iNaturalist App: Citizen Scientists Save Biodiversity

0:00On March 22nd, the iNaturalist app is turning everyday nature lovers into key players in science. Users snap photos of plants, animals, and insects, and the app automatically adds dates and locations. So far, people have logged 300 million sightings across all 197 countries, covering hundreds of thousands of species each year. These observations fuel big discoveries. Almost every month, scientists describe new species based on user photos. They've captured first-ever images of rare animals and track invasive pests, like the spotted lanternfly spreading from China along the US East. Coast. Users rave about the experience. On Martha Stewart's farm, a small group spotted 458 species in just one hour from mobs and bugs to snails and butterflies. Even steward, after 20 years there, picks up new botanical and biological names daily. The real power lies in monitoring Earth's biodiversity. Each photo gives scientists snapshots of habitats and species health, helping spot declines before they're irreversible.

1:06As more people join in, this crowd-sourced data paints a clearer picture of life on our planet, guiding efforts to protect it for the long haul. That's the story for today. Entertainment and celebrity news today, driven by AI. I'm Cory with the Story.