The bell frogs in their sauna – credit, Anthony Waddle
Today’s good news comes from the Good News Network
In humans, sauna use is so beneficial that some medical researchers are attempting to add it to the standard of care for those at high risk of heart disease.
Well, researchers in Australia have found that this same leisure activity can save certain species of frogs from the ongoing fungal pandemic called chytrid.
GNN has already reported on chytrid and ways to combat it. Documented as having infected 500 species of frog or more, it’s a massive threat to the amphibiome.
Anthony Waddle at Macquarie University in Australia built a series of “frog saunas” to see if they could help golden bell frogs and green bell frogs native to Australia recover from chytrid. The fungal pathogen thrives in cooler tropical temperatures and is unviable above 84°F (29°C).
Consisting of unshaded black brick structures with narrow holes inside an artificial greenhouse habitat with water and plants, the frogs quickly made themselves at home inside the saunas.
Four healthy frogs were used as controls for a study group of eight frogs, half of which were infected with chytrid. Some habitats were shaded, and others were left uncovered to test a range of temperatures. Infected frogs who frequented the unshaded structure, where temperatures could climb as high as 97 to 100°F, had milder infections, but access to any sauna helped the frogs fight off the disease.
Once they recovered via the saunas, the bell frogs were 23 times less likely to die from a repeat infection with chytrid.
Bell frogs “used to live in people’s toilets and letterboxes and everywhere before chytrid,” Waddle told Science News. “Setting up these habitats where they still persist might give them enough of a boost that you could see a population increase.”
Building these simple structures in a garden could help frogs survive chytrid outbreaks and help the local population develop resistance.
Not all frog species enjoy roasting, however, so saunas are limited to warm-weather species. Another solution needs to be found for those who enjoy cooler temperatures.
The good news in today’s story is that folks are working on eliminating a threat affecting a whole animal species. Today’s JohnKu talks about those folks. I hope you have a terrific weekend.
Heroes by John W. Howell.© 2024
It’s hard to define,
What actions are heroic . . .
The frogs could tell you.
Fiction Favorites 
Unbelievable interesting. Thanks for sharing, John! I hope you are prepared for a wonderful weekend! Best wishes, Michael
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Thank you, Michael. I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well.
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That really is good news. Wonder what they can do for the cool temp frogs.
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I think that is going to be a tough one. Might need to alter DNA or something.
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That’s definitely going to raise ethical issues.
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I’m sure.
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Nice story. It’s always gratifying to read about humans saving other species. I enjoy the Y sauna 2-3x/week. Suppose to be good for you.
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If the frogs are any indication, it seems so. Thanks, Steve.
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That is amazing. I know this is a huge problem, and I’m happy to learn people are working on it.
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Yeah, I hope they are successful too.
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What a find … and amazing that someone thought of this! Thumbs for the fitting JohnKu. Enjoy your weekend.
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Enjoy yours as well, Frank. I agree on the amazing part. 😊
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Kermit always said, “It’s not easy being green.” Good thing someone was listening. This is quite amazing, John.
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Well said, Lois. I agree it is amazing. Now if they can get some progress on the cold frogs.
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Every member of Nature needs to exist to keep the eco-balance. Too bad humans don’t seem to fit into the system.
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Yeah humans were pretty late to the scene. Any earlier and I don’t think we would be here.
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It’s always good to hear of people working to save an endangered species. Thanks for sharing this, John. Hope you have a great weekend, too.
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Thank you , Tim. It is good to know problems are being worked on.
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Dear John
we have a Finnish sauna in our garden and use it once or twice a week. We couldn’t live without it.
Kb got used to it when living a year in Finland more than 50 years ago. Since that time we regularly have our sauna and even on lecture tours Kb always asked his agents to book him in a hotel with sauna.
Wishing you a happy weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Sounds like a good thing to do. I love saunas too. One of the best was on a remote island in the middle of a Northern Canadian lake. The sauna was wood fired and post heat was a jump into a glacier lake.
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The wood fired saunas are the best, but our sauna is heated by electricity. And jumping in a lake afterwards that’s like in Finland.
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Nothing like it for sure.
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What a fascinating initiative!
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It is isn’t it?
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Yup!
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😁
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This warms my heart!
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I’m glad, Annette. It warms mine as well.
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How marvelously clever! I hope the disease doesn’t spread to the southern US. I had no idea that saunas could be so healthy for you!
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If you are a frog with fungus it is a life saver. Thanks, Noelle
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Good news indeed! Thank you for sharing this, John. We have immense capability for good, and your reminders help keep us on track. 😊
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We have to continually look for the good since there is so much otf the other around. Thanks Gwen. I hope you have a lovely weekend. 😊
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Frog saunas…amazing! I love it!
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I know right? Thanks, Willow.
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Nice to see we are looking outside the box.
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Way outside I would say. Thanks, Pam.
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Oi…
This has left me with a frog in my throat.
I feel sorry for the frogs.
I hope this fungus isn’t something humans have helped to propagate.
Interesting post and JohnKu.
Thank you!
🐸𝔛 🐸𝔛 🐸𝔛 🐸𝔛
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I don’t know where the fungus came from. Might be a good thing to look up.. Thank you, Resa. Love your 🐸𝔛. I’ll go with a distant cousin 🦖X 🦖X 🦖X 🦖X
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I promise I have not been spreading fungus!
(your guys made a cute design)
🦖𝐗 🍄𝐗 🐸𝐗 🦖𝐗
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I like yours 🦖𝐗 🍄𝐗 🐸𝐗 🦖𝐗
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🦖𝐗 🍄𝐗 🐸𝐗 🦖𝐗 💋
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🦖𝐗 🍄𝐗 🐸𝐗 🦖𝐗 💋💋
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“frog saunas” that’s a surprising solution. It is great news but I am also surprised to hear that sauna use is beneficial for humans with heart conditions. I come from a country where saunas are quite common and I thought the opposite.
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I suppose there are differing opinions. I remember warning signs on saunas about heart conditions.
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Just when you think you’ve seen nearly everything – frog saunas. So glad it’s helping them!
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Great statement, Teri. Yes, just when you think you have seen everything.
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So cute! Everyone can use a little spa time. TGIF!
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So true. Have a great weekend, Jo.
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Wow, seems like a simply solution. Brilliant. Thanks for sharing that good news. Have a great weekend.
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Thank you, Monika
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This is fascinating, John! Good Fri-Yay news for sure❣️
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Thank you, Cindy. I thought you were off-line.
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You’re welcome. I am now.. just finishing pieces you know. closing the loop.. xo😉
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😁
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I love these good news stories, John. And, your JohnKu is always spot on.
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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Hi John, this is such an interesting story. I’m happy the frogs are being helped.
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Me too, Robbie. Without help the future is bleak for them.
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Yes, I gathered that.
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😊
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This is great news.
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It really is. 😊
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It always amazes me as to how they arrive at these solutions. I realize there is a ton of trial and error involved, so here’s to being relentless.
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I agree.
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