‘De-extincting’ lost species is a misnomer

+ living with wolves; losing the dark night sky US Edition - Today's top story: Should we bring back the dodo? De-extinction is a feel-good story, but these high-tech replacements aren’t really ‘resurrecting’ species [View in browser]( US Edition | 1 March 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( The idea of bringing back extinct animals, particularly iconic species such as woolly mammoths, seems wondrous and fraught at the same time. Proponents say their return would help restore ecosystems and teach the scientific community how to undo humanity’s deadly toll on other species. Detractors say it’s a distraction with many unknowns, among other warnings. Environmental humanists Risa Aria Schnebly and Ben Minteer from Arizona State University [provide a valuable reality check on de-extinction]( – a science story, like most others, with deep societal questions. For starters, we should drop the idea that scientists will be able to “bring back” the dodo and other lost species, they write: “it’s more of a process to create their high-tech look-alikes.” Another story on biodiversity and returning species is playing out now in Colorado, which voted to reintroduce the gray wolf. Philosopher Christopher Preston spent three years studying wildlife comebacks, such as the bison, humpback whale and beaver, to learn about how [these programs change how people think about animals](. He details the many ripple effects from reintroducing wolves, whether it’s ecological benefits of returning keystone species or their impact on ranchers and their livestock. But all animal restoration programs invite the general public to consider the complexities and tradeoffs, he writes. Concerns are growing that the current bird flu outbreak could cause a human pandemic. Veterinarian Treana Mayer from Colorado State University explains how the process of “spillover” – when a disease jumps from animals to humans – occurs and what can be done to prevent it. She writes that [habitat loss, climate change and changes in land use are making these events more likely](. Also this week science news: - [An intestinal link to treating multiple sclerosis]( - [The math on why hand-washing fights antibiotic resistance]( - [Human imagination explained by evolution]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Martin La Monica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters An impossible sight – but maybe not for long. Beeldbewerking/iStock via Getty Images Plus [Should we bring back the dodo? De-extinction is a feel-good story, but these high-tech replacements aren’t really ‘resurrecting’ species]( Risa Aria Schnebly, Arizona State University; Ben A. Minteer, Arizona State University Two conservation scholars break down what de-extinction looks like – and the debate over whether it could do any good. A gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park. NPS/Jim Peaco [Wolf restoration in Colorado shows how humans are rethinking their relationships with wild animals]( Christopher J. Preston, University of Montana Less than a century ago, Colorado hunted, trapped and poisoned all the wolves within its borders. Today it’s restoring them – a change that reflects a profound shift in human thinking. Wild birds like pelicans and ducks are getting infected with – and dying from – a new strain of avian influenza and have spread it to farm animals around the world. Klebher Vasquez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images [What is spillover? Bird flu outbreak underscores need for early detection to prevent the next big pandemic]( Treana Mayer, Colorado State University A biologist who studies how viruses spread from animals to people explains the process of spillover and the risks posed by the new bird flu that has spread across the globe. [Bile acids and gut microbes could potentially treat multiple sclerosis, according to new research in mice]( Andrea Merchak, University of Virginia The gut microbiome plays a big role in mediating how the immune system responds to perceived threats, which include the body’s own nerves. [Night skies are getting 9.6% brighter every year as light pollution erases stars for everyone]( Chris Impey, University of Arizona; Connie Walker, National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory With the help of thousands of citizen scientists, a new study measured exactly how much brighter night skies are getting every year. [Sibling aggression and abuse go beyond rivalry – bullying within a family can have lifelong repercussions]( Corinna Jenkins Tucker, University of New Hampshire; Tanya Rouleau Whitworth, University of New Hampshire All brothers and sisters have tensions or disagreements from time to time as they jockey for position in the family. But when one sibling victimizes another, there can be serious and ongoing harms. [Supreme Court unlikely to ‘break the internet’ over Google, Twitter cases – rather, it is approaching with caution]( Michael W. Carroll, American University Justices are weighing the arguments in two cases that have the potential of changing the way social media platforms operate. [Imagination makes us human – this unique ability to envision what doesn’t exist has a long evolutionary history]( Andrey Vyshedskiy, Boston University By learning what parts of the brain are crucial for imagination to work, neuroscientists can look back over hundreds of millions of years of evolution to figure out when it first emerged. [One easy way to fight antibiotic resistance? Good hand hygiene]( Kristofer Wollein Waldetoft, Georgia Institute of Technology Using a mathematical model, researchers found that good hygiene can reduce the harmful effects of antibiotic use. - [Can eating poppy seeds affect drug test results? An addiction and pain medicine specialist explains]( Gary Reisfield, University of Florida Poppy seeds can become contaminated with opiates during harvesting. For the US Defense Department, invoking a ‘poppy seed defense’ may not be enough to rule out a positive drug test result. - [When does clinical depression become an emergency? 4 questions answered]( John B. Williamson, University of Florida Sen. John Fetterman’s admission to a hospital for mental health treatment has set off an important national discussion about the need to reduce stigmas around mental illness. - [Which state you live in matters for how well environmental laws protect your health]( Susan Kaplan, University of Illinois at Chicago An environmental health lawyer explains why some states have weaker rules than others, and how you can make your concerns heard. - [How to help teen girls’ mental health struggles – 6 research-based strategies for parents, teachers and friends]( Elizabeth Englander, Bridgewater State University; Meghan K. McCoy, Bridgewater State University The mental health of teenagers has grown far worse over the last decade. But a new report shows that, compared with boys, teen girls are disproportionately experiencing sadness and hopelessness. - Like this newsletter? 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