Limelight Rainforest

So happy to announce that our team @LimelightRF won the #XPRIZERainforest competition! We delivered a canopy tree mapping solution using drones and AI that can transform tropical forest biodiversity monitoring. Thanks @IVADO_Qc for the support.

👋 Meet Taylor, a senior studying Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology at CMU. As part of her undergraduate studies, Taylor worked with Team @LimelightRF, winners of the prestigious @xprize Rainforest for biodiversity innovation. Working with the genetics team, she extracted DNA directly from the Amazon rainforest, sequencing samples from jaguars, monkeys and birds. She became the first person to sequence DNA right here at CMU, an exciting milestone since most labs send their samples elsewhere for sequencing. Taylor's journey with Team Limelight Rainforest has been full of incredible moments, like falling asleep to the sounds of frogs and jungle creatures in the heart of the Amazon to navigating the challenges of intensive lab work. She recalls staying awake for 72 hours to process DNA samples and experiencing the thrill of success as her team achieved their research goals. She also cherished the opportunity to connect with her team members in Washington, D.C., building friendships with scientists from around the world. Her experiences and achievements show the exciting blend of research, exploration and collaboration that CMU students can achieve on a global scale! 🌿

👋 Meet Denita Weeks, CMU Associate Professor of Biology and DNA sequencing lead for Team @LimelightRF, the winning team in the prestigious @xprize Rainforest competition for biodiversity innovation. As part of the competition, Dr. Weeks pioneered novel field techniques, successfully sequencing DNA from plants and animals directly in the Amazon Rainforest. Working out of a tent powered by a car battery on the shore of an Amazon River tributary, she accomplished this groundbreaking research while her teammates sequenced samples in a pop-up lab nearby. Dr. Week's XPRIZE journey was filled with unforgettable moments, like leading night hikes with undergraduate researchers to spot nocturnal wildlife, including caimans, frogs and insects. She also recalls the quiet awe of looking up at the Milky Way after completing her work at 2am, reflecting on her team’s accomplishments and the mission to protect global biodiversity. Her experiences showcase the innovative and impactful work CMU faculty are doing on the world stage! 🌿 #XPRIZE #HumanScaleU

👋 Meet Matthew, a senior studying Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology, at CMU, with plans to pursue a career in medicine. Matthew joined Team @LimelightRF over two years ago, bringing expertise in specimen processing, linguistics and machine learning. His journey began during the @XPRIZE Rainforest semifinals, where he analyzed bird calls and recognition. From there, Matthew traveled to Singapore, where he played a key role in supporting team logistics and contributing to the early stages of DNA processing. Following the team’s advancement to the finals, Matthew co-founded the Biology Club at CMU with fellow biology student Jonah. Together, they initiated research on butterflies and moths, to support the team’s groundbreaking work. He later traveled to Manaus, Brazil, to assist with finals preparations. Additionally, he helped secure funding for other students to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Matthew reflects on his time with Team Limelight with gratitude, "I'm very excited for the future of Team Limelight and all the hard work that was put in. I'm enthusiastic and grateful for this opportunity." His story highlights the incredible impact of CMU undergraduate students gaining hands-on, global experience. 🌍 #XPRIZE #HumanScaleU

🌍 TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT 🌿 During the @xprize Rainforest Finals with the @LimelightRF team, one of our strategies was to collect surface eDNA samples by swabbing through the rainforest. Here's how we deployed our fully enclosed probe concept to gather crucial biodiversity data!

Our Limelight Rainforest 5K Kickstarter concluded last night, with a whopping $14,828 of pledges - 118% of our goal. We are so excited to use these funds to build our insect database. thank you so much for your support - we could not have done it without you!!

ONE DAYYYYYY limelightrainforest.org

Fund our Kickstarter!!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

We see more than just bugs :p Basiliscus plumifrons in La Selva, Costa Rica (photograph by Dr Harold Greeney)

The wings of Macrocilix maia contain patterns resembling a fly feeding on bird-dropping. I don't think there's any practical purpose to this, but it looks awesome!

Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger lacrymiger adult foraging (raeamastus minerva) From Yanayacu Biological Station, photographed by Dr. Harold Greeney

Hopper side on profile shot think it may be Centrotus cornutus Single shot IG Weemadbeasties #wednesdaythought #hopper #entomology #insect #nature

@theBentoLab @OutreachRobotic We love @theBentoLab !!

DNA sampling by drone? Team @LimelightRF are using aerial robots @OutreachRobotic (and a Bento Lab!) to sample and DNA barcode insects in the Amazon basin in Ecuador. They're on Kickstarter NOW aiming to catalog 5000 insect taxa. Support them here: kickstarter.com/projects/59939…

Cuteness OVERLOAD! Even the youngest of us want to work towards biodiversity conservation. Pledge today and help us create our insect database - kickstarter.com/projects/59939…

With the collaboration of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, putting bioeconomies into action will help shift the economy to the sustainable production of forest products. Learn how #XPRIZERainforest is supporting sustainable bioeconomies: xprize.org/rainforest

Rainforests are important sources of timber, food, and medicinal plants, but they are constantly under threat from rampant deforestation and overexploitation. Sustainable bioeconomies may be the solution. But, what are bioeconomies? Read the thread to learn more. ⬇️

This is the first ever photograph or illustration of the female of this species, Erigone hydrophytae. The thing is, this isn't that unusual. There are likely thousands of animal species out there that are not documented, and we're losing them faster than we can describe them.