Goodable

Marine researchers on a recent expedition in the southeast Pacific discovered over 100 new species and multiple unidentified seamounts off Chile's coast. Led by Dr. Javier Sellanes, the team found deep-sea corals, glass sponges, sea urchins, and more across Nazca and Salas y Gomez Ridge. Each seamount showcased unique ecosystems with vulnerable deep-sea coral reefs and sponge gardens thriving within them. Using advanced underwater technology, researchers mapped over 52,000 square kilometers of seafloor and uncovered four previously unknown seamounts.

<p>Marine researchers on a recent expedition in the southeast Pacific discovered over 100 new species and multiple unidentified seamounts off Chile's coast. Led by Dr. Javier Sellanes, the team found deep-sea corals, glass sponges, sea urchins, and more across Nazca and Salas y Gomez Ridge. Each seamount showcased unique ecosystems with vulnerable deep-sea coral reefs and sponge gardens thriving within them. Using advanced underwater technology, researchers mapped over 52,000 square kilometers of seafloor and uncovered four previously unknown seamounts.<br></p>

Over 100 Alien-Looking Species Were Just Discovered in the South Pacific

When Edward Clermont set out to become an underground miner at age 54, he didn’t just apply for jobs — he advertised himself on a billboard along Highway 17 in Sudbury, Ontario.

That bold move paid off.

Clermont, who lives in Kingston and has worked on oil rigs and in construction, recently landed a job at the Musselwhite gold mine in northwestern Ontario. He calls it his “dream job,” and it didn’t come through connections or a recruiter — it came from sheer determination and a little creativity.

“I’ve always kind of challenged myself with different things in life,” Clermont said. “Just keep moving forward, keep learning, and keep doing things that I’m told I’m too old to do. Prove them wrong.”

The billboard, which featured Clermont’s face and message to potential employers, quickly attracted attention — including from Cementation Canada, a major mining contractor. Clermont’s sincerity and persistence stood out in an industry where getting hired often depends on who you know.

“I receive over 50 resumes a day,” said Joe Bell, Cementation’s training and recruitment manager. “But Ed seemed determined, sincere, and safety-conscious — so I passed his resume along.”

It worked. Clermont is now starting a nine-month contract as a construction miner, doing demanding underground work like drilling, bolting, and blasting rock.

He didn’t arrive at this moment by chance. Clermont first enrolled in the Underground Hard Rock Miner Common Core program at NORCAT in Sudbury, where trainees work in a functioning mine environment. There, he discovered just how much he enjoyed it.

“It was quite the experience, and it really changed me,” Clermont said, recalling the rush of operating a jackleg drill for the first time.

Still, he knew training was only half the battle. Mining is notoriously word-of-mouth, and several instructors at NORCAT encouraged him to get creative with his job search. Director Greg Major called the billboard “pretty amazing,” and said Clermont was the first student to try anything like it.

Clermont says the idea came out of necessity. He knew his age might be seen as a disadvantage in such a physical job. But with mining companies across Canada facing worker shortages — and a growing number of employees aging out — Clermont saw an opportunity.

In 2023, nearly one in five Canadian mining workers were 55 or older, according to the Mining Industry Human Resources Council. Meanwhile, the share of young workers under 25 has been steadily shrinking.

“Simply put, we are not training enough students in the programs we need,” the council noted in a recent report.

That makes skilled and motivated workers like Clermont increasingly valuable. And despite the physical demands, age isn’t a disqualifier.

“We hire people in their 50s and 60s, and sometimes even in their 70s on a regular basis,” Bell said. “If they’ve got the skills and can do the work, we have plenty of opportunities.”

Before his Musselwhite offer, Clermont took a job hauling rock at an open-pit mine near Cochrane. But he kept pushing for an underground role — what he calls “the ultimate challenge.”

Now, as he gets ready to head deep underground, Clermont hopes to keep working in mining for at least another 15 years.

“I get a lot of satisfaction out of knowing that I can, at this age, do something most people even half my age could never do,” he said.

For others thinking of a midlife pivot, Clermont has some advice: take the leap — and don’t be afraid to make a little noise doing it.

Ontario Man Lands Mining Job at 54 After Putting His Resume on a Billboard

ABC News

When a winter storm swept through Tulsa last weekend, Ryan Duval didn't wait for someone else to step up. He grabbed the keys to a vintage fire truck he once bought just for fun — and started picking people up off the freezing streets.

“I’m just doing what I was raised to do,” Duval said. “It’s good to give back, and now that I have the ability to do it, it’s nice.”

Duval, a small business owner, spent hours driving around Tulsa offering warmth, rides, and supplies to people experiencing homelessness. By the end of the weekend, he estimates he helped nearly 70 people — transporting them to shelters, helping them get unstuck from snow and ice, or handing out basic necessities.

The idea started when Duval delivered an electric heater to a mother and child living in a garage. As he left the neighborhood near 46th Street North, he noticed a man sitting alone in a park — wearing only a T-shirt and wrapped in a thin blanket.

“I pulled over and said, ‘Hey man, do you want a ride to the shelter?’” Duval recalled.

He told the man he’d be back after taking his own kids home. But when he returned with the fire truck, the man was gone. Duval searched the area and spoke to nearby police officers but never found him.

“It just inspired me to keep going that night,” he said. “I went until about 3 or 4 in the morning.”

That night turned into a weekend-long mission. Duval used his fire truck to shuttle people to warming centers across the city, including John 3:16 Mission, the Tulsa Day Center, and the Salvation Army. He said the response from shelters was immediate and welcoming.

“It was nice to see the support from them,” Duval said. “Just people helping people.”

The truck itself wasn’t meant for this. Duval had originally picked it up at an auction years ago and used it for birthday parties and local parades. “I never did, honestly,” he said, when asked if he imagined it would someday save lives. “Then it just kind of snowballed into this. I’m still in shock from it all, but it’s fun.”

As word of his efforts spread, the community stepped in to help. Brandon Cox, owner of Only Okie Graffiti and Vintage Shop, quickly turned his storefront into a donation drop-off site for blankets and supplies.

“He started going out and saving lives [of the] homeless people out in the freezing cold,” Cox said. “He started needing blankets, so we started accepting them up here at Only Okie.”

What started as a simple act of kindness is now something more. For Duval, it’s no longer just a cool old truck — it’s a way to serve his neighbors when it matters most.

Tulsa Man Uses Vintage Fire Truck to Rescue Dozens in Winter Storm

When the tension is sky-high and a curling stone doesn’t curl the way it’s supposed to, Ina Forrest doesn’t flinch. She falls back on something she learned growing up in the tiny township of Spallumcheen, British Columbia: “Buck up. Be tough.”

That grit has carried Forrest to the edge of history. When she takes the ice in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy this March, she’ll become the first person to compete in wheelchair curling at five Paralympic Games. And she’s not just showing up — she’s gunning for another medal.

Now 63, Forrest has already won four Paralympic medals, including two golds (2010, 2014) and two bronzes (2018, 2022), plus three world championships. She was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 2016 and, just last year, the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame. But according to her coach, she’s never been better.

“I think she’s the best version of herself that she’s ever been,” said Mick Lizmore, Canada’s head coach. “She’s more equipped to handle the pressure than she ever has been.”

That’s not just talk. Lizmore, who has a background in sport psychology, sees it in how Forrest moves and plays — calmer, more focused, still just as competitive. She’s worked on her mental game as much as her shot-making, fine-tuning her ability to block out noise and lock in when it counts.

“I've spent a lot of time practicing focus technique, so that once it's my turn for my shot, that's all I see,” Forrest said.

She first learned the value of mental resilience not on the ice, but on her family’s homestead in rural B.C., where hauling water and building log houses were part of life.

“You didn't fall apart and your emotions didn’t move,” she said. “That came through in sport. Being able to focus gets you through some of those times where maybe you would feel like you weren’t able to play.”

In a sport where games can flip in a single end, that steadiness is a weapon. Forrest’s even-keeled presence has become a pillar for Team Canada, especially as the team heads into the Games with a mix of experience and new energy.

The Canadian lineup includes skip Mark Ideson, third Jon Thurston, lead Collinda Joseph, and alternate Gilbert Dash. While Ideson returns for his third Paralympics, Dash will be making his debut, and this will be the first Games with spectators for Joseph and Thurston.

“In crunch-time moments... you look to those athletes who’ve been there to provide a steadying, calming influence,” said Lizmore.

Forrest embraces the pressure. “Just getting to Paralympics is an achievement every time,” she said. “The best version of yourself has to show up every game just to even have the opportunity.”

Canada enters the tournament ranked second in the world, behind two-time defending champions China. Their opening game is set for March 7 against host nation Italy. They’ll also face the U.S., Great Britain, Sweden, Latvia, Slovakia, Korea, and China in the round robin. Canada is the only country to have medaled at every Paralympic wheelchair curling tournament.

Forrest will throw second stones, but her leadership and voice carry the weight of experience. Even with all she’s achieved, the love for the game still burns.

“I love competition. I love playing the sport. I love being around people that are also that interested in sport,” she said. “It’s always changing... an ever-changing chasing of something that you can always get better at.”

And despite the years, Forrest keeps improving. “Watching old game tape, she seems a little more at ease out there than before,” Lizmore said. “Not any less caring — just a little more at ease.”

She still feels the sting of missed shots or tough losses. But she’s trained herself to move on fast. That’s what makes her so good. And that’s why she’s still here, chasing greatness, one stone at a time.

Ina Forrest Chases History At Unprecedented Fifth Paralympics In Wheelchair Curling

The Cool Down

A 20-acre parcel of coastal land in northern California is helping fuel long-term conservation efforts—and potentially aid in the return of once-thriving salmon runs.

Dr. Gabrielle Levine donated the undeveloped property, located just east of Highway 1 in Albion, to the Mendocino Land Trust (MLT). The land features wooded areas, open meadows, and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Though it’s now listed for sale, the proceeds will go directly toward MLT’s Albion River Fund, supporting water access, habitat protection, and outdoor recreation.

The donation was first reported by Lake County News. The land is currently being listed by Tracy Wolfson of Engel & Volkers.

Levine’s donation comes at a time when California’s salmon populations are in sharp decline. According to the State Water Resources Control Board, chinook, coho, and steelhead salmon in the Albion River have “decreased substantially and continue to decline.”

Efforts like this one aim to reverse that. Land trusts like MLT use conservation easements and outright purchases to permanently protect natural areas. That’s part of what’s needed to stabilize and eventually restore fish populations.

"Her tireless advocacy, work, and innovation continue to benefit sensitive species and habitats in Mendocino County, and MLT is thrilled to partner with her in these efforts," said Matt Franks, the land trust’s protection manager, who worked directly with Levine on the gift.

The Albion River, which flows through redwood groves and coastal hills before emptying into the Pacific, supports one of the region’s small remaining fisheries. But like many of California’s waterways, it’s been hit by warming temperatures, development, and habitat loss.

In a public Facebook post, Levine wrote, “It feels great to take this big step towards calling back the salmon, estuary restoration and maybe even buying the headlands! Thank you to the Mendocino Land Trust, and to my partner Dan Gates for sharing the vision!”

While the land itself will not remain under conservation protection, the funds raised from its sale will help support other efforts in the watershed. That includes restoration projects, riverbank stabilization, and potential acquisitions of more ecologically sensitive lands.

MLT’s broader mission includes ensuring public access to nature and protecting sources of clean water. The group has conserved more than 16,000 acres across Mendocino County since it was founded in 1976.

A recent example of the success of such efforts can be seen farther north. Just one year after the removal of four dams along the Klamath River, salmon have already been spotted returning to their historical breeding grounds—an encouraging sign for the ecosystems and tribal communities that rely on them.

Franks praised Levine not just for the donation but for her past efforts as well: “Mendocino Land Trust is profoundly grateful not only for Gabrielle's generous donation to support our conservation work in the Albion area but also for the stewardship and restoration work she has done on this property and more broadly.”

For MLT, donations like Levine’s are key to continuing that work. With funding from the land sale, the group plans to accelerate conservation efforts in the Albion River region—a step toward safeguarding water, wildlife, and natural beauty for generations to come.

A 20-Acre Land Donation is Set to Boost Conservation and Salmon Restoration Efforts in California

BBC News

A Liverpool man who once drank up to four bottles of vodka a day has said losing his sight was the turning point that finally helped him quit alcohol.

Ray Clements said he had been an alcoholic throughout his adult life, starting with his first drink at the age of 15. By his late 40s, he said his drinking had spiralled, fuelled by the pressure of caring for his parents, periods of homelessness, and what he described as an inability to cope with everyday life.

“I just struggled with normal living and drink became the solution,” he said.

That changed on his 49th birthday in 2021, when he woke up with blurred vision. After several weeks of fear and heavier drinking, he booked an appointment with an optician. Further tests later confirmed he had Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, a rare genetic condition that causes rapid and severe vision loss. He was registered blind in February 2022.

Looking back, Clements said there had been clear warning signs about the severity of his drinking, including regularly consuming far more alcohol than those around him. “I’d be drinking nine glasses when my friends were on three,” he said.

The period after his sight deteriorated was one of the darkest. “The thought of taking my life was very prevalent,” he said, describing how alcohol use increased as he tried to cope with the diagnosis.

A close friend, who had begun alcohol addiction recovery, urged him to attend group therapy. Clements said that advice saved his life.

“I don’t think this friend understands how he saved my life,” he said.

At his first sessions, hearing others talk openly about loneliness, addiction, and the impact on families made an immediate difference. “It felt like I’d landed home, that I was with people who understood,” he said.

The physical effects of withdrawal were severe at first. “We went to a cafe and I couldn’t hold a cup without shaking. Another lad looked at me and said ‘that’ll get better’, and it did,” he said. “It takes a while for the fog and tremors to stop. But the peace that came over me and the self-worth did build.”

Two days after receiving his formal diagnosis in February 2022, Clements said he woke up next to a glass of vodka and made the decision to stop drinking immediately.

“I’ve been clean and sober since 17 February 2022,” he said. “It boggles my mind how, but it’s a gift.”

Now 53, Clements is assisted by his guide dog, Garson, and has rebuilt his life around sport and community work. He has taken up blind baseball and goalball, a team sport designed for people with visual impairments that relies on sound and touch on a tactile court. He has gone on to win medals representing Great Britain in blind baseball.

“I know it sounds weird but probably the best thing to happen to me in the past 20 years was sight loss,” he said.

Beyond sport, Clements has founded an organisation called Finding the Solution, which encourages people of all abilities to take part in physical activity. He said a key aim is helping sighted parents play sports alongside children with visual impairments.

He has also helped establish the Liverpool group Help, which campaigns for affordable social housing, and has spoken in parliament about housing access and inequality.

While he says daily life still comes with challenges, Clements believes his perspective has fundamentally changed.

“I still struggle on a daily basis,” he said. “But I now face life from a different angle.”

‘Losing My Sight Saved My Life’: He Quit Alcohol And  Now Wins Medals In Blind Baseball

Ron Thompson has been on this Earth for 105 years, but he’s not giving away any secrets on how he made it this far.

The Second World War RAF veteran celebrated his milestone birthday a day early on Sunday with friends, family, and fellow residents at his care home in Braintree, Essex. Later, he joined a second party held in his honour at the local golf club.

Asked what he believes is the key to such a long life, Ron smiled and said, “I’ll never tell, not tell anybody. They’ll all try and catch me up.”

His daughter-in-law Lorraine Thompson offered a possible clue anyway: “He’s got his red wine which I bring him every week. He says he drinks too much of it but he still carries on – so I think that’s his secret really.”

Born in London in 1921, Thompson’s early life revolved around photography. Before the war, he worked as a print developer in his father’s photography business in the East End. When his older brother Len enlisted in the Royal Air Force, Ron stepped into his brother’s role behind the camera.

He had hoped to follow Len into the skies, but a failed medical exam due to a “duff ear” ruled out flying. Still determined to serve, Ron was recruited into the RAF as an engine fitter. He trained in London and was posted to RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire before being deployed overseas, spending most of his service years in India and Burma.

His friend Malcolm, who recently wrote a short biography of Ron, said the wartime stories and personal history are “fascinating.” After the war, Ron returned to Thompson Photographic, the family business, which went on to become one of the country’s top photo agencies until it closed in 1970.

“The firm was the official photographer for West Ham Utd and they supplied the press with pictures of celebrities,” Malcolm said.

Now well into his second century of life, Ron’s sense of humour is still sharp. He proudly showed off a birthday card from King Charles III and said it was “lovely” and would go beside the one he received from Queen Elizabeth II five years earlier.

But if anyone’s hoping to match his age, they won’t be getting any help from him. His lips are sealed.

One Of The Oldest WWII Veterans Just Celebrated His 105th Birthday — Here's His Secret To Longevity

Science Alert

A team of international researchers says it has developed a fast, effective way to remove toxic “forever chemicals” from water — and actually destroy them in the process.

The method, developed by engineers at Rice University in the US, uses a layered material that combines copper and aluminum to target PFAS, a class of stubborn synthetic chemicals that don’t break down in nature.

“We are excited by the potential of this one-of-a-kind LDH-based technology to transform how PFAS-contaminated water sources are treated in the near future,” said Michael Wong, a chemical engineer at Rice and co-author of the study.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been used since the 1940s in everything from raincoats and carpets to non-stick pans and firefighting foam. Their chemical structure makes them incredibly resistant to heat, water, and oil — but also nearly impossible to degrade. As a result, PFAS have accumulated in water, soil, air, and even human bloodstreams.

Certain PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS, have been linked to serious health problems such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive issues. And while efforts to regulate or remove them are underway, most current filtration techniques are slow, expensive, and can generate secondary waste.

The new method could offer a major upgrade. It uses a material called a layered double hydroxide (LDH), which forms when copper and aluminum are mixed with nitrate. The resulting structure has a slight charge imbalance that attracts PFOA molecules — one of the most common and dangerous PFAS — and binds them tightly.

“This LDH compound captured PFAS more than 1,000 times better than other materials,” said lead author Youngkun Chung, also from Rice University. “It also worked incredibly fast, removing large amounts of PFAS within minutes, about 100 times faster than commercial carbon filters.”

The researchers tested their LDH filter on PFAS-contaminated water from rivers, taps, and wastewater plants. In all cases, it worked quickly and efficiently. Once the filter was full, the team cleaned and regenerated it by adding calcium carbonate and applying heat. This step broke the strong carbon-fluorine bonds that give PFAS their longevity — essentially destroying the PFOA molecules.

The remaining byproduct, a fluorine-calcium compound, can be safely sent to landfill, Wong said.

The research, published in Advanced Materials, is still in early stages but has shown consistent success in lab settings. The team hopes the technology can eventually be adapted for use in both drinking water and wastewater treatment plants around the world.

With more than 12,000 PFAS variants still in circulation, many with unknown effects on human health, scientists say developing scalable, fast, and safe cleanup methods is becoming increasingly urgent.

This one, they say, might just be a game-changer.

New Waste Filter Destroys ‘Forever Chemicals’ 100 Times Faster Than Current Methods, Say Scientists

Good News Network

Archaeologists in Mexico have uncovered what experts are calling the most significant archaeological find in a decade: a 1,400-year-old tomb belonging to the ancient Zapotec civilization, with vividly preserved murals and carvings — including a dramatic stone owl head with a human face in its beak.

Located in San Pablo Huitzo in the state of Oaxaca, the tomb dates back to the 6th or 7th century CE and was decorated with murals in vibrant green, white, blue, and red pigments. The burial chamber is believed to hold vital clues about Zapotec funerary rituals and spiritual beliefs.

“This is the most significant archaeological discovery of the last decade in Mexico due to the level of preservation and the information it provides,” said President Claudia Sheinbaum during a press briefing.

The most striking feature is a frieze depicting an enormous owl head — a powerful Zapotec symbol of death and the night — grasping what appears to be a man's head in its beak. According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the face may represent the deceased individual entombed there.

At the entrance to the burial chamber, archaeologists also found carvings of two human figures holding ceremonial objects. INAH researchers believe they could have symbolically served as guardians of the tomb.

The discovery adds to growing excitement around renewed interest in the Zapotecs, a pre-Colombian people native to what is now Oaxaca. While often overshadowed in popular imagination by the Aztecs and Maya, the Zapotecs were a powerful and enduring civilization whose descendants still live in the region today, speaking the Zapotec language and preserving many cultural traditions.

Mexico’s culture secretary, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, emphasized the importance of the find not just for historians and archaeologists but for the Zapotec community itself. “Zapotecs alive today will be eager to hear what the tomb and its murals and carvings will tell of their ancestors’ social organization, funerary rituals, and belief system,” she said.

The tomb is currently undergoing critical conservation work. INAH says the site and its fragile artworks are vulnerable to insects, tree roots, and moisture damage from the local climate.

This find comes on the heels of another major Zapotec-related revelation. A recent LiDAR survey revealed that a network of ruins near Santo Domingo Tehuantepec is, in fact, a Zapotec fortress — complete with ball courts — potentially offering a new understanding of how the Zapotecs resisted Aztec expansion to the south.

Pedro Guillermo Ramón Celis, who led the LiDAR project, told researchers at McGill University that further studies of the fortress and tomb could yield insights into the Zapotecs’ defensive strategies and day-to-day life.

For now, researchers and descendants alike are watching closely — not just to protect the site, but to listen to what the carvings, colors, and stone guardians of this ancient tomb might still have to say.

1,400-Year-Old Zapotec Tomb Unearthed in Mexico Reveals Astonishing Owl-Head Frieze

Every Sunday morning in Barnet, north London, Leo Gottesman pulls on his gloves, steps between the posts, and defies every expectation of what an 82-year-old should be doing.

He’s not just playing in goal for a local six-a-side team. He’s been running the entire thing for over 40 years.

“I’ve been organising the games since 1981,” he told the BBC.

Back then, Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, the first Indiana Jones movie was in cinemas, and Gottesman was already well into adulthood. He had started playing soccer again at the age of 35 and hasn’t stopped since. "I played football at school, naturally, although I wasn't a goalkeeper at the time," he said.

That came later.

Now, decades on, Gottesman remains a fixture at Powerleague Barnet, a local sports centre where generations of players have come and gone. Among them: his own son, who joined the matches over the years.

He has had plenty of reasons to hang up his boots. Twenty-five years ago, Gottesman suffered a heart attack. His cardiologist told him to stop playing. He did—briefly.

“I stopped for about two or three months,” he said. “But I love the game so much, I just had to continue.”

His teammates don’t seem to mind. In fact, they’re in awe.

“He’s got so much experience, his positioning is incredible and so he’s difficult to score past,” said Rex Cooper, a regular player. “Leo is a very passionate and reliable person and he's a role model for all of us.”

For Gottesman, it's never been just about the game. It’s also about the camaraderie, the routine, and the joy of keeping something going that’s lasted for more than four decades.

Fellow player Henry Thorpe-Spinks has been showing up on Sundays for 13 years, sometimes with his dad. “I don't know any other football game where they've got a goalkeeper who's not only that age but also has been playing for 40‑odd years and been running it,” he said.

He’s not exaggerating. In addition to defending the goal, Gottesman manages all the behind-the-scenes work: confirming numbers, booking the pitch, collecting payments, even washing the kits.

“I think we take him for granted to be honest,” Thorpe-Spinks said.

But Gottesman is the kind of guy you don’t forget. Asked what makes a great keeper, he gave a simple answer: flexibility and anticipation. It’s not just reflexes that matter, he said, but reading the game before the ball even gets to you.

After 40 years, he should know.

And while others might slow down or retire, Gottesman has no such plans. The man’s heart is clearly still in it—even if it once gave him reason to pause.

On any given Sunday, if you happen to be in Barnet, you’ll find him exactly where he’s been for decades. Between the posts. Still stretching, diving, shouting, and stopping shots. Still in love with the game.

Still Between the Posts at 82: Meet London’s Longest-Running Soccer Goalie

Building like a beaver might be one of the best things we can do for rivers, fish, and even drinking water.

Researchers at Washington State University have reviewed more than 160 studies and found that artificial beaver dams can mimic many of the benefits that real beaver structures provide—cooling water, improving fish habitat, boosting biodiversity, and even helping fight wildfires.

“It’s really a great example of how these beaver-mimicry practices can improve fish habitat and contribute to fish-population growth,” said Jonah Piovia-Scott, the study’s senior author, according to WSU Insider.

The research is especially relevant in the wake of massive changes to ecosystems over the last two centuries. Beavers were nearly wiped out in North America during the 18th and 19th centuries due to fur trapping, and their populations never fully rebounded. As a result, many of the ecological functions they once provided—like slowing water flow, creating wetland habitat, and filtering pollution—have been lost.

Artificial dams are now helping fill that gap. One study cited in the WSU review found that an artificial dam helped increase the population of threatened steelhead trout. The dam created cooler water temperatures in summer, reduced flooding risks, and provided shelter for fish—mimicking the impact real beavers would have had on the landscape.

And the benefits go beyond fish. The U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service notes that the pools formed by these dams act like natural water filters, giving native plants a better chance to thrive. They also help water soak into the ground more efficiently, recharging groundwater and reducing the severity of droughts.

The World Wildlife Fund adds that these pools can trap pollutants, improving water quality for nearby communities. Other studies have shown that beaver dams—both real and artificial—can help protect bat habitats and reduce the damage caused by floods and fires.

Still, the researchers are cautious not to overstate the case. “There’s a lot of good evidence coming out,” Piovia-Scott said. “But there’s still a lot of work to be done to bridge the gap between the potential benefits and what’s actually happening on the ground.”

Despite those caveats, the work is already making waves beyond academia. WSU Insider reports that Piovia-Scott’s research has led to new partnerships with tribal organizations, nonprofits, and restoration groups that are using artificial beaver dams in real-world conservation efforts.

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