Duke University plans to shut down its herbarium, home to more than 825,000 plant, fungi, and algae specimens, due to financial constraints.
The scientific community, including Erika Edwards from Yale Herbarium, has expressed shock and concern over the potential loss of this vital resource.
Despite efforts to relocate the collection, no suitable home has been found, raising fears of the collection being forgotten or lost.
Key quote:
“This is such a devastating blow for biodiversity science.”
— Erika Edwards, curator of the Yale Herbarium
Why this matters:
The closure of Duke's herbarium not only impacts scientific research but also poses a significant threat to our understanding of environmental changes and biodiversity. This decision reflects broader challenges in funding and prioritizing scientific resources, crucial for informed health and environmental policies.
Coal ash releases in the Neuse River from Duke Energy's Lee power plant in Goldsboro, North Carolina, have caused arsenic levels to be nearly 18 times higher than what is safe for drinking water, environmentalists say.
Flooding from Hurricane Florence is causing spills at hog farms and coal ash ponds in North Carolina, and stranded workers at a nuclear power plant. NC rivers with historic flooding include the Neuse and Cape Fear.
