Europe has lost over half a billion birds in 40 years. The single biggest cause? Pesticides and fertilisers

By Richard Gregory, Honorary Professor of Genetics, Evolution & Environment, UCL

A trickle of studies warning that the enormous variety of living things on Earth is diminishing has turned into a flood. The evidence for these losses within regions and globally is undeniable. But data on biodiversity, and what is causing its decline, is still patchy – restricted to some causes, some places and some species. That isn’t the case for birds in Europe, however.

Birds have long fascinated amateur and professional scientists, and close cooperation across Europe has created a deep body of knowledge about their habits, needs and numbers. Some of the longest-running datasets…

Read complete article

~	Do implicit bias trainings on race improve health care? Not yet – but incorporating the latest science can help hospitals treat all patients equitably

~	Nearsightedness is at epidemic levels – and the problem begins in childhood

~	Gender-nonconforming ancient Romans found refuge in community dedicated to goddess Cybele

~	For millions of Americans, high-speed internet is unavailable or unaffordable − a telecommunications expert explains how to bring broadband to the places that need it the most

~	What is ‘techno-optimism’? 2 technology scholars explain the ideology that says technology is the answer to every problem

~	How trains linked rival port cities along the US East Coast into a cultural and economic megalopolis

~	From shrimp Jesus to fake self-portraits, AI-generated images have become the latest form of social media spam

~	The Mattei Plan: why Giorgia Meloni is looking to Africa

~	Impact investing in Paris suburban ‘banlieue’ neighbourhoods: untapped social and economic potential

~	Rwanda’s post-genocide model prioritises security over freedom and equality – a risk to future stability