Ari Daniel Shapiro
Deadly Neighbors: Australia’s Saltwater Crocodiles
The residents of Australia’s Northern Territory share their land with one of the deadliest predators on the planet – the saltwater crocodile. Getting humans and these fearsome reptiles to coexist isn’t easy. But a government program called “Be Crocwise” is doing its best to keep the peace.
Australia’s Great Artesian Basin: A Life-Giving Resource in the Unforgiving Outback
Beneath much of Australia is an underground reservoir called the Great Artesian Basin, which provides drinking water to many communities in the Outback. This water comes to the surface nearly boiling and stinking of rotten eggs, yet it is a life-giving resource in an unforgiving environment.
Dual Epidemics Threaten Australia’s Koalas
Australia’s koala population has been hit hard by two rapidly spreading diseases: chlamydia (a sexually transmitted bacterial infection) and a retrovirus similar to HIV. Scientists are working to develop vaccines, while lay citizens help care for sick koalas. Biologists say the epidemics, combined with other threats like habitat loss, pose a serious threat to the species.
Australia’s ‘Magnetic’ Termites
In Australia’s Northern Territory, termites build mounds that are tall, thin, and aligned like compass needles. How and why the insects do this is not entirely clear. One entomologist offers some theories.
Australian Scientists Feud over Stampeding Dinosaurs
Almost 100 million years ago in what is today Australia’s Outback, a herd of dinosaurs left behind thousands of footprints in what scientists say was a frantic attempt to escape a predator. The fossils are said to be unique in the world. But now some researchers suggest a different interpretation of those ancient footprints. NOVA’s Ari Daniel Shapiro reports.
The Polluter Pays Principle: Mexico Considers Chewing Gum Tax
Discarded chewing gum is a common eyesore, and removing it from city streets and sidewalks can be costly. A Mexican congressman wants to solve the problem by borrowing a concept widely used in environmental regulation: making the polluters pay.
Spanish Scientists Work to Save Seagrass
In the waters off Spain’s Mediterranean coast, scientists and fishermen are working together to try to save sea grass, which is a key player in the local marine ecosystem.
New Species in the Old World
The last place you’d expect to find a new treasure is where everyone has been looking for centuries. Yet in Europe, home to history’s greatest taxonomists, professional scientists and amateurs are scouring the countryside for new species – and finding them at an astonishing rate. Ari Daniel Shapiro of our partner program NOVA reports.
Panama Canal Expansion Exposes Fossilized Treasures, Revealing Rare Glimpse Into Earth’s History
A multibillion-dollar expansion of the Panama Canal is proving a boon to scientists. The construction has revealed a trove of fossils, revealing a wide array of creatures that lived at the southern end of North America 20 millions years ago.
Mexico’s Bat Man: Fighting to Protect Maligned Creatures
Rodrigo Medellin is Mexico’s premier bat biologist, and he’s out to save the animals he studies. Medellin is trying to convince his fellow countrymen that bats deserve protection. After all, he says, if Mexico had no bats, there would be no tequila. NOVA’s Ari Daniel Shapiro reports.
In Mexico City, Harvesting Water from the Sky
Faced with chronic water shortages, many residents of Mexico City aren’t wafting for the city government to fix things. They’re turning to the sky. Ari Daniel Shapiro reports on the growing practice of rainwater harvesting.
Costa Rica Bans Hunting
Costa Rica, a tropical country known for its national parks and ecotourism, has taken a further step to protect its environment. But even in this environmentally conscious nation, a new ban on hunting faces obstacles. Ari Daniel Shapiro of our partner program NOVA reports.
Engineering Extra Senses: Technology and the Human Body
Sight, sound, touch, smell, taste. We interact with the world and navigate through it thanks to our senses. But what if we could add to that repertoire? A British scientist and a small group of enthusiasts are exploring ways to do just that. Ari Daniel Shapiro of our partner program NOVA reports.
‘New’ House in England to be Made Entirely from Waste Materials
We’re looking for a British city where a cool recycling project is about to get underway. A team of architects and recycling experts is planning to build a house — entirely out of trash. The building site is in a city on the south coast of England in the county of East Sussex. Name that coastal city.
Clever Dog Lab: Exploring the Roots of Canine Personality
What makes a dog bold or shy, eager or sullen? The Veterinary University of Vienna’s Clever Dog Lab aims to find out with the help of some 600 Austrian dogs that owners volunteer for experiments. The results could improve the training and selection of dogs that serve society, from helping the disabled to assisting the police. Ari Daniel Shapiro of our partner program NOVA reports.
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