Stygofauna is the term given to animals that dwell in groundwater — water found in caves, pores, and cracks underground — and many of them are at the risk of extinction. One of the most pressing threats to their survival is groundwater overdraft. Humanity’s ever-growing need for water is heavily pressurising groundwater hot spots, threatening to suck them dry within the next few decades. Stygofauna are uniquely suited to their subterranean aquatic environments, so dried up groundwater reserves threaten not just humans but them as well. Read full article here
Oddities
Why Do Modern Pop Songs Have So Many Credited Writers?
The music industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades – with the number of songwriters credited on number one hits more than doubling. This is due to a combination of factors, including money, the computer and a changing definition of what songwriting is. For example, if The Beatles’ classic “I Feel Fine” was released today, it would likely have four writers credited instead of two, due to the influence of producers, samples and interpolations. With the rise of lawsuits, artists now preemptively add songwriter credits to their songs, even if the similarities between their song and the source material are coincidental. It all goes to show that the music industry is becoming more complex and competitive. Read full article here
Merv
March 29, 2023
