Reading archive 2022-12-16

The collapse of insects The most diverse group of organisms on the planet are in trouble, with recent research suggesting insect populations are declining at an unprecedented rate. - "'Insects are the food that make all the birds and make all the fish,' said Wagner, who works at the University of Connecticut. 'They’re the fabric tethering together every freshwater and terrestrial ecosystem across the planet.'

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"There are about the same number of ladybug species as mammal species."

What to Do After a Bicycle Crash in Washington DC

Scientists genetically modify a tobacco plant to produce COCAINE in its leaves

Something funny is going on here. Mum’s the Word.

Trump's Trading Card Grift is Worse than You Think: Shell companies, rubbing elbows with international criminals, and worse in his scam of scams

The World’s Largest Tree Is Ready for Its Close-Up: Friends of Pando, a nonprofit, is in the process of creating the largest image ever recorded of this single aspen clone in Utah

Wary of China, Japan unveils sweeping new national security strategy

‘Wiped out’: War in Ukraine has decimated a once feared Russian brigade: The bloody fate of the 200th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade is emblematic of Vladimir Putin’s derailed invasion plans

Tesla knew its Model S battery had a design flaw that could lead to leaks and, ultimately, fires starting in 2012. It sold the car anyway.