No. 40, Aug. 9, 2018

Hello Revelator readers,

Bad news out of Madagascar: At least 95 percent of all lemur species are now threatened with extinction. This includes the world's largest lemur (the indri) and the smallest (the Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, which weighs just 1 ounce), as well as the world-famous ring-tailed lemur. Is there a solution to this crisis? Read our story to find out.

Speaking of solutions, efforts to restore endangered steelhead trout in Southern California could pay off for people, too, by restoring rivers and watersheds. We have the word on a multiyear project that unites a wide range of public and private entities, including local tribes, all working together to bring back this beloved fish.

And speaking of rivers, did you know that several rivers around the world now have legal rights, just like people? It's all part of a new trend called "rights for nature" that not only helps the rivers but the people who live near them. There's just one big question looming over this: Is international law ready for the rights of nature?

In case you missed it:

Science Shortform just selected two recent Revelator stories — the very funny "Living Will Template for Critically Endangered Species" and the painfully serious "Something Fishy: Toxic Plastic Pollution Is Traveling Up the Food Chain" — as some of the best online science writing of the past quarter. We agree: They're both great pieces, so we hope you'll check them out.

Send us your tips:

What other stories should we cover in the future? We welcome your ideas and inside scoops. Drop us a line anytime.

Coming up:

We have a lot more coming your way over the new few weeks, including articles and essays on grizzlies, sharks and climate anxiety. Look for all our newest links in next week's newsletter, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest headlines as they go live. And while you're on social media, we hope you'll share our stories with your friends.

Feel free to forward this newsletter, too — every new reader makes a difference.

That's it for this week. As always, thanks for reading.