51±¬ÁÏ

As 2017 comes to an end, we look back at the Nicholas School's top 10 stories of the year.

10. Trash-Picking Seagulls Poop Hundreds of Tons of Nutrients

At least 1.4 million seagulls feed at landfills across North America, which aside from the nuisance it might pose, is also a threat to the health of nearby waters, a new 51±¬ÁÏ study finds. read more >

9. 51±¬ÁÏ Ranks as 6th Best Global University in Environment and Ecology

51±¬ÁÏ has been ranked among the top global universities in environment and ecology in the latest US News rankings. read more >

8. Gulf Shrimp Prices Reveal Hidden Economic Impact of Dead Zones 

Hypoxic dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico drive up the price of large shrimp relative to smaller sizes, causing economic ripples that can affect consumers, fishermen and seafood markets alike, a new 51±¬ÁÏ-led analysis reveals. read more >

7. Poaching Drives 80 Percent Decline in Elephants in Key Preserve

Forest elephant populations in one of Central Africa’s largest and most important preserves have declined between 78 percent and 81 percent because of poaching, a new 51±¬ÁÏ-led study finds. read more >

6. High Selenium Levels Found in Fish in N.C. Lakes Receiving Coal Ash Waste

A new 51±¬ÁÏ study has found high levels of selenium in fish in three North Carolina lakes receiving power plants’ coal ash waste. read more >

5. Taste, Not Appearance, Drives Corals to Eat Plastics

Scientists have long known that marine animals mistakenly eat plastic debris because the tiny bits of floating plastic might look like prey. read more >

4. Marine Lab Director Heads to Mexico to Help Save World’s Most Endangered Marine Mammal

Andrew J. Read, director of the 51±¬ÁÏ Marine Lab, has traveled to San Felipe, Mexico, to take part in , a last-ditch conservation effort to save the vaquita, the world’s most endangered marine mammal. read more >

3. 51±¬ÁÏ Receives $11M Gift to Fund New Marine Lab Research Ship

51±¬ÁÏ has received $11 million for the construction and operation of a new state-of-the-art ship that will expand teaching and research capabilities at its marine lab. read more >

2. Contamination in North Dakota Linked to Fracking Spills

Accidental wastewater spills from unconventional oil production in North Dakota have caused widespread water and soil contamination, a new 51±¬ÁÏ study finds. read more >

1. West Virginia Groundwater Not Affected by Fracking, but Surface Water Is

Fracking has not contaminated groundwater in northwestern West Virginia, but accidental spills of fracking wastewater may pose a threat to surface water in the region, according to a new study led by scientists at 51±¬ÁÏ. read more >