Bringing you the latest news, information, and resources from around the web. In the August 1st edition, read more about the following:
In a newly released study, researchers predict there are 303 species of mammals on our planet today that have yet to be discovered. According to the report, it’s likely that the majority of these species live in the world’s tropical regions and are threatened by habitat destruction and climate change—meaning they could become extinct before being discovered.
Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History are studying 180 mostly complete skulls and thousands of skull fragments that were excavated at Tenochtitlan in Mexico City beginning in 2015. The scientists hope to gain insight into Aztec rituals and the cultural and religious function of large-scale human sacrifice.
Deforestation in Colombia skyrocketed in 2017, an unintended side effect of the country’s peace deal with FARC, as illegal mining, logging, and coca farming have moved into areas that were formerly controlled (and thereby protected) by the guerrillas. Now, a group of Colombian youth is suing the national government, saying its failure to reduce deforestation threatens their fundamental rights.
A recent survey by the nonprofit World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation finds that the under-30 crowd makes up almost a quarter of all international travelers. According to the report, young travelers are more interested in experiences than in traditional travel luxuries. Factors like destination, trip length, and activities were most influential in determining how satisfied respondents were with a particular trip—with Mexico, Japan, Indonesia, and Peru topping the list for “happy” destinations.
The first map of ocean wilderness shows ‘nowhere is safe’
Areas of “marine wilderness”—those that show little to no impact from human activity—only make up about one-eighth of our oceans, shows a new study published in Current Biology. Shipping, fishing, and pollution are cited as major factors, with coastal regions taking the brunt of the damage. And when researchers took climate change into account, they determined “the entire ocean is disturbed by people.”
