Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what’s getting our team talking. Let us know what you think at [email protected].
Mussel memory
Earlier this month, we published a great story by Contributing Editor Peter Yeung about how fish are making a comeback in the once-nearly-dead Seine. Now, according to a story Audience Engagement Manager Sophie Pitt shared from The Guardian, the improvement in the French river’s water quality has had another positive impact: Scientists taking samples from the river have discovered traces of rare mussels that are sensitive to pollution. In fact, they found the DNA of 23 different types of mussels – including three that are classified as close to extinct.
Sophie says:
More good news from the Seine.
Growing strong
In an effort to reduce maternal and infant deaths, a project based in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is focusing on improving nutrition in low-income, remote regions. According to a story Contributing Editor Geetanjali Krishna shared from Devex, through the Health Spoken Tutorial program, health workers learn breastfeeding techniques that they can then bring back to their communities. They also learn about protein-rich food sources to improve the nutrition of pregnant and lactating women and young children.
Geetanjali says:
A cool story about a concept that ties in beautifully with my story on kangaroo mother care.
What else we’re reading
🐟 How Tearing Down Small Dams Is Helping Restore Northeast Rivers — shared by Editorial Director Rebecca Worby from Yale Environment 360
🎭 The Motley Vermont Town Trying to Tell Its Own Story — shared by RTBC founder David Byrne from The New Yorker
🐸 Road to close for six weeks to allow toads to cross — shared by Rebecca Worby from The Independent
From our readers…
This week, RTBC reader Leslie Van Gelder wrote to us with some good news from New Zealand: A new International Dark Sky Sanctuary has officially been certified near Lake Wakatipu on the South Island. The Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Sanctuary is the country’s fifth such sanctuary and the 23rd worldwide. It’s also the only International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the path of the 2028 total eclipse, so start planning now.
Thanks for sharing, Leslie!
