California's last nuclear plant to close amid longstanding earthquake concerns
‘Historic’ agreement between the state’s largest utility company and environmental groups follows safety debates over proximity to seismic faults California’s last nuclear power plant will close by 2025 under an accord announced Tuesday, ending three decades of safety debates that helped fuel the national anti-nuclear power movement. The state’s largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric […]
King of sting – the scientist who reviews the stings of insects
Justin Schmidt sampled the stinging power of ants, bees and wasps. His reviews – from ‘blinding, fierce’ to ‘hot and smoky’ – have now been published in their entirety Ever wondered what it’s like to be stung by an artistic wasp? (This being an actual insect species of the order Hymenoptera, as opposed to a […]
Road signs could warn Londoners of air pollution episodes, says Sadiq Khan
London mayor has told TfL to develop system of alerts and signs to increase awareness of air quality blackspots, BusinessGreen reports Roadside signposts and online alerts could be used to inform Londoners of air pollution hotspots and periods of poor air quality, under proposals announced today by the capital’s new Mayor Sadiq Kahn. Londoners should […]
Cars buck downward trend of EU carbon emissions
Total greenhouse gas emissions fell by 24% between 1990 and 2014 but road transport emissions rose by 17%, European Environment Agency data shows Road transport has bucked a downward trend in European greenhouse gas emissions, growing by 17% between 1990 and 2014, at the same time that emissions from other sectors fell by almost a […]
Maldives urges rich countries to rapidly ratify Paris climate agreement
Environment and energy minister of small island state, one of the countries most at risk of global warming impacts, says ‘no time to waste’ on Paris deal Rich countries must ratify the climate change agreement reached in Paris last December, one of the world’s most at-risk nations has warned. Thoriq Ibrahim, environment and energy minister […]
DHL unveils circular economy competitions
Delivery services company Deutsche Post DHL is offering €20,000 in prizes for competitions designed to discover circular economy related innovations, specifically focused on the potential opportunities provided by robotics and emerging digital technologies. One challenge is focused on robotics and the development of self-driving delivery options, while another tasks inventors and innovators to design new […]
Brexit-on-sea: Why do voters on Essex's protected coast want out of Europe?
Residents in the Ukip stronghold of Clacton-on-Sea are rightly proud of their clean beaches, fresh air and wildlife. Would they still vote leave if they knew the things they love about their town are thanks to EU membership? Audrey James and and Mary Chivers, skirts hitched and shoes off, are paddling with their grandchildren by […]
The weight of light: how gravity is illuminating sub-Saharan Africa – video
Off-grid communities such as those in sub-Saharan Africa can pay thousands of times as much as the rest of us for their energy. Designer Jim Reeves has developed a simple, low-cost gear-train and generator that uses a descending weight to power a perpetual light source. Children can do their homework and study, families and friends […]
Incorporating circular economy in a quality secondary curriculum
The traditional economy is based on a linear business model where increased consumption leads to higher growth, more production and subsequently to bigger profits.The circular economy incorporates a completely different business model where energy and material flows are considered and nothing is wasted. Companies making the change are showing that savings can be made both […]
My first encounter with a pine marten
Aigas, Highlands The pine marten undulated through the trees in such soft eel-like loops that one could imagine it was an animal lacking in bone For all their recent spread – they now skirt the edges of several Scottish cities and pop up occasionally even in England as far south as Shropshire – pine martens […]