Thatś a yellow-rumped warbler wearing a multisensor geolocator backpack

The tracker must be light enough to not weigh down a bird that weighs only as much as a spoonful of sugar, and it was used as part of this study:

Tiny backpacks reveal the secret, sometimes circuitous migrations of small songbirds

u/Track_Shovel posted this study on !soilscience@slrpnk.net:

Soil health assessment using buried cotton underpants with the help of 1000 citizen scientists

If you needed another reason to ditch your lawn, here it is

From the study:

Private gardens, the land-use type with the highest levels of soil organic carbon [SOC] and nutrients, exhibited the greatest biological activity, whereas lawns showed the lowest, with croplands and grasslands falling in between.

[…]

The project was launched under the title “Proof by underpants,” and the extent of decomposition was termed the “Underpants Index” (UI)

Why underpants?

Decomposition can be assessed using a wide range of organic materials. Cotton strips have previously been applied (Harrison et al., 1988; Nachimuthu et al., 2007), while the Tea Bag Index (TBI) makes use of commercially available teabags with standardized composition for the same purpose (Keuskamp et al., 2013). Due to the wide availability of the material, the TBI has been employed in a citizen science approach to gather global decomposition data (Sarneel et al., 2024). However, despite being relatively easy to apply and interpret, the method requires careful handling and specific tools, such as a fine scale balance. Moreover, it lacks visual appeal and may struggle to attract broader public attention for soil-related topics. A more playful approach that has occasionally been used to illustrate soil decomposition, though without scientific rigor, is the burial of cotton underpants (Figure 1). Beyond providing a sensory experience of decomposition and soil biological activity, this approach has potential to engage society and gather quantitative data through citizen science

Effect of land use:

[…] lawns showed the lowest decomposition, averaging around 40%. Both differed significantly from arable fields that showed intermediate decomposition levels of around 51% and from permanent grasslands with decomposition levels of around 47%. Lawns also showed significantly lower decomposition than the “other land-use” category […]

Soil parameters

[…] In contrast, arable fields and lawns had the lowest SOC values averaging around 2.1%, while permanent crops and grasslands showed intermediate values. Pavail levels also varied significantly between land-use types (F5, 705 = 44.3, p < 0.001, Figure 4d). Private gardens exhibited average levels of 13.74 mg Pavail kg−1, which was significantly greater than in all other land-use types and roughly fourfold higher than what was observed in arable fields. […]

[…] Lawns, depending on their type, are often characterized by frequent mowing, low plant diversity, and regular herbicide use, all of which can negatively affect soil biological communities […]

I find their work inspiring

Screenshot taken from this video at 16m47s:

This DECK Looks NOTHING Like It USED TO: Rotten to Remarkable — Ep. 383

There are better episodes focusing only on their garden if you are curious, but I’ve just watched this episode and decided to share this bit

From their website:

In September 2021, we began removing part of the front lawn to make way for a highly diverse pollinator garden, which emphasizes the usage of a variety of specialist pollinator plants. Boasting over 350 different types of plants (both species and varieties) with 44% of those plants being US natives—the pollinator garden is a floral masterpiece, providing nectar and pollen resources for insects and hummingbirds from April through the end of October. In the fall, the plants are allowed to go to seed and stems are left up for birds and overwintering insects. Additionally, the garden features mason bee homes, frog and toad homes, and shallow watering holes for insects and birds

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/37376302

Full construction and details at moskitos.org

Source: https://mas.to/@meganL/116471791500973082

This is one of the people/teams competing for an innovation prize at #Spezi2026. A recumbent trike you can make mostly from wood. “Open source” (I put it in quotes because I know definitions vary and I’m not clear which one this uses).

I’m told the cost was about 1,200, but that is a lot less than a similar recumbent trike with a metal welded frame would cost for materials (not to mention the labor time, skills).

Front wheel drive and the whole rear moves with the handlebars.

“Based on a concept invented more than 10 years ago by two brothers, the moskitOS tilts and turns thanks to the clever use of an articulated trapeze that allows the whole front section, including the rider, to lean when cornering! This solution also has the advantage of driving the front wheel directly, avoiding the classic long transmission chain used on almost all similar vehicles.”

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/36451816

non YT link: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=7ktbVxsL2XI

After some digging, the designs for this device are actually open source, albeit I could only find it in portuguese here

You can still use the motorcycle as usual, as it only takes 3 bolts to secure it to the cultivator

Seen that tractors and their implements are still expensive, this seems like a good alternative for small farmers

Even though I personally prefer syntropic farming systems, at least now other folks can make use of this open source hardware

From the video description:

How It Works: The motorcycle is modified with cultivation wheels positioned to align between crop rows. As the rider drives forward, the rotating tines loosen compacted soil and uproot weeds without damaging the main crops. Adjustable spacing allows adaptation to different planting layouts, ensuring precise inter row cultivation.

Advantages:

Faster than manual hoeing  
Reduces labor intensity  
Improves soil aeration  
Low fuel consumption compared to tractors  
Suitable for small and medium farms  

Disadvantages:

Requires skilled handling to avoid crop damage  
Not ideal for very narrow spacing  
Limited to relatively flat terrain  
Engine maintenance required  

Impact on Productivity: This innovation significantly boosts efficiency in crop maintenance. By mechanizing inter row cultivation, farmers can manage larger fields in less time, improve root oxygen supply, and reduce weed competition, ultimately supporting healthier crop growth and higher yields.

Suitable For:

Small scale farmers  
Vegetable and row crop cultivation  
Rural agricultural operations  
Medium sized farms seeking cost efficient mechanization  

___