Deep roots, edited genes and a plan to fight climate change with supercharged plants

There are quite a few ways we could benefit from tweaking the genetic makeup of plants. Scientists making breakthroughs in this area hail exciting new possibilities around improved crop security, new kinds of naturally sourced medicines, and … Continue reading Deep roots, edited genes and a plan to fight climate change with supercharged plants

Short hops, clear air and the sweet spot for electric aircraft

With an electric plane capable of traveling 1,000 km (620 mi) on each charge, you’d be capable of hopping between some pretty exotic destinations. A trip from London to Paris would leave you with battery to spare, as would flying from Paris t… Continue reading Short hops, clear air and the sweet spot for electric aircraft

Earth has room to reforest an area the size of the United States, but it’s no silver bullet for climate change

Trees are an unquestionably important part of our environment, and their ability to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen means they could play a key role in offsetting the worst effects of climate change. But just how effective would they be? A… Continue reading Earth has room to reforest an area the size of the United States, but it’s no silver bullet for climate change

Existing power plants and vehicles have already consigned us to unsafe global warming

It’s no secret that some dramatic changes are needed to arrest the trend of rising temperatures around the globe, but a new study has dug into the detail with some pretty disconcerting results. According to the authors of the paper, the energ… Continue reading Existing power plants and vehicles have already consigned us to unsafe global warming

Skeletally-weakened Caribbean corals could survive in future Earth's acidic oceans

The team observed coral fragments over the course of a two-year field study

Three species of Caribbean coral are hardy enough to survive the rising levels of ocean acidification expected to take place over the next century, according to the results of a recently-published study. However, whilst the corals were able to live and grow in an unusually hostile environment, their skeletons were seriously affected, leaving them vulnerable to erosion.

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Category: Biology

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UN report on global warming warns of "climate apartheid" between rich and poor

The UN has published a new report detailing the dangers of climate change, with a particular focus on how it will shape the issue of poverty in the coming decades. It paints a grim picture for not just those suffering in the current day, but… Continue reading UN report on global warming warns of "climate apartheid" between rich and poor

How the hole in the ozone layer is affecting climate change

The hole in the Earth’s ozone layer may be on the mend, but that doesn’t mean its environmental impacts are over. A new review study has examined in detail the effects that the extra UV radiation is having on the environment, such as shifting… Continue reading How the hole in the ozone layer is affecting climate change

Declassified spy satellite photos reveal accelerating ice loss at Earth's "third pole"

Recently declassified US spy satellite images reveal Himalayan glaciers have been melting at an accelerating rate

It’s not entirely news that the Earth’s ice budget is under threat from a warming climate, but a new study has looked into just how fast that’s happening. Using recently declassified spy satellite photos, researchers found that compared to the last quarter of the 20th century, Himalayan glaciers have been melting twice as fast this century. In a rare piece of good news, a separate study has shown that a Greenland glacier has gained ice for the third year in a row.

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Category: Environment

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Global warming: Can these striking charts convince nay-sayers?

We live in increasingly polarized times. Times where your point of
view defines more than your stance on a particular topic – it defines
who you are. Perhaps that’s why people are so unlikely to change their
minds on any given issue, ev… Continue reading Global warming: Can these striking charts convince nay-sayers?

Climate change may cause an increase in squid populations

Climate change already appears to be responsible for an overabundance of jellyfish in the world’s oceans, but new research indicates that it may also lead to something else – lots and lots of squid. The findings run contrary to what was expec… Continue reading Climate change may cause an increase in squid populations