Ecology
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels ‘to Soar Through 2019’
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are forecast to soar through 2019. That’s according to the Met Office. which expects the continued burning of fossil fuels, the destruction of forests and a return towards El Niño-like conditions to lead…
Meat-Free Burger Cooks Up 90% Less Emissions
Plant-based ‘meat’ producer Beyond Meat has invented a burger that produces 90% less greenhouse gas emissions than traditional options. The company says the vegan patties use 99% less water, 93% less land and require 46% less energy than producing burgers…
Lions Have Adapted to Hunt Seals and Seabirds in Namibia, Study Finds
Lions in Namibia have turned to hunting seabirds and seals in the face of scarce food resources in the desert landscape, research has found. The desert lions, which are found exclusively within the country’s Skeleton Coast region, are the only…
Prosecco Production Is Destroying Soil in Some Italian Vineyards
Sorry to burst your bubbly, prosecco lovers, but skyrocketing demand for the sparkling wine might be sapping northeastern Italy’s vineyards of precious soil — 400 million kilograms of it per year, researchers report in a study posted online January 10…
French Study Finds Harmful Chemicals in Disposable Diapers
Banned substances and probable carcinogens are not what any parent wants next to their baby’s sensitive skin. Parents in France are worried that disposable diapers are harming their babies. A new study, just published on Wednesday, revealed a number of…
The Chemical Elements That Make up Your Smartphone Are ‘Endangered’
The average smartphone is made up of about 30 chemical elements. But at least half of those elements could be in danger because of increasing scarcity. Now, scientists from the University of St Andrews have developed a new, unique periodic…
Heatwave Wipes Out Third of Spectacled Fruit Bats in Australia
A heatwave that swept Australia in November killed a third of an entire bat species. On the 26th and 27th of November last year, temperatures soared above 42°C, resulting in around 23,000 spectacled fruit bats dying of overheating. Before the…