Post of the Day
From engineered pandemics to city-toppling cyber attacks to nuclear annihilation, life on Earth could radically change, and soon.
On This Day
Ecological observance
Climate Change
Cop26 preparations to intensify after compromise on virtual talks
Governments to hold three-week virtual meeting next month before climate summit in November
Long-term consequences of CO2 emissions
According to a new study published today in the scientific journal Nature Communications, the oxygen content in the oceans will continue to decrease for centuries even if all CO2 emissions would be stopped immediately. According to the author, Prof. Dr. Andreas Oschlies, from GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, the slowdown of ocean circulation and the progressive warming of deeper water layers are responsible for this process.
Duke of Edinburgh, the prince of paradoxes, offers a clue on how to bridge the great climate divide
Parnell Palme McGuinness
Prince Philip was a conservationist, but hollow activism repelled him.
National
Will green hydrogen be Australia’s new climate friendly fuel?
Experts and big companies are testing the waters to see if green hydrogen will be our energy of the future.
Victoria
Cyclist-pedestrian ‘conflict’ heats up
There are calls for cyclists to be banned from Southbank Promenade as a survey reveals pedestrians fear for their safety.
‘We’re running out of space’: Turf wars heat up over synthetic grass
Critics say synthetic grass overheats and leaches plastic and rubber into Melbourne’s waterways, but they offer councils an easy solution to the sporting needs of a growing population.
New South Wales
Call for pantomime of coal politics to end in Upper Hunter
There is much at stake at the Upper Hunter May 22 byelection. Locals want “real talk” about what to do once coal is no longer king.
Why NSW is building more artificial reefs [$]
They’re the 800-tonne structures that create an oasis for marine life. NSW’s artificial reef network is expanding and anglers and tourism operators are urged to have a say where they go.
ACT
Canberra-first plan to protect native bee species in new suburbs
Flowers will spring up year round in the new Ginninderry suburbs, as part of a simple plan to protect native bees which is hoped to plant a seed and be taken up across the ACT.
Queensland
‘A beautiful city with an ugly problem’: Contaminated water from dump site flows into Brisbane River
Water flowing from a dump in Ipswich, west of Brisbane, is contaminated with dangerous chemicals and is leaking into nearby rivers prompting fresh concerns from locals, a new report has revealed.
Australia dingo attack: toddler airlifted to hospital after being mauled on Fraser Island
Boy, 2, suffers bites to leg, arm, neck and shoulder and lacerations on back of head
Tasmania
The Restore Pedder campaign is inviting Tasmanians to join them in celebrating Earth Day.
Tasmanian National Parks Association election manifesto
The Tasmanian National Parks Association (TNPA) is a non-profit, non-government organisation which provides an independent voice on issues that affect Tasmania’s National Parks and other conservation reserves.
Media release – Tasmanian Liberals
Only a re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government has a strong plan to secure Tasmania’s future and support job creation and economic growth in the state’s forestry sector.
Northern Territory
NT government’s botched renewable energy policy a disgrace
Matt Cunningham
After committing to its ambitious renewable energy target, the NT government realised what it was promising could have disastrous consequences for people.
Sustainability
How “forever chemicals” might impair the immune system
Animal models and human studies suggest that forever chemicals, delivered through water, food, and air, alter the immune system, potentially diminishing our ability to fight disease or respond to a vaccine.
Water purification system engineered from wood, with help from a microwave oven
Researchers have developed a more eco-friendly way to remove heavy metals, dyes and other pollutants from water. The answer lies in filtering wastewater with a gel material taken from plant cellulose and spiked with small carbon dots produced in a microwave oven.
Plastics could see a second life as biodegradable surfactants
Scientists have discovered a chemical process that provides biodegradable, valuable chemicals, which are used as surfactants and detergents in a range of applications, from discarded plastics.
Experts’ predictions for future wind energy costs drop significantly
Technology and commercial advancements are expected to continue to drive down the cost of wind energy, according to a new survey. Experts anticipate cost reductions of 17%-35% by 2035 and 37%-49% by 2050, driven by bigger and more efficient turbines, lower capital and operating costs, and other advancements.
Transparent nanolayers for more solar power
There is no cheaper way to generate electricity today than with the sun. Solar cells available on the market based on crystalline silicon make this possible with efficiencies of up to 23 percent. With even higher efficiencies of more than 26 percent, costs could fall further. An international working group led by photovoltaics researchers now plan to reach this goal with a nanostructured, transparent material for the front of solar cells.
From engineered pandemics to city-toppling cyber attacks to nuclear annihilation, life on Earth could radically change, and soon.
Sunlight to solve the world’s clean water crisis
Researchers at The University of South Australia’s Future Industries Institute have developed technology that could eliminate water stress for millions of people, including those living in many of the planet’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
Before Covid, giving up flying was taking off. We need to get that momentum back
Anna Hughes
Interest in low-carbon living, including pledges not to fly, was high before the pandemic. After lockdown, we must not allow climate action to fall off the radar
The invisible threat that could have huge ramifications for humanity
Alex Ford and Gary Hutchison
Our chemical environment appears to be responsible for an alarming plummet in sperm counts – in humans and in animals
Pandemic made 2020 ‘the year of the quiet ocean’, say scientists
Human-generated sounds faded substantially at height of Covid lockdown, studies show
M&S faces backlash over plan to release 30m honeybees
High street chain’s farm project could put pressure on wild pollinators, warn conservationists
How Canada is trying to protect its last three spotted owls
Canada announced a more full-throated response to the potential extinction of the owl within its borders and boost the species
‘Forests are not renewable’: the felling of Sweden’s ancient trees
Forests cover 70% of the country, but many argue the Swedish model of replacing old-growth forests with monoculture plantations is bad for biodiversity.
Pesticide use has become more toxic to invertebrates
Even as farmers apply lower amounts of pesticides, their total toxicity has increased for pollinators and other invertebrates
Scientists call for climate projections as part of more robust biodiversity conservation
Research in the Peruvian Andes highlights critical climate threats to montane forests and urges for current conservation plans to take climate projections into account.
Environmental protection could benefit from ‘micro’ as well as ‘macro’ thinking
Scientists have conducted a study that highlights the importance of studying a full range of organisms when measuring the impact of environmental change – from tiny bacteria, to mighty whales.
Coral reefs prevent more than $5.3 billion in potential flood damage for US property owners
Coral reefs provide many services to coastal communities, including critical protection from flood damage. A new study reveals how valuable coral reefs are in protecting people, structures, and economic activity in the United States from coastal flooding during storms.
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