The Future of Antibiotics is All in the Past

Bacteria "killer" found in horseshoe crab protein

For centuries these prehistoric looking creatures have been roaming around the oceans of the world. Their body design has been a faithful one that has been found in similar ancient species that existed 400 million years ago. The reasons for their success are varied, but one might have to do with a microscopic creature's assist. Sinagpore scientists have discovered a unique bacteria in the proteins of horseshoe crabs that can be used as an efficient antibiotic. This antibiotic protein found in the blue blood of the horseshoe crab can kill at an astounding rate of 100 billion bacteria in 15 minutes. Besides the amazing advantage of feeling better in less time the fact that it kills so quickly decreases the chances of antibiotic resistant bacteria! But before we get ahead of ourselves, scientists are still researching to find out if this protein will be viable for human use.
Recently horseshoe crabs were added to the near threatened list, meaning that their numbers are significantly dwindling. You can help save their habitat though. The "Bee Inspired" t-shirts offered by SaveNature.Org for $17.00 goes towards the protection of habitat in many coral reefs around the world. If you'd like to order one just email sharyl@savenature.org or call at 1 (877) 284-6564.

The Charitable Search Engine

Make donating a part of every internet search by using www.GoodSearch.com

GoodSearch is the same as google, yahoo or any other search engine, except every time you search using their browser a penny is donated to a charity of your choice (including SaveNature.Org!) So set this search engine up as your default and start making charitable donations everyday! Maybe even every minute...

Justify your all day online searches by using GoodSearch and donating to SaveNature.Org!

SaveNature News!

There have been a lot of exciting new updates in the past month.



SaveNature.Org has now joined the gamer ranks of many other non-profits with its very own application, Save the Reef! For all of you FaceBook users, go look up our new game created by Earth Guard and have fun playing to save your very own reef. You can decorate with cute fish, coral and other marine creatures or stop further damage from occuring to your or your friends' reefs. You can also make donations towards SaveNature.Org's Adopt A Reef program, which will go to Palau Micronesia's protected area.



Another bit of news is that our lab now has a healthy population of Thai Sticks! With a purchase of a new environmental chamber and lots of TLC our Thai Stick eggs have finally emerged from a long dormancy of SEVERAL YEARS. We have slowly been brining a few out as a part of our Insect Discovery Lab as a new edition and they are quickly stealing the spotlight.

Eco-Kid Spotlight

Jacob wearing a t-shirt of his own eco-hero, Steve Irwin.

Jacob Danko

The Outdoors has never been a stranger to Jacob Danko. This 9 year-old kid spends his free-time taking nature classes through the local State Parks, volunteering at creek clean-ups and going to the zoo. At a very early age Jacob's parents noticed his love for wildlife and encouraged him not only to appreciate it, but also to participate in saving it. At the age of 7 Jacob began fundraising with Wildlife Warriors based out of Australia, for Steve Irwin Day. He collected donations through family and friends as well as with a lemonade stand, but most impressively he held his own raffle with donated items gathered from local businesses. Jacob ended up the sixth top individual fundraiser for the Wildlife Warriors WORLDWIDE and will be continuing his extraordinary fundraising efforts this year through the "Hero Page" web site, www.everydayhero.com, where you can go online and support him. When asked what his future plans are, Jacob's response is simply "MORE!" which is how we at SaveNature.Org found out about Jacob. He has noticed the increase in development and loss of natural habitat, and was inquiring with SaveNature.Org about how he can raise more funds for groups, participate more in conservation activities and spread the word about the importance of wilderness and wildlife. Watch out John Muir, it looks like Jacob Danko will be the next great naturalist.

If you would like to be featured as SaveNature.Org’s Eco-Kid Spotlight for May 2009 contact sharyl@savenature.org.

White Eyed Lubbers

Here at the Lab we have been having some unusual occurrences with our Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers Romalea guttata. For those of you who are new or did not know, we breed our Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers right here at the lab. To give you a point of reference here is the basic life cycle of a lubber:

The common life cycle of a Lubber (even in captivity) is an emergence of nymphs as early as February to March. These black nymphs go through five molts (each stage is called an instar) and each instar stage lasts about 15-20 days. After their last instar stage the juveniles are adults and that is when the lubbers get their colorful exoskeleton and beautiful patterning. Adults will live another few months and females will lay up to three egg masses in the soil and by the next spring their life cycle begins again.

Our strange happenings began in December when an unusually early emergence of juvenile lubbers were born (and we still have more baby lubbers emerging!)

Then we have noticed three of our lubbers have white eyes! We are not totally sure why, but most likely it is similar to Drosophila melanogaster's white eye mutation. These lubbers are also white when they molt after each juvenile instar stage (usually they are red). We are anxious to see what they will look like as adults, but mostly I just wanted to share with the world that we have some cool WHITE EYED LUBBERS!

Eco-Kid Spotlight

Madi Jules

Overfishing, water pollution, coral reef damage, are not the typical concerns of a middle school girl, but for Madi Jules this is what drives her. At the age of twelve, this young conservationist already has an impressive resume. While her passion for all things aquatic began at an earlier age, it was last year when her activism really began. When her teacher assigned a speech project Madi immediately knew what she wanted to speak about, her beloved and endangered marine ecosystem. Pollution in our Seas and Oceans is a wonderfully brilliant speech of all the components that cause pollution in the world's waters and how her peers can make a difference. Madi has also collected donations for coral reef conservation, passed out Sea Food Watch Cards (informational booklets about sustainable seafood eating options), and most importantly has spread awareness of oceanic issues. Her future will be bright and she already has many plans and projects. One already set in motion is a fundraiser for her school where each student donates $2.00 to SaveNature.Org's Adopt A Reef program and together make a difference. She is also working on an informative website about coral reefs and oceans; and for next year her speech will be about overfishing and how it endangers sharks and all sea life.

If you would like a Sea Food Watch Card or would like to be featured as SaveNature.Org’s Eco-Kid Spotlight for March 2009 contact sharyl@savenature.org.

Rare Venomous Shrew

Hispaniolan solenodon found during an expedition in 2008 to the Dominican Republic (image from BBC)

The Hispaniolan solenodon, a large venomous shrew, was recently sited and filmed by researchers on a month-long expedition to the Dominican Republic.  These rare and unique creatures are only found in the Dominican Republic and Haiti and are frequently the victims of deforestation, hunting and non-native species.  Very little is known about the animal's ecology, behavior and population status.  Conservationists are working relentlessly to learn more about the Hispaniolan solenodon and create a conservation plan for this species before it is too late.

To see footage click here!