Antarctic sea ice loss explained
Scientists have discovered that summer sea ice in the Weddell Sea area of Antarctica has decreased by one million square kilometres in the last five years. New research shows that a series of severe...
Tagged: biodiversity
Wildfires cause bird songs to change
A new study suggests that wildfires change the types of songs sung by birds living in nearby forests. Bird song has been proposed as one measure for understanding how biodiversity is maintained within an...
Thousands of species put at risk by UK demand for imports
A land area almost the size of UK is needed to produce enough commodities to sustain the nation’s demand. Campaigners fear that the destruction of nature is raising the risk of the next pandemic....
Scientists find highest ever level of microplastics on seafloor
An international research project has revealed the highest levels of microplastic ever recorded on the seafloor, with up to 1.9 million pieces in a thin layer covering just one square metre. Over 10 million...
Bumble bees prefer a low-fat diet
Without insect pollination, many plant species – including crops – cannot reproduce. Bumble bees are of particular importance, but as new research shows, their livelihood could be affected by malnutrition. Bees are an important...
Trees struggle when forests become too small
As forest areas shrink and become fragmented, many tree species face problems. They often rely on animals that can no longer disperse their seeds effectively. Biodiversity loss is the biggest environmental problem we face...
Plane travel destroys polar bear habitat
Arctic researchers want you to know that each metric ton of CO2 causes a loss of 3 m2 of September sea-ice area. We all know we should fly less as a way to reduce...
New research pinpoints which of the world’s trees are climate-ready
Botanists from Trinity College Dublin have discovered that evergreen species such as Christmas favourites, holly and ivy, are more climate-ready in the face of warming temperatures than deciduous trees like birch and oak. Theory...
Algorithm to the rainforest rescue
A researcher in Switzerland has developed an intelligent algorithm that uses satellite and drone images of rainforests to predict where the next sites of deforestation will occur. He presented his research at the climate...
Outlook for the polar regions in a 2C-warmer world
An international team of researchers have assessed the effects of polar warming. They warn that the consequences are expected to reach far beyond the polar regions. With 2019 on pace as one of the...
New rainforest conservation initiative converts oil palm plantations into rainforest
An alliance of conservationists and researchers is converting oil palm plantations into near-natural rainforests on Borneo. The conversion will restore the high biodiversity of the tropical rainforests on Borneo in Malaysia by establishing a...
Climate change is reorganizing fish communities
Climate change is reorganizing the life in our oceans in a big way: as waters warm, cold-loving species, from plankton to fish, leave the area and warm water species become more successful. So say...
Urban green spaces prevent premature deaths
A new study has confirmed that trees, parks and gardens near residential homes in cities can prevent premature deaths. Researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) have conducted the largest ever study...
Melting Arctic sea ice releases deadly virus
Scientists have found a link between melting Arctic sea ice and the emergency of a virus that is deadly to sea lions, ice seals, sea otters and other marine mammals in the North Pacific....
But Beautiful: a film about people seeking a sustainable world
Filmmaker Erwin Wagenhofer doesn’t make it easy for himself. In his latest film But Beautiful, he seeks the beautiful and the good, and shows people breaking new ground. What could a satisfying life look...
Fish give ‘fins up’ to 3D-printed coral reefs
3D-printed artificial corals could help the animals that live in coral reefs withstand or recover from bleaching caused by warmer water temperatures, finds a new study. Warmer water temperatures are leading to a rise...
Green theme at the 15th Zürich Film Festival
The 15th Zürich Film Festival was not only green because of its carpet. The green theme kicked off with the film Bruno Manser – Voice of the Rainforest, followed by another gala premiere Watson...
Saving coral reefs could benefit land ecosystems, too
New research from Australia shows that bolder actions to protect coral reefs from the effects of global warming will benefit all ecosystems, including those on land. According to two researchers from the ARC Centre...
Investing in climate change more urgent than ever
Acting to reduce climate change now will cost much less than the damage otherwise inflicted by climate change in the future, argue an internationally respected group of scientists. Scientists from around the world published...
Microplastics stunting growth of worms
Commonly used plastics can affect earthworms, plant growth and the pH of soil, finds a new study. New research from Anglia Ruskin University has found that the presence of microplastics can stunt the growth...
