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Pain device helps patients walk again after years in wheelchairs

Maggie Fox

September 24, 2018 |

NBC News |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Louisville, Kentucky

At least five people who were paralyzed are walking, thanks to a pain stimulator and physical therapy. The stimulator, which is implanted in the body, sends electricity to the spine, and combined with therapy, can retrain the body to walk again. “The first day I took steps on my own was an emotional milestone in my recovery that I’ll never forget, as one minute I was walking with the trainer’s assistance and, while they stopped, I continued walking on my own.”

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Fighting Fire with Fire: California Turns to Prescribed Burning

Jane Braxton Little

September 05, 2018 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Shaver Lake, California

In California’s wildfire-prone Sierras, forest managers are turning to an ancient, if not quite intuitive, tool: more fire. In 2019, the Forest Service will manage 250,000 acres with controlled burns and “mechanical thinning,” using equipment to take out small trees. Though such plans face some hurdles, states across the country are adopting them, reducing wildfire severity while often benefiting ecosystems.

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Can scientists save one of the world's favourite bananas?

Roland Pease

August 26, 2018 |

BBC |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Australia, Queensland

The Cavendish banana is the preferred banana worldwide thanks to its size and being seedless. It's this latter trait, however, that has made it susceptible to disease. Currently under attack by a deadly fungus, one scientists has high hopes that genetics can help locate resistance genes and help save the fruit.

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As Milk Production Cools In Summer, Farmers Try To Help Cows Take The Heat

Mose Buchele

July 21, 2018 |

NPR |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, McGregor, Texas

American cows are not typically made to withstand the warmer summers occurring across the United States. To combat the negative side effect of a decrease in milk production, farmers are trying solutions such as using fans and misting water and even going so far as to create a new breed of cow.

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With a Sniff and a Signal, These Dogs Hunt Down Threats to Bees

Tejal Rao

July 03, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Jarrettsville, Maryland

Pollinators such as honeybees are critical to the ecosystem and to agriculture - responsible for pollinating about 1/3 of the nation's food crops - but they are endangered due to factors such as habitat loss and fungus that spreads more rapidly in warming temperatures. A program in Maryland is training adopted dogs to more efficiently sniff out harmful bacteria in bee hives and help preserve their populations.

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Bug reserve: Inside Britain's brownfield rainforest

Gelareh Darabi

June 26, 2018 |

Al Jazeera |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United Kingdom, Canvey Wick

Insect populations are rapidly decreasing across Europe thanks largely in part to human-introduced pesticides. In Britain, entomologists are trying to slow the decline and reintroduce insects by turning abandoned sites into nature reserves for insects.

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Saving New Zealand's prehistoric giant weta

Yaara Bou Melhem

June 05, 2018 |

Al Jazeera |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: New Zealand

In New Zealand, the wetapunga is a large insect that is approaching extinction due to human causes. Because the species are critical to the ecosystem, the Auckland Zoo is focusing efforts on expanding education about these insects to younger generations as well as creating an on-site breeding program to support the population.

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Turning to liquid biopsy for early cancer detection

Nasibo Kabale

May 29, 2018 |

Business Daily |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Eldoret

A new liquid biopsy is able to detect all types of cancer via a blood test. This new technology will allow physicians to diagnose cancer and monitor cancer treatments without invasive tissue biopsies.

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Poachers vs. Poop

John Platt

April 11, 2018 |

The Revelator |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: South Africa

After 15 years of collecting dung and DNA from elephants, conservation biologist Samuel Wasser and his team were able to create a map documenting nearly all of the African elephant populations. With this in place, the information can be used to help law enforcement identify poaching hotspots and arrest ivory traffickers. Now this same process is being applied to other endangered species.

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Years of eavesdropping on insect sex talk is starting to pay off for grape growers

Christopher Bobryk

April 04, 2018 |

Ensia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Italy

Leafhoppers may sound like a harmless term to the untrained ear, but vineyard owners will quickly disagree. These insects have a history of invading and devastating vineyards across the U.S. and Europe. Entomologists may have uncovered a solution however, via studying how the leafhoppers mate. By replicating their vibrational mating calls, so to speak, they are able to hinder the species ability to mate, thus slowing down their reproduction rates.

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