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This Happened

This Happened - March 31: Dalai Lama Flees For His Life

On this day in 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama crossed the border from Tibet to India seeking political asylum because he and his followers were facing increasing persecution from the Chinese government. The Chinese had occupied Tibet in 1950, and tensions between the Tibetan people and the Chinese authorities had been escalating.

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Who is the 14th Dalai Lama?

The 14th Dalai Lama, also known as Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile. He was born in 1935 in Tibet and became the Dalai Lama at the age of 2.

How did the Dalai Lama travel from Tibet to India?

The Dalai Lama traveled from Tibet to India on foot, along with a small group of his closest advisors and supporters. They crossed the Himalayan Mountains, a treacherous journey that took several weeks. They were eventually able to reach the Indian border, where they were granted political asylum.

How did India react to the 14th Dalai Lama's arrival?

India was initially wary of granting political asylum to the Dalai Lama, as they were concerned about angering the Chinese government. However, they eventually decided to offer him sanctuary, and the Dalai Lama has been living in India ever since. India has also provided support to the Tibetan government-in-exile, which is based in the northern Indian city of Dharamsala.

What has the Dalai Lama been doing since he arrived in India?

Since arriving in India, the Dalai Lama has been a vocal advocate for Tibetan independence and human rights. He has also traveled extensively around the world, promoting peace, compassion, and interfaith dialogue. In addition, he has written numerous books and given countless speeches and interviews, sharing his teachings and insights with people around the world.

What is the current status of Tibet?

Tibet is still under Chinese control, and the Chinese government considers it to be a part of China. However, many Tibetans continue to advocate for independence or greater autonomy, and there are ongoing tensions between the Tibetan people and the Chinese authorities. The Tibetan government-in-exile, led by the Dalai Lama, continues to operate in India, and works to promote the cause of Tibetan independence and human rights.

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Green

Forest Networks? Revisiting The Science Of Trees And Funghi "Reaching Out"

A compelling story about how forest fungal networks communicate has garnered much public interest. Is any of it true?

Thomas Brail films the roots of a cut tree with his smartphone.

Arborist and conservationist Thomas Brail at a clearcutting near his hometown of Mazamet in the Tarn, France.

Melanie Jones, Jason Hoeksema, & Justine Karst

Over the past few years, a fascinating narrative about forests and fungi has captured the public imagination. It holds that the roots of neighboring trees can be connected by fungal filaments, forming massive underground networks that can span entire forests — a so-called wood-wide web. Through this web, the story goes, trees share carbon, water, and other nutrients, and even send chemical warnings of dangers such as insect attacks. The narrative — recounted in books, podcasts, TV series, documentaries, and news articles — has prompted some experts to rethink not only forest management but the relationships between self-interest and altruism in human society.

But is any of it true?

The three of us have studied forest fungi for our whole careers, and even we were surprised by some of the more extraordinary claims surfacing in the media about the wood-wide web. Thinking we had missed something, we thoroughly reviewed 26 field studies, including several of our own, that looked at the role fungal networks play in resource transfer in forests. What we found shows how easily confirmation bias, unchecked claims, and credulous news reporting can, over time, distort research findings beyond recognition. It should serve as a cautionary tale for scientists and journalists alike.

First, let’s be clear: Fungi do grow inside and on tree roots, forming a symbiosis called a mycorrhiza, or fungus-root. Mycorrhizae are essential for the normal growth of trees. Among other things, the fungi can take up from the soil, and transfer to the tree, nutrients that roots could not otherwise access. In return, fungi receive from the roots sugars they need to grow.

As fungal filaments spread out through forest soil, they will often, at least temporarily, physically connect the roots of two neighboring trees. The resulting system of interconnected tree roots is called a common mycorrhizal network, or CMN.

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