Oh we do like to be beside the riverside
Burnsall, Yorkshire Dales It takes a ferocious effort to warm the Wharfe, but today the sun rises to the challenge The mini-heatwave has been trailed in the news for days, and by mid-morning Burnsall has become Burnsall-on-Sea. Leeds and Bradford are a good two-hour drive to any ocean, so on days like this the banks […]
How the campaign against South Australian windfarms backfired
New minister Josh Frydenberg backs transition to renewables, despite campaign blaming them for price spikes Last week Australia watched as a concerted campaign waged in sections of the media went bust. For two straight weeks a barrage of articles were published seeking to primarily blame unusually high electricity prices in South Australia on the state’s […]
Public asked to help chart butterfly thriving in warmer UK climate
The Butterfly Conservation asks people on woodland walks to help count population and spread of the speckled wood People going out for a walk in the woods are being asked to look out for a butterfly that is on the rise because of climate change. Experts want the public to help them chart the spread […]
100 years ago: The first sweet scent of harvest
Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 5 August 1916 Surrey, August 3There is more straw to the wheat and oats on the later lands toward our southern border than appeared a fortnight ago to be possible. The crop has shot upward as it ripened; a narrow path that runs through one wheatfield is now […]
South Yorkshire tap water restrictions to remain in place
Yorkshire Water confirms it is safe for residents of Thorne and Moorends to use tap water if it is boiled first Thousands of people in South Yorkshire who have been unable to drink their tap water since Friday afternoon have been told restrictions will stay in place into Monday. High levels of bacteria were detected […]
Can America's first floating wind farm shake off environmental concerns?
Trident Winds proposes to install 765 megawatts’ worth of giant turbines on buoyant platforms in California, which could power more than 200,000 homes The deep waters off the coast of California could become home to the country’s largest offshore wind energy project and a test case for a technology that is still in its infancy. […]
Divorce continues to take a psychological toll on kids
Divorce rates are down, with marriages becoming more enduring in the last decade. But are we getting any better at managing the effect on children? In the early 1920s, a list of exceptionally bright children was assembled for a study about growing up as a genius. These individuals became known to psychologists, affectionately, as the […]
The Observer view on Hinkley Point | Observer editorial
Delaying a decision on the planned nuclear plant has done more than merely ruffle diplomatic feathers Eight long years in the making: the plans to build Hinkley Point C have been beset by delays and difficulties. In recent months, the government has pressed French company EDF for a decision to proceed, while EDF has resisted […]
Fears grow over danger of flooding around the UK as inquiry is shelved
Experts warn that time is running out to prevent similar devastation caused by last year’s floods as National Flood Resilience Review is delayed On Boxing Day last year, Colette Jones was warned by neighbours that flood water was pouring across parkland near her house in Bury, Greater Manchester. The river Irwell had burst its banks […]
Britain’s energy dilemma: if not nuclear power, then what?
The delay to the construction of the controversial Hinkley point plant raises a question: what else can provide baseload power without polluting? Britain faces a problem in coping with its complex energy demands. It needs to provide extra energy to meet rising demands for power in coming decades but at a reasonable cost – while […]