the ever-growing USB album by Fred Again..

Bonus: The National Trust’s puffin cam, live from the Farne Islands.

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Earthly matters 🌱

How did this reef survive a heatwave?

Aussie researchers have been investigating why a reef off Western Australia seemed unaffected by a long heatwave that killed 60% of corals on other reefs last year. Their findings can help identify heat-tolerant corals to bolster reefs in the future.

Tracing the climate through women’s work songs

For The Conversation, Reetika Revathy Subramanian of the University of East Anglia writes about her research into women’s work songs and what they reveal about climate and attitudes to the environment.

The environmental effects of war

Wired Middle East is running a series called Environment Under Fire – reporting on the environmental effects of the Israeli-US war on Iran. In this piece, Chris Hamill-Stewart and Ruchi Kumar outline the fallout, from black rain in Tehran to burned farmland and contamination risks in southern Lebanon.

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Uganda’s sacred Kasubi Tombs reopen

Griffin Shea reports on the reopening of Uganda’s Kasubi Tombs, resting places of Buganda kings. 16 years ago, a fire destroyed the structures, leading to riots. After a long restoration process that involved traditional and spiritual aspects, the tombs are now open to the public again.

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste. I’ve just started, but immediately enjoying it.

I’m watching the record-breaking extravaganza that was the London Marathon last Sunday. What a race! I have, once again, entered the ballot – tenth time lucky?

I’m listening to The Shadow Contract – the Good Law Project’s series on Palantir. “Exposing Palantir’s NHS Secrets: From Westminster to Gaza, uncovering why a US spy-tech firm is now at the heart of the NHS.”

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Earthly matters 🌱

Kraken-like octopuses existed millions of years ago

A study of fossilised beaks dating back 100 million years has produced evidence of octopuses that were up to 19 metres in length. Their powerful beaks were capable of crushing the bones of prey, which may have included equally massive ancient species such as mosasaurs. Read more about the findings in The Guardian, and here’s a link to the paper.

Who are the US’s conservative environmentalists?

Gaby Del Valle explores the conservative environmentalist scene in the US in this long read for Harper’s. Nature is an area that can be bipartisan, it seems – though how landscapes should be protected and climate change addressed are, of course, the sticking points.

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The jet fuel crisis

A side-effect of the illegal Israeli-US war on Iran is a lack of available jet fuel – something set to affect travel in the coming months, especially in Europe. This week, Lufthansa announced it’s cancelling 20,000 flights from now until October. Barron’s reports on the outlook (spoiler: it’s not good).

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading World Without Mind by Franklin Foer. It’s about the dominance of the tech giants and what that’s meant for the media in particular. (It was published in 2018, so already feels a little out of date, but an important read nonetheless.)

I’m watching Ladies of London, from season one. My new binge fodder. It’s as ridiculous as you might imagine.

I’m listening to this Charlize Theron interview, where she speaks about being in the house when her mother killed her father in self-defence.

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Earthly matters 🌱

Space belongs to everyone

Kicking off with an unearthly matter, contrary to the title of this section. For Nature, space environmentalist Moriba Jah writes about the importance of stewardship and how ancestral value systems and World Heritage protections can be used in the safeguarding of space.

Kenyan conservancy criticised for CEO choice

Kenya’s Lewa Wildlife Conservancy recently announced its new CEO – a hire that’s been met with criticism. Rob Macaire’s background is in mining and diplomacy. And, like both the previous CEO and the current board chairman, Macaire is British – a fact that clashes with the board’s claim that it was “committed to identifying Kenyan talent” throughout the recruitment process.

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Beyond the sights

Writer Andy Isaacson joined a tour group in India as a sighted guide for visually impaired tourists. In this piece for The New York Times (gift link), he writes about his experiences and those of his fellow travellers.

Robben Island’s controversial accommodation plans

15 of the 91 former prison guard houses on South Africa’s Robben Island (on which anti-apartheid activists were imprisoned) are slated to be turned into tourist accommodation to boost income for Robben Island Museum (RIM). In response to criticism of the plans, RIM says the accommodation could be used by researchers, artists-in-residence, students and staff – in addition to tourists – and that the income will help fund conservation work, educational programmes and maintenance.

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading The New Yorker’s big Sam Altman piece.

I’m watching Kevin Can F**k Himself with Annie Murphy who plays a “sitcom wife” starting down the path to freedom.

I’m listening to Jill Scott’s To Whom This May Concern.

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I’m off next week – back in your inbox on the 17th of April!

Earthly matters 🌱

Crediting the source

For Nature, Lesley Evans Ogden profiles Anne Poelina, a Nyikina Warrwa conservationist. Poelina’s people are the Traditional Custodians of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. In this piece, she talks about crediting the river as the first author, her work combining science, culture and justice, and the impacts of “climate chaos”.

“Because Poelina works with the river to produce fresh knowledge and assimilate ancient wisdom, she decided to recognize its contributions formally. In 2020, she started including the Martuwarra River of Life as the first author on her publications.”

Saudi’s “nature diplomacy”

The Washington Post reports that Saudi Arabia’s government will donate a whopping $51.6 million to the US’s Smithsonian National Zoo. The money will fund an exhibit for a breeding pair of critically endangered Arabian leopards, scheduled to arrive in 2028. It’s the largest donation the National Zoo has ever received and an example of something Natalie Koch – a Syracuse University professor of geography who studies the Arabian Peninsula – described to the Post as “nature diplomacy, using conservation partnerships to build international and domestic legitimacy.”

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The dangers of glacier tourism

Glacier scientist M Jackson writes about the dangers of glacier tourism for Grist. Jackson was working in Iceland when a Breiðamerkurjökull ice cave collapsed in 2024, killing one visitor. She explains why glacier tourism has boomed in recent years – partly “see it before it disappears” marketing – and how financial incentives still outweigh safety concerns.

“But what I keep getting stuck on is the simple fact that summer ice caves aren’t OK. Ice caves aren’t OK. Breiðamerkurjökull is not OK. None of the glaciers are. Just because millions of people want to spend millions of dollars to see the ice before it’s gone doesn’t mean it should happen, or that it’s safe.”

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading this Columbia Journalism Review piece entitled “Who is left to cover Lebanon?” by Zahra Hankir, about the record-breaking number of journalists Israel has killed in the past 2.5 years, fewer foreign bureaus, and the difficulties reporters face working with Western outlets.

I’m watching (whiplash alert) Last One Laughing UK. Ten comedians compete to be the most stony faced while trying to crack each other (and not self-sabotage). If you haven’t watched it yet, do so – it’s hilarious. Unfortunately on Prime.

I’m listening to Revisionist History episodes about Disney’s Zootopia – screenwriter Gary Goldman claims his story was stolen and it’s possible Zootopia 2 (a great film btw) is an apology of sorts? You decide.

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Earthly matters 🌱

Witnessing a whale birth

By pure luck, Elizabeth Kolbert happened to be on a research boat when a sperm whale gave birth. Nearly three years later, she writes about the experience and the just-published scientific findings for The New Yorker.

“Not only did I get to witness the birth but also I got to watch the normally sober-minded researchers react to it. The scene on the deck resembled something out of the Marx Brothers. Everyone raced to the front of the boat to get a better view. ‘Oh, my God,’ one of the scientists said, clutching his head. ‘Oh, my God, oh, my God.’”

How South African conservation policy is made

Dr Jeanetta Selier, senior scientist at the South African National Biodiversity Institute, and Professor Sam Ferreira, a conservation ecologist with South African National Parks, explain what shapes conservation policy – specifically hunting quotas – in this opinion piece for South Africa’s Daily Maverick.

“Conservation policy cannot realistically be built around personal likes and dislikes. In a diverse society, people’s preferences will always differ.

Decisions about wildlife management, therefore, need to rest on something more stable: transparent governance, scientific evidence and careful evaluation of ecological sustainability.”

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Coetzee’s Cape Town

For The Atlantic, Gary Shteyngart visits Cape Town and Worcester to learn more about the late South African author J. M. Coetzee. I love this kind of travel writing, where literature/an author is the entry point to a place. (It’s always fun to read about somewhere familiar, too – I read this a few hours before flying back to Cape Town.)

“I visited the city he left behind because I was curious to figure out what Cape Town may have meant to him, how it might have shaped him, perhaps why he’d moved away. Maybe I wanted to understand a little better the mind of the man floating above the work, more in control of his sentences and his plots, more godlike, in a way, than just about any other writer I had read.”

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading New York’s limited-run newsletter Queries – one for the word nerds.

I’m watching S4 of SLOMW. No more Dadtok, please.

I’m listening to this Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer) interview.

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Earthly matters 🌱

I loved this multi-media piece from The Washington Post by Dana Milbank and Hailey Haymond, about the unheard sounds that surround us. It’s based on the work of artist Brian House, who records sounds beyond human hearing capabilities, then adjusts their speeds to within our range. His recordings are used throughout the article, from ocean currents to chatting rats (my favourite).

“When we listen to infrasound, it’s not the sound we typically associate with a thing, such as the crashing of the ocean surf or the thunder of a storm. Common sounds have wavelengths only inches or a few feet long. But infrasound waves are often hundreds of feet long. They can travel great distances without being absorbed by the atmosphere.”

Mining in Zambia is a “ticking time bomb”

As Zambia expands its mining sector, Kennedy Phiri and Freddie Clayton look at the effects of mining-related pollution in this Yale Environment 360 piece. In the city of Kabwe, for example, 95% of kids have blood lead levels “far above what the World Health Organization says is safe.”

“More mining inevitably brings more pollution, said Titus Haakonde, president of the Zambia Institute of Environmental Health. Unless Zambia makes a matching investment in environmental protection and public health, he warned, the country is ‘on a ticking bomb.’”

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How Flightradar24 took off

You’ve probably seen plenty of screenshots from Flightradar24 as the Iran War triggered airspace closures across southwest Asia – traffic to the website quadrupled to about 20 million visits in a day. But how did Flightradar24 become the app used by anyone from passengers tracking late arrivals to pilots using it for “situational awareness”? Here’s the backstory by Yolaine De Kerchove Dexaerde for Euronews.

“The platform was born out of curiosity. Swedish founders Mikael Robertsson and Olov Lindberg, who ran a flight price comparison site, bought two receivers and put an antenna on a Stockholm rooftop — and quickly found their flight tracker was far more popular than their original business.”

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading about how much influence Aldous Huxley took from Yevgeny Zamyatin’s dystopian classic We (if any). I just read We for the first time and couldn’t get over how similar it is to Brave New World. Huxley’s biographer says there’s no evidence he read We, but, in my opinion, the similarities are so numerous it’s hard to imagine he didn’t.

I’m watching the Louis Theroux doc on the so-called manosphere. I think he did a great job of exposing this bunch of losers to those unfamiliar with the grift.

I’m listening to ’s interview with Nuno Curado, founder of Wild Eindhoven, which helps people discover the nature of Eindhoven, from mushrooms to beavers.

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Earthly matters 🌱

What is black rain?

Last Sunday, Israel bombed oil depots in the Iranian capital Tehran – a city that’s home to around 10 million people. The resulting fires caused black rain to fall for miles around. Shina Ansari, head of Iran’s Department of Environment, described it as ecocide. This is a short explainer from Nature about black rain and here’s a link to Time’s report on the strikes.

“Today I was in the car for just 15 minutes, breathing this air. I don’t even know what it is, and now I have a headache. The skin on my face, especially my lips, is sore and raw. It burns and feels like diluted tear gas is in the air. It irritates my eyes, and I keep needing to clear my throat.” – Leila, a teacher in Tehran

Why are bear attacks increasing in Japan?

This Vox piece explains the findings of a recent paper about the sharp rise in bear attacks in Japan and how climate change might be involved. Previous explanations for the increase included fewer people living in rural areas, leading to a regrowth of bear habitat that took them closer to human settlements, and a decrease in hunting. But this new study offers another reason: more cloud cover.

“With more clouds, less light reaches the forest. And this is key: Without light, forests fail to produce young shoots, nuts, and other foods that bears rely on, the study argues. That leaves bears hungry and likely to venture into human settlements in search of sustenance.”

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Dubai strives to protect its image

I know I’m not alone in assuming Dubai lost no time in paying its influencer network to continue promoting the city as a safe destination when the first Iranian missiles were launched in its direction. But this Observer piece suggests that (upfront) payments might not be necessary. Relatedly, I’ve also read about several tourists in Dubai being charged under cyber-crime laws for taking videos of missiles.

“The role of influencers in attesting to the safety of Dubai, which is heavily dependent on tourism and foreign business, has raised a question about whether any money is changing hands. But a better question in a state with restricted free speech and potentially rich rewards for towing the government line is whether pay-for-play is even necessary.”

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading We by Yevgeny Zamyatin – written in 1920 – a novel that served as inspiration for 1984 and Brave New World.

I’m watching the LIB reunion – no basketball breaks this time, thank goodness.

I’m listening to this episode of The Daily about the US strike on an Iranian school, which killed at least 175 people, mostly children.

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Earthly matters 🌱

Turns out chimps love crystals, too

Many people collect crystals and believe them to hold healing properties – and there’s evidence of hominins living 780,000 years ago keeping rocks like quartz, too. To understand why our ancestors might’ve been drawn to crystals, researchers gave some to chimpanzees. In this New York Times article (gift link) about the study, crystallographer Dr Juan Manuel García-Ruiz says the findings could back his theory that crystals, as the only Euclidean objects found in nature, may have helped humans develop geometry and “unlock abstract thought.” Other researchers were more conservative with their conclusions.

“They gave quartz, calcite and other types of crystals to chimpanzees in a rehabilitation center. The apes responded with great interest, and the researchers ended up needing to trade large amounts of bananas and yogurt to get back the largest crystal. Others were never retrieved.”

Conservation policies must be more far-sighted

Jonathan Wood – VP of law and policy at the Property and Environment Research Center – wrote this opinion piece for The Washington Post, explaining why conservation policies need to work for landowners as much as wildlife and must plan for success. He uses examples of grey wolves and red-cockaded woodpeckers – two species that have recovered in the US due to specific efforts – to demonstrate how landowners are often impacted by wildlife protection policies and how that can be softened by inclusive decision making and policy that “encourages voluntary conservation and plans for a future after recovery.”

“In 1995, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partnered with private landowners to create the first “safe harbor” agreement. Safe harbor agreements granted private landowners willing to manage their lands and conserve habitat an exemption from future regulation outside the scope of the original agreement. These agreements secured the cooperation of hundreds of landowners. In 2024, the woodpecker’s status was upgraded from endangered to threatened.”

Departure lounge 🚊

Maasai Mara safari camp lawsuit dismissed

A Kenyan court dismissed a high-profile lawsuit over the Ritz-Carlton luxury safari camp in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, reports The Wall Street Journal. Meitamei Olol Dapash, head of the Maasai Environmental Resource Coalition, brought the lawsuit against Ritz-Carlton brand owner Marriott International, owner-operator Lazizi Mara and the Kenyan government, claiming the camp blocks a key part of the wildebeest migration route.

“In her ruling, the judge said Dapash should have taken the dispute to an environmental tribunal before going to court. She also ruled he hadn’t provided enough initial evidence to justify an order halting the camp’s operations, while Lazizi Mara had presented the required environmental licenses and proof that it had consulted with the Maasai community about the development.”

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, a former (reluctant) Nickelodeon child star. The book feels cathartic and I’m glad she regained control of her life.

I’m watching this short film by Yasmin van Dorp called The Spectacle – about our fixation with taking photos.

I’m listening to Rosalía’s “Berghain” on repeat after seeing her insanely cool performance at the Brits (I need to find the techno remix). LUX is such a creative album, I love this for pop culture.

Earthly matters 🌱

How caterpillars trick ants into caring for them

Scientific American reports on a new study that shows how certain caterpillars convince ants to carry them into their nests, where they’ll be fed and sheltered. The caterpillars appear to do this by internally generating a complex pattern of vibrations that mirrors those made by ants. The researchers also found that both species use a double metre beat, something so far only recorded in a couple of primates.

“De Gregorio hopes the finding underscores the role of rhythm in communication. ‘The more we study rhythm, the more we see [it] in so many different animal species,’ she says. ‘Evolution works in very weird and funny ways.’”

Wildfire conditions seem to be syncing up

Researchers have found that conditions often leading to wildfires (extreme heat, a lack of rain, high winds) appear to be increasingly occurring at the same time throughout the world. This means it might be harder for countries or regions to help each other out as they could be dealing with their own fires, more stress on firefighters and worse air pollution.

“In a study published today in the journal Science, researchers reported that the ideal conditions for major wildfires are now aligning across different parts of the world at more than double the rate they did nearly 50 years ago. Climate change is a major driver, accounting for about half of this increase. It’s the latest example of how humans are reshaping the nature of wildfires.”

Departure lounge 🚊

Surf tourism could be a lifeline for Peruvian fishers

This Guardian piece is about how surf tourism could benefit struggling fishers in the Peruvian town of Huanchaco. They may be the last generation to use boats known as caballitos de totora (“little reed horses”), partly because of diminishing fish stocks, motorised vessels driving through their nets and a shortage of materials for their boats.

“Attracted by the Pacific swell and world-class breaks, surfers flock to Huanchaco, and many become enamoured of the caballitos, one of the ancient precursors of the sport. Many of the younger generation in fishing families become talented surfers and some have opened their own surf schools.”

Principe residents to receive biodiversity stipends

Tech entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth will pay residents of the African island of Principe – where he owns four hotels – a “natural dividend” in return for protecting the environment. According to reporting by Bloomberg, the payment plan is “envisioned to be a permanent arrangement, [but] an initial three-year pilot will be run at a cost of about €15 million to see if it is sustainable and can be replicated elsewhere.”

“Shuttleworth will pay as much as 20,000 dobras ($958) annually in quarterly installments to about 3,000 people, around 60% of Principe’s adult population, starting next week, Faya, his nonprofit which will disburse the money, said in a statement to Bloomberg.”

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading the Committee to Protect Journalists’ annual report, which finds more journalists were killed in 2025 than in any other year on record. 129 press members were killed, most of whom were Palestinian – Israel was responsible for two-thirds of killings in both 2025 and 2024 (which was also a record year). So far no one has been held accountable.

I’m watching Panchi the Japanese macaque’s journey to acceptance, alongside the rest of the internet. Here’s primatologist ’s take.

I’m listening to Hannah Spencer’s speech after her win in the UK Gorton and Denton by-election. “We are being bled dry.”

Bonus: Check out these pics from the winners of the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition.

Earthly matters 🌱

Sexual aggression drives tortoises to walk off cliffs

This New York Times piece (gift link) reveals how female tortoises in North Macedonia are subject to extreme sexual aggression by males, who outnumber them 19 to 1 (for reasons unknown). This appears to have resulted in poor health in the females, and the population could be functionally extinct by 2083. Researchers also occasionally observed females walking off cliffs, which – after experiments in temporary enclosures – they concluded may be linked to male harassment. SIGH.

“Then, after many years of study, Dr. Arsovski realized that the females were undersized and dying young. He also realized those once-comical copulatory trains were made up of many males pursuing just one female. When the female tired, the train would become a frenzied heap of reptiles. “She’s literally buried by males,” Dr. Arsovski said.”

Air pollution linked to Alzheimer’s

In a US study tracking nearly 28 million older people over six years, researchers found those exposed to fine particulate air pollution – from cars, smoking, power plants and wildfires, for example – were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. This Conversation piece explains the study and its findings, and you can read the paper here.

“Air pollution with fine particles may harm the brain by increasing inflammation and promoting oxidative stress, which causes brain cells to malfunction. The polluting particles are small enough to enter the bloodstream, and they can block bloodflow to the brain.”

Departure lounge ✈️

How countries are tackling overtourism

Last week I shared a piece about the cancellation of a cherry blossom festival in Japan due to a proliferation of tourists behaving badly. This week’s pick from BBC Travel is about how other places are tackling the issue of too many visitors – including luggage-handling to free up space on Japanese public transport, incentives for low-season travel in Jamaica and rewards for partaking in sustainable activities in Copenhagen.

“The Danish capital is one of Europe's fastest growing tourist destinations, projecting up to 24% growth by 2030. To head off some of the early problems of overtourism, the city is experimenting with behavioural incentives. Launched in 2024, CopenPay lets visitors ‘pay’ for experiences through sustainable actions like kayaking while collecting canals litter or arriving at museums by bike.”

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading Brave New World – it hits a little differently to read it as we’re seeing the beginnings of a shift away from ultra-capitalist work culture at the same time as the increasing use of AI (which feels kinda Fordian to me). Anyone else reading the dystopian classics at the moment?

I’m watching the America’s Next Top Model documentary on Netflix. I’d like to say so much has changed, but…

I’m listening to this interview with the incredible Gisèle Pelicot (podcast links in the article).

Earthly matters 🌱

An interview with Dorceta Taylor

I really enjoyed reading this Nature interview with environmental sociologist Dorceta Taylor. She was the first Black woman to earn a doctoral degree from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and has spent her career trying to diversify the field of environmental science.

“I asked the professor where all the other Black students were, and he said that Black people were not interested in the environment — a response that changed my life’s trajectory.”

Of rats and men

I had pet rats as a kid and this New Yorker piece by Rivka Galchen reminded me how awesome they are.

“When Corrigan was sleeping in the rat-infested barn, he recalled thinking, ‘I could have sworn that rat just brought a gift to this other rat.’ At the time, he discounted his observations, telling himself that it could have been coincidence, or that maybe he was losing it. But these days, he reads studies confirming much of what he saw. ‘I was witnessing altruism,’ he said. ‘I did see kind rats. I did see rats that were doing these happy dances. And I saw depression and sadness and anger and everything.’”

Departure lounge ✈️

Japan cancels cherry blossom festival due to disruptive tourists

Japan’s Arakurayama Sengen cherry blossom festival has been cancelled due to tourists behaving badly. This Guardian piece describes people entering private homes without permission to use the bathroom, trespassing, littering, crowding school kids off pavements and even “defecating in private yards and raising a fuss when residents pointed this out” – horrible stuff.

“Fujiyoshida mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said: ‘Behind [Mount Fuji’s] beautiful landscape is the reality that the quiet lives of citizens are threatened. We have a strong sense of crisis.

‘To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring the curtain down on the 10-year-old festival,’ he added in his statement.”

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading about the tidal wave of Mormon influencers in The Cut (this one’s for anyone interested in online culture as much as Mormon Wives or Housewives fans – I count myself amongst all of the above).

I’m watching Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl half-time show, of course. So cool.

I’m listening to this old You’re Dead to Me episode on ancient Athenian democracy (learning about my current abode).

Earthly matters 🌱

Do other animals say goodbye?

Goodbyes were once thought to be a uniquely human thing – but observations of baboons suggest that could be wrong. Shayla Love’s New Yorker story looks at the evidence.

“A few years ago, after analyzing dozens of hours of footage of Chacma baboons, Carvalho and Baehren noticed a subtle body movement that happened only right before baboons ended a social interaction. They went on to publish what they called the first empirical evidence of a nonhuman animal’s goodbye.”

Climate report buried

A UK government report about how environmental degradation would affect the country was never officially launched – but under pressure from campaigners, a shortened version was quietly released last month. It found that “the UK would face hunger, thirst, disease and increasingly violent weather.” For The Conversation, Marc Hudson writes about the pattern of governments downplaying the realities of the climate crisis.

“Conspiracy theorists and climate deniers insist governments are exaggerating the threat. In reality, the evidence increasingly suggests the opposite.”

Geoengineering – more likely than ever?

For The Atlantic, Christian Elliott reports on an idea for a 50-mile “curtain” to divert warm water from a glacier and, more broadly, geoengineering as a controversial way to navigate the climate crisis (e.g. by “removing carbon dioxide from the ocean and using stratospheric aerosol injection to dim the sun”). Not everyone is on board.

Departure lounge ✈️

Women make 82% of travel decisions

This isn’t a new piece – it’s from November last year – but I recently happened across small-group tour company Much Better Adventures’ blog (reading about Madeira’s new hiking restrictions) and they’ve published some interesting articles. This one’s about women making the vast majority of travel decisions – probably no shock to most of us. But the statistic also reveals how many women are solo travelling – 71% of solo travellers are women, according to a Virtuoso report.

Misc. 🦓

I’m reading about the massive Washington Post layoffs. “Bezos’s sickening efforts to curry favor with President Trump have left an especially ugly stain of their own. This is a case study in near-instant, self-inflicted brand destruction.” – former WaPo exec editor Martin Baron quoted in this New Yorker piece by ex-staffer Ruth Marcus.

I’m watching Channel 4’s Go Back to Where You Came From, which sees “opinionated” Brits travel to Somalia, Syria and Calais, meeting migrants and learning about why people seek asylum.

I’m listening to ‘Fabulous’ by MEEK – thanks to my friend who sent me this, it’s a proper earworm.

Bonus: how cool (haha) are these photos of frozen Niagara Falls?