标签： North America

Raccoons, often affectionately dubbed ‘trash pandas’ for their notorious habit of scavenging through garbage, are showing signs of domestication, according to a groundbreaking study. The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology, analyzed nearly 20,000 photographs and revealed a notable reduction in snout length among urban raccoons compared to their rural counterparts. This physical change mirrors the early stages of domestication observed in cats and dogs. The study suggests that these masked mammals are adapting to human environments, potentially dampening their innate fight-or-flight responses. Raffaela Lesch, a co-author from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, emphasized that trash plays a pivotal role in this urban domestication. ‘Trash is really the kickstarter,’ she told Scientific American. ‘Wherever humans go, there’s trash — and animals love our trash.’ The study also highlights the ‘domestication syndrome phenotype,’ which includes traits like curly tails, floppy ears, and reduced facial skeletons, commonly seen in domesticated animals. Interestingly, the authors argue that domestication might not always be initiated by humans but could begin naturally as animals adapt to human environments. This process, they suggest, is driven by natural selection, favoring animals with reduced flight responses. As raccoons continue to thrive in both wild and urban settings, they occupy a unique space in American life — cherished as pets in some neighborhoods and viewed as pests in others. Their increasing comfort around humans, coupled with their evolving physical traits, suggests that raccoons might be inching closer to becoming America’s next beloved pet.

A recent federal investigation into the fatal UPS cargo plane crash on November 4 has unveiled startling details, supported by newly released images. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report highlights that the plane’s engine detached from its wing during takeoff, subsequently exploding into flames. The incident occurred as the aircraft, en route from Louisville, Kentucky, to Hawaii, barely cleared the runway before crashing into a nearby UPS warehouse. The crash claimed 14 lives, including three crew members and 11 individuals on the ground, while injuring 23 others. Preliminary findings indicate fatigue cracks and overstress failures around the left wing’s engine mount, compounded by a fractured bearing that secured the connection. The plane, which had logged approximately 92,992 flight hours and 21,043 cycles, was overdue for a detailed inspection at 29,200 cycles. The crash released tens of thousands of gallons of fuel, prompting a shelter-in-place order within a five-mile radius due to explosion and pollution risks. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency, mobilizing the Kentucky National Guard. The investigation continues, with the cockpit flight recorder and flight data recorder being analyzed at a secure facility.