Grizzly bear 🐻 protection hinges on people's social identities

+ satellites to track methane emissions; antibiotic alternatives US Edition - Today's top story: Grizzly bear conservation is as much about human relationships as it is the animals [View in browser]( US Edition | 17 April 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( As spring unfolds across the U.S., people are seeing wildlife emerge from hibernation – in Montana, that includes grizzly bears. It’s not always easy to coexist with a 500-pound creature that can sometimes knock over garbage cans, break into garages snooping for a snack or, on rare occasions, harm free-range livestock. But as Alexander Metcalf from the University of Montana and his research team found in a new study, some people like the bears more than others. And those attitudes have to do with social identity, which [matters more than anything people may know about bear biology or behavior](. Metcalf and his team surveyed Montanans and found that those who identify as hunters tend to interact more with the bears – and have more empathy for other hunters who have had their property damaged by a bear. That’s a key insight for conservation groups and wildlife officials who want to share information about grizzly bears. It also tells you what many social scientists already know: Wildlife conservation isn’t just about the wildlife. Effective protection of animals means knowing about the people living alongside them. Also in this week’s science news: - [The challenge of removing PFAS chemicals from drinking water]( - [Turning power grids off to prevent wildfires]( - [A genetic variant linked to Parkinson’s disease]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Mary Magnuson Assistant Science Editor If the government takes grizzly bears off the Endangered Species List, some states will likely introduce a hunting season. Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images [Grizzly bear conservation is as much about human relationships as it is the animals]( Alexander L. Metcalf, University of Montana Whether people are hunters can have a big effect. Many nonantibiotic drugs such as certain antidepressants and antiparasitics have antibacterial effects. Tanja Ivanova/Moment via Getty Images [Drugs that aren’t antibiotics can also kill bacteria − new method pinpoints how]( Mariana Noto Guillen, UMass Chan Medical School There are many ways to kill microbes that cause dangerous infections. Combining genetic screening with machine learning can help researchers identify new antimicrobials. A super-emitter methane leak in Iran captured by satellite. NASA JPL-Caltech [More climate-warming methane leaks into the atmosphere than ever gets reported – here’s how satellites can find the leaks and avoid wasting a valuable resource]( Riley Duren, University of Arizona Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that can leak from oil and gas wells, pipelines and landfills. Satellites can spot the releases fast enough to get them fixed and help protect the climate. [A young Black scientist discovered a pivotal leprosy treatment in the 1920s − but an older colleague took the credit]( Mark M. Lambert, Des Moines University Historians are working to shine a light on Alice Ball’s legacy and contributions to an early treatment of a dangerous and stigmatizing disease. [The hidden risk of letting AI decide – losing the skills to choose for ourselves]( Joe Árvai, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences AI has the potential to diminish the human experience in several ways. One particularly concerning threat is to the ability to make thoughtful decisions. [Domestic violence survivors seek homeless services from a system that often leaves them homeless]( Nkiru Nnawulezi, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Lauren Cattaneo, George Mason University Programs and policies to help domestic abuse survivors find safe housing work only if they’re implemented and supported with resources. [From thousands to millions to billions to trillions to quadrillions and beyond: Do numbers ever end?]( Manil Suri, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Here’s a game: Tell a friend to give you any number and you’ll return one that’s bigger. Just add ‘1’ to whatever number they come up with and you’re sure to win. - [Saturn’s ocean moon Enceladus is able to support life − my research team is working out how to detect extraterrestrial cells there]( Fabian Klenner, University of Washington Saturn’s moon Enceladus has geysers shooting tiny grains of ice into space. These grains could hold traces of life − but researchers need the right tools to tell. - [Fermented foods sustain both microbiomes and cultural heritage]( Andrew Flachs, Purdue University; Joseph Orkin, Université de Montréal From kimchi to kombucha and sauerkraut to sourdough, many traditional food staples across cultures make use of fermentation. And these variations are reflected in your microbiome. - [Human brains and fruit fly brains are built similarly – visualizing how helps researchers better understand how both work]( Kristin Scaplen, Bryant University Studying the human brain is difficult because of its vast and intricate network of neural connections. The fruit fly offers a simpler but similar model that researchers can more easily map. - [The South’s aging water infrastructure is getting pounded by climate change – fixing it is also a struggle]( Jonathan Fisk, Auburn University; John C. Morris, Auburn University; Megan E. Heim LaFrombois, Auburn University Extreme downpours and droughts, both fueled by rising global temperatures, are taking a toll on water infrastructure. Communities trying to manage the threats face three big challenges. - [Exploding stars send out powerful bursts of energy − I’m leading a citizen scientist project to classify and learn about these bright flashes]( Amy Lien, University of Tampa Where specialized algorithms fail to classify star-borne pulses, human volunteers with just a little training can step in. - [Newly discovered genetic variant that causes Parkinson’s disease clarifies why the condition develops and how to halt it]( - [Personalized cancer treatments based on testing drugs quickly leads to faster treatment, better outcomes]( - [Colorado is latest state to try turning off the electrical grid to prevent wildfires − a complex, technical operation pioneered in California]( - [Removing PFAS from public water will cost billions and take time – here are ways to filter out some harmful ‘forever chemicals’ at home]( - [PFAS ‘forever chemicals’: Why EPA set federal drinking water limits for these health-harming contaminants]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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