It’s estimated that there are only 4,500 tigers left in the world—meaning that they are officially classified as “endangered”. There are many reasons for their decline, such as habitat loss and conflict between local communities and tigers who might harm their livestock. While these are ongoing struggles and it can be difficult to combat, Nepal has taken action to boost their tiger populations and help protect them. So what’s the good news? Well, tiger populations have increased by 40% compared to their numbers in 2015! (1) This was achieved through the combined efforts of local communities, partnerships with conservation organizations, and support from the government. This is positive news for the future, as Nepal has led the way in demonstrating that we really can help animals bounce back from the brink of extinction! 

Many takeout containers are composed of polystyrene, which is almost impossible to recycle as it’s a very complex process. It’s a huge problem for landfills, as polystyrene  Fortunately, scientists have figured out a way to get rid of these containers and help save the environment—and it’s all thanks to sunlight! By combining ultraviolet rays with a chemical catalyst, these takeout containers were transformed into a chemical found in seaweed, known as diphenylmethane. (2) Scientists discovered that sunlight helped break polystyrene down, however, if this were to happen naturally in the environment, it could lead to harmful chemicals being spread through oceans or the land—which is all the more reason to avoid using them!

It can sometimes be obvious when a dog is feeling happy or excited, as they might wag their tail, jump, or playfully bark. But have you ever wondered if your dog misses you when you’ve been away? Maybe you went on vacation or had a long day at work, and came home to find your dog behaving like you were away for MUCH longer? Well, it turns out that our pups really do miss us, so much so that scientists have discovered that they produce a significant amount of happy tears when reunited with their owners! (3) Some scientists have questioned the reliability of these experiments, however, there is strong scientific evidence to suggest that dogs are highly in tune with human emotions. Both dogs and humans produce oxytocin during their interactions, and scientists found that this “love hormone” increased by 10% during the dogs’ interactions with their owners (4). While more research is needed to fully understand canine emotions, this seems like good enough evidence for us! 

Carbon dioxide can have harmful effects on the planet. For example, it’s a main contributor to climate change and prevents the Earth from being able to cool itself down, it’s also bad for the human body as it can make us feel dizzy or unwell. However, the presence of carbon dioxide isn’t always a bad thing, just ask NASA! Thanks to the James Webb telescope, carbon dioxide has been detected, for the first time ever, in the atmosphere of an exoplanet known as WASP-39 b. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that WASP-39 b can host life, as it’s far too close to the star it orbits for any form of life to exist (4). However, the James Webb telescope’s ability to detect carbon dioxide is a pivotal and special discovery for scientists, as the presence of carbon dioxide can allow scientists to understand more about a planet’s formation. We look forward to the next discovery from the James Webb telescope!