After beetles were released in 2001 to control tamarisk, predicted flycatcher habitat along the lower Virgin River fell 94.2% between 2010 and 2015

Tamarisk leaf beetles were introduced to control an invasive shrub, but their damage coincided with a 90.7% decline in predicted flycatcher habitat along part of the Virgin River. (Wikimedia Commons)

In one desert river in the Southwest, there is a small bug and a small bird that are intertwined together. From satellite photos, it is found that when beetles were introduced to eat an invasive bush, 90 percent of the habitat required by the rare songbird has been reduced. The reason behind such reduction tells … Read more

In 2008, South Carolina fixed a curving, rain-prone mile of US 25 for $1 million; wet crashes fell 68%, total crashes went down 56%

HT US Desk

The Hindustan Times US Desk brings you the latest news and developments from across the United States. The team covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports, business, entertainment and stories that are trending across the country. Our coverage includes the White House, Congress, US elections, immigration and visa updates, H-1B, green cards, Social … Read more

In 2004, Bellevue, Washington, added a grippy surface to a downhill intersection after warning signs failed; crashes fell 78% and crash costs fell 83%

A downhill intersection approach covered in a high-friction surface, the kind of treatment Bellevue used in 2004. (AI-generated/ChatGPT)

We trust road signs to keep us safe. Flashing signs, road markers, and street lights all try to keep drivers alert. But what if the road itself needs fixing? That was the question at a downhill intersection in Bellevue, Washington. A case study from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) revealed that the city tried several … Read more

In 2019, Arizona scientists withheld rain from Biosphere 2s rainforest for 9.5 weeks; carbon storage fell 70% before rain returned and recovery began

Biosphere 2, a University of Arizona research site in Oracle, Arizona, houses a glass-enclosed rainforest where scientists ran a drought experiment in 2019. (Wikimedia Commons)

If you forget to water a houseplant for a week or two, it will droop quickly. Now imagine doing that to an entire rainforest on purpose. That is what scientists at Biosphere 2 in Arizona did in 2019. In a Science paper, Werner and colleagues describe how they turned off the rain for 9.5 weeks … Read more

In 1994, invasive lake trout appeared in Yellowstone Lake; spawning cutthroat fell up to 95%, but removing 4.9 million has aided recovery

Yellowstone’s lake trout suppression program has removed 4.9 million invasive fish, helping cutthroat trout and wildlife begin to recover. Yet native trout remain below management targets, and officials say sustained removal, funding, and monitoring are needed. (Wikimedia Commons)

During summer mornings at Yellowstone Lake, workers in rubber boots and life jackets pull up gillnets in an effort to reverse years of ecological damage. By October, the seasonal fishing operation typically winds down after deploying thousands of miles of gillnets, according to the National Park Service (NPS). The target is an invasive fish first … Read more

Val Kilmer turned a 5,328-acre New Mexico ranch into a retreat with rental cabins and a B&B; he asked $33 million in 2009, then sold most of the property two years later when the asking price fell to $18.5 million

Val Kilmer turned a 5,328-acre New Mexico ranch into a retreat with rental cabins and a B&B; he asked $33 million in 2009, then sold most of the property two years later when the asking price fell to $18.5 million

Val Kilmer’s sprawling Pecos River ranch in New Mexico went from a private Hollywood escape to a high-end hospitality retreat before eventually changing hands in 2011. Contemporary reports from CBS News and the Associated Press, along with real-estate publications including The Land Report, documented the property’s years-long journey from a $33 million listing to its … Read more

A 558-acre Wyoming ranch sat unsold for 14 months even after its price fell from nearly $20 million to $15 million; when owners scheduled a no-reserve auction, a buyer made an offer before bidding even began

A 558-acre Wyoming ranch sat unsold for 14 months even after its price fell from nearly $20 million to $15 million; when owners scheduled a no-reserve auction, a buyer made an offer before bidding even began

Miner Creek Ranch’s 4,600-square-foot main home features rustic white logs and smooth river rock. A 558-acre ranch near Bondurant, Wyoming, remained on the market for 14 months despite a price cut from nearly $20 million to $15 million. The property, known as Miner Creek Ranch, had been listed in July 2025, but the lower asking … Read more

Iberian lynx fell to just 62 mature animals in 2001; conservation has helped push its population above 2,000

Iberian lynx fell to just 62 mature animals in 2001; conservation has helped push its population above 2,000

For much of the 20th century, the Iberian lynx was disappearing from the Spanish landscape. By 2001, only 62 mature animals were recorded, leaving one of Europe’s most distinctive wild cats perilously close to extinction. Since then, a sustained conservation programme has altered its trajectory. Reintroductions, captive breeding, habitat restoration and efforts to protect its … Read more

A Cleveland district fell from nearly 100,000 residents in the 1960s to fewer than 20,000, leaving blocks looking like countryside; a new plan now aims to build 200 homes and could generate up to $182 million for streets, parks and sewers

A Cleveland district fell from nearly 100,000 residents in the 1960s to fewer than 20,000, leaving blocks looking like countryside; a new plan now aims to build 200 homes and could generate up to $182 million for streets, parks and sewers

Parts of the East Side look rural, with the loss of population creating what it called an “urban prairie” A Cleveland district that once had nearly 100,000 residents in the 1960s now has fewer than 20,000, leaving large areas with open green space that can resemble the countryside. The city is now trying to reverse … Read more

Cheyenne’s Twin Chimneys motor court stood for almost 90 years; this week its landmark chimneys fell in about 30 seconds to make way for a drive-thru coffee shop

Cheyenne's Twin Chimneys motor court stood for almost 90 years; this week its landmark chimneys fell in about 30 seconds to make way for a drive-thru coffee shop

The twin chimneys were saved until the end of the demolition. The Twin Chimneys Motor Court in Cheyenne, Wyoming, which once gave travellers a place to stay along the historic Lincoln Highway, has been demolished to make way for a 7 Brew Coffee drive-thru stand. Its distinctive twin stone chimneys, the last parts of the … Read more