(NEW YORK) — The species scientists know least about are at an even higher risk of extinction because researchers are unable to tailor conservation efforts to their needs, according to researchers.
More than 4,300 species whose extinction risk cannot be assessed due to a lack of ecological data are likely at risk of extinction, according to study published in Communications Biology on Thursday.
Among the more than 26,000 species that have been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), nearly 7,700 have been declared data deficient, meaning there is not enough data to make any sort of declaration on their extinction risk, Jan Borgelt, an ecologist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and author of the study, told ABC News.
Calculations based on previously published data on the geographical areas the species live in, as well as factors known to affect biodiversity — such as climate change, land use by humans and threats posed by invasive species — were used to predict extinction risk for data deficient species, according to the study.
The researchers found that about 56% of data deficient species are likely threatened with extinction compared with 28% of species that have been assessed for the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.
This becomes a problem for those making conservation plans, Borgelt said.
“So in most cases, actually, these data deficiencies are just ignored in a lot of analysis simply because we don’t know how threatened they are, if they’re threatened at all,” he said.
Extinction risks for data deficient species varied between groups and geographic areas. About 85% of amphibians, 40% of ray-finned fish, 61% of mammals, 59% of reptiles and 62% of insects are likely at risk of extinction, the study said.
For land-dwelling species that are data deficient, risk of extinction is prevalent among those that occupy smaller geographical areas within regions such as central Africa, southern Asia and Madagascar, the researchers found.
Maintaining the earth’s biodiversity is critical because all life depends on the proper functioning of ecosystems — such as clean water and carbon sequestration to help mitigate climate change, Borgelt said.
“Ultimately, functioning ecosystems depend on the species that live in those ecosystems,” he said. “And once we lose species, we sort of distract these ecological networks.”
The findings highlight potential biases in current conservation priorities as well as the importance of conservation for many data deficient species that are likely threatened by extinction, the paper concluded.
These assessments are “the very foundation of all conservation-related actions,” Borgelt said.
Naomi Judd’s family members are headed to court in order to stop the details of her death investigation records from being made public.
Legal records obtained by ABC reveal that Larry Strickland — Naomi’s widower and the sole executor of her will — as well as her daughter and The Judds bandmate, Wynonna, are suing Williamson County Sheriff Dusty Rhoades to keep the records pertaining to her death investigation sealed.
Naomi died by suicide on April 30 at the age of 76. She used a firearm to end her life, a detail that her daughter Ashley Judd subsequently shared during an emotional Good Morning America interview.
After her death, per standard procedure, the sheriff’s office conducted an investigation, which involved creating records that include “photographs, video recordings, audio recordings and written reports,” according to the filing.
The family is seeking to prevent the release of those records to the public, as they contain “Mrs. Judd depicted in a graphic manner” and their release would cause “irreparable harm in the form of emotional distress, pain and mental anguish.”
The filing also expresses concern that media outlets “have or have planned to file records” to make the information contained in the death investigation public. Plaintiffs say the release of this information would go against their right to “legitimate privacy” as the surviving family members of the country star.
If you are in crisis or know someone in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or by visiting 988lifeline.org. You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
Newly restored versions of two official Rolling Stones promotional videos for the band’s classic 1968 hit “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” have debuted at the ABKCO label’s YouTube channel.
The videos, which were directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, were shot on the same day in the spring of ’68 at Olympic Studios in London and feature two versions of the song. Both clips have been restored in the high-res 4K format.
One of the videos features The Stones’ classic early lineup — Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman — wearing face makeup and performing as a recording of the single version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” plays, with Jagger also singing live along with the track.
The other video features the band performing without makeup along with a completely different recording of the tune.
Lindsay-Hogg, who also directed the famed concert film The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus and The Beatles‘ Let It Be documentary, recalls that he shot the video featuring the band without makeup first, and he then got the idea to have the members add some color to their faces while watching Jones put on some makeup during a break in the filming.
“When I edited them and played them back, they loved the videos,” Lindsey-Hogg notes. “I’d hate to think they didn’t, because then I went on to do their videos for 15 years.”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash” topped the U.K. singles chart in June 1968 and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Lady A’s Request Line Tour, originally scheduled to begin on August 13, is being postponed to 2023.
“Being on the road with our fans is our greatest joy, so it was a hard but important decision to make,” the country trio said in a statement posted to their social channels on Thursday.
The postponement is due to the group’s decision to support bandmate Charles Kelley during an important life change.
“We’re proud to say that Charles has embarked on a journey to sobriety,” the statement continues. “So, right now in order to be the healthiest, strongest and most creative band we can be, Lady A will take the time with the support of our families and team of professionals to walk through this together.”
They added, “It’s early on this road, but we are determined to do what will best set us up for many more years together. We’re grateful for your patience.”
The group also told fans that more information regarding ticketing details for the new Request Line tour dates will become available in the days ahead.
It’s been 15 years since the Jonas Brothers released “S.O.S.” and Nick Jonas saluted the standout track by revealing a few of its secrets.
Taking to TikTok, the “Jealous” singer shared a one-minute video with some “fun facts… you may not know” about the song.
Fact #1, according to Nick: “I wrote the song when I was 13 in a hotel room in New York City.”
The singer said the first draft sounded very different than the final product. The original, he explained, used palm muted strumming for its guitars. After recreating what that sounded like, Nick explained why that changed.
“It wasn’t until we got into the studio with John Fields, our producer, that we were thinking, ‘It needs to be more memorable right off the top.’ So, that guitar line was born,” he revealed.
Secret #2 was about the song’s title! Nick revealed “S.O.S.” was originally going to be called “A Call I’ll Never Get.” So, what made the JoBros change it?
Said Nick, “When it came time to make the track list for the album, everyone kept calling it ‘S.O.S.’ So, we went with that.”
The Grammy winner also saluted the song for being their first to top the iTunes chart. Overall, despite the track now being 15 years old, Nick grinned, “To this day, [it’s] one of my favorite songs to play live.”
“Happy 15th birthday, ‘S.O.S.,'” Nick sweetly noted and extended the sentiment to his fans, who “sang your emo little hearts out then, and now, to every word.”
Nick captioned the birthday tribute, “Time flies when you’re having fun.”
(NOTE LANGUAGE)Kendrick Lamar took some time from The Big Steppers Tour to reflect on the ways rap has positively affected his life. In a post on his Instagram Story, he credited the music for his self-growth, referring to it as a necessity in his lifelong journey.
“rap has truly helped my expansion of self. beyond the perception of who I believed to be. on jojo. music is air to a young n**** at this point. mr morale. the catalyst of my self expression,” Kendrick penned.
He also noted it took him “twenty years” to make “Mother I Sober,” a track off his Mr. Morales & The Big Steppers album, which sees him tackle his childhood trauma, battles with lust and other demons.
Kendrick’s rap career has afforded him the opportunity to meet his fans and travel around the world. He appreciates the experiences, some of which he says will forever be ingrained in his memory.
“ill never forget the process of falling in love with imperfection. the piano. my fans. the stories of reconciliation i hear from penitentiaries to small villages,” Kendrick wrote. “Some words will find you today. Some will find you in 10. find your children type shit. sitting in the corner like an old book.”
“im forever underground. infratrating [sic] the mainstream a la carte,” he continued. “these cities still beautiful to watch. on jojo. ily.”
Kendrick’s U.S. tour ends September 15 in LA; the European leg picks up the following month. Visuals of his shows can be found on his Instagram, where he uploaded 50 photos before sharing his reflective post.
WNBA star Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for over five months, was found guilty on drug charges in a Moscow-area court Thursday. She was then sentenced to nine years in prison.
The judge found that Griner had criminal intent, and said she is guilty of smuggling and storing illegal drugs.
Griner, a 31-year-old Houston native who plays professional basketball for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained on Feb. 17 at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Khimki as she returned to Russia to play during the WNBA’s offseason. She was accused of having vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is illegal in the country.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist, who appeared in court Thursday for the final hearing in her trial, was facing up to 10 years in prison, although 9 1/2 years is the maximum sentence with time served. Griner has a right to appeal.
Griner shared an emotional statement in court ahead of the verdict on Thursday morning. She apologized to her loved ones for the hurt that her detention has caused, and said that her parents instilled hard work in her and this value is what brought her to Russia.
The Phoenix Mercury star held up a photo of her Russian teammates on Thursday and said that she made “an honest mistake” by packing the vape cartridges in her bag.
The prosecutor argued that Griner’s guilt has been proven and also asked that Griner pay a $16,500 fine, which is about 1 million Russian roubles.
Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in court last month, saying that the vape cartridges containing hashish oil were in her luggage mistakenly and that she had no “intention” of breaking Russian law.
Her legal team told ABC News in a statement last month that her guilty plea was recommended by her Russian attorneys.
(KHIMKI, Russia) — WNBA star Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for over five months, was found guilty on drug charges in a Moscow-area court Thursday. She was then sentenced to nine years in prison.
The judge found that Griner had criminal intent and said she was guilty of smuggling and storing illegal drugs.
Griner, a 31-year-old Houston native who plays professional basketball for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained on Feb. 17 at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Khimki as she returned to Russia to play during the WNBA’s offseason after she was accused of having vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is illegal in the country.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist, who appeared in court Thursday for the final hearing in her trial, was facing up to 10 years in prison although 9 1/2 years was the maximum sentence with time served. Griner has a right to appeal.
U.S. President Joe Biden slammed Russia in a statement on Thursday morning following Griner’s sentencing and called on Russia to “release her immediately.”
“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney,” Biden said.
Calls to free Griner escalated following the release of U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed in April, who was freed from a Russian prison as part of a prisoner exchange. Former Marine Paul Whelan has also been detained in Russia since 2019.
“It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates,” Biden wrote in the statement. “My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible.”
Griner shared an emotional statement in court ahead of the verdict on Thursday morning.
She apologized to her loved ones for the hurt that her detention has caused and said that her parents instilled hard work in her and this value is what brought her to Russia.
Griner’s trip to Russia to play in the offseason has underscored the issue of pay inequality in professional basketball
Many WNBA players have traveled around the world to play in the offseason because they don’t make enough money during the season — an issue that is not as prevalent for NBA players. The top WNBA salary is $228,000 per season, whereas star NBA players make over $20 million a year.
The Phoenix Mercury star held up a photo of her Russian teammates on Thursday and said that she made “an honest mistake” by packing the vape cartridges in her bag.
The prosecutor argued that Griner’s guilt has been proven and also asked that Griner pay a $16,500 fine, which is about 1 million Russian roubles.
“This is a miscarriage of justice,” Elizabeth Rood, Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Russia, who has attended each hearing, told reporters outside the court. “The U.S. Department of State has determined that Ms. Griner was wrongfully detained. Nothing in today’s decision changes that determination.”
Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in court last month, saying that the vape cartridges containing hashish oil were in her luggage mistakenly and that she had no “intention” of breaking Russian law.
Her legal team told ABC News in a statement last month that her “guilty” plea was recommended by her Russian attorneys.
“Brittney sets an example of being brave. She decided to take full responsibility for her actions as she knows that she is a role model for many people,” the lawyers said in the statement. “Considering the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG’s personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport, the defense hopes that the plea will be considered by the court as a mitigating factor and there will be no severe sentence.”
Griner testified last week that she did not mean to leave the cartridges in her bag, but that she was in a hurry and was stressed after recovering from COVID-19 that month. The WNBA star said she was aware that the U.S. had warned Americans about traveling to Russia, but she didn’t want to let her team down in the playoffs.
She also testified that she has permission to use medical cannabis and used a certificate to buy it in the U.S. Earlier this month, one of Griner’s attorneys presented a letter from an American doctor in court, giving her permission to use cannabis to reduce chronic pain.
The American basketball star said she was pulled aside after inspectors at the airport found the vape cartridges in her luggage and that when she was detained, she was not offered an explanation of her rights or access to an attorney. Griner said that while there was a translator present, she was not offered a complete translation and even tried to use her phone to translate.
Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine began one week after Griner was detained, and some officials have expressed concern that Americans jailed in Russia could be used as leverage in the ongoing war.
The U.S. Department of State has classified both Whelan and Griner as “wrongfully detained.”
Last week, in a sharp reversal, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that he will hold a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov “in the coming days” to discuss securing the freedom of Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia since late 2018.
“[They] have been wrongly detained and must be allowed to come home,” Blinken told reporters in Washington, D.C, on July 27. “We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release. Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal, and I’ll use the conversation to follow up personally and I hope [to] move us toward a resolution.”
Two days later, Blinken told reporters that he had a “frank and direct conversation” with Lavrov about a U.S. proposal to exchange convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout in return for Griner and Whelan’s freedom.
“I pressed the Kremlin to accept the substantial proposal that we put forth on the release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner,” Blinken said. “I’m not going to characterize his responses and I can’t give you an assessment of whether I think things are more or less likely, but it was important that [he] hear directly from me on that.”
During a press conference in Moscow on July 28, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova confirmed that “the issue of mutual exchange of Russian and American citizens, staying in places of detention on the territory of the two countries, was discussed at one time by the presidents of Russia and the United States,” but “a concrete result has not yet been achieved.”
ABC News’ Max Karmen, Shannon Crawford, Joseph Simonetti and Tanya Stukalova contributed to this report.
Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock has released a cover of the Motown classic “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”
The rendition was recorded for the soundtrack to a new documentary called Claydream, which tells the story of Will Vinton, the so-called “Father of Claymation.”
As for what all these things have to do with each other, Vinton created The California Raisins, a group of anthropomorphic dried grapes that revitalized “I Heard It Through the Grape Vine” in the ’80s by singing it in a series of popular commercials. The ’80s! What a time!
Brock’s cover is streaming now via Soundcloud and you can also hear it in the Claydreamtrailer. The doc opens in New York City this Friday.
Modest Mouse, meanwhile, released their latest album, The Golden Casket, in 2021. They launch a North American tour August 19 with a hometown show in Portland.
(NOTE LANGUAGE) ABC Audio has confirmed Idris Elba is reteaming with his Hobbs and Shaw director David Leitch — the guy behind Brad Pitt‘s new movie Bullet Train — for a Netflix-bound spy thriller called Bang!.
Based on the Dark Horse Comics books from Matt Kindt and Wilfredo Torres, the film will have Elba playing a secret agent sent to take down a terrorist organization that may be linked to “a science-fiction author … whose books may hold the key to either saving reality or destroying it.”
Incidentally, the 2020 books feature a review quote from none other than Keanu Reeves — Leitch’s pal and John Wick star — who called the series, “A great, f****ed up blend of James Bond and Tintin.”
The latter refers to Belgian cartoonist Hergé‘s beloved comic series about a globe-trotting reporter and adventurer.
