Global COVID monitoring is crashing as BA.2.86 variant raises alarm
"This is on the shoulders of governments right now." Enlarge / WHO's COVID-19 technical lead, Maria Van Kerkhove, looks on during a press conference at the World Health Organization's headquarters in Geneva, on December 14, 2022......»»
Battling air pollution may contribute to climate change by impacting soil carbon storage
Decades-old policies aimed at improving air quality may also be accelerating global climate change, warns a recent study published in the journal Ecology......»»
Apple"s iPhone 15 led sales globally in mid-2024 with Samsung close behind
Apple's iPhone 15 soared to the top of global smartphone sales in 2024, marking a new wave of demand for premium tech and flashy features.iPhone 15Counterpoint Research shows that Apple's iPhone 15 and Pro counterparts topped global sales in the thir.....»»
New report sets out a route to transform environmental consenting in UK offshore wind
A report published this week by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult lays out a new approach to environmental monitoring and consenting within the UK offshore wind sector......»»
Assessing the efficacy of clinical drugs targeting SARS-CoV-2 main protease
Over the last few years, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, has undergone significant changes, evolving from the original wild-type strains to the highly transmissible omicron variant......»»
The frozen carbon of the northern permafrost is on the move—we estimated by how much
Among the most rapidly changing parts of our planet are the coldest landscapes near the top of the globe, just south of the Arctic. This region is warming two to four times faster than the global average......»»
European Union evaluating if Corning monopolizes the smartphone screen market
The European Union is investigating Corning over concerns that the company might misuse its dominant position in the global market for alkali-aluminosilicate glass, commonly used in smartphone screens.Ceramic Shield on an iPhone 16 | Image credit: Ap.....»»
Tracking biodiversity: Researchers outline strengths and challenges in new monitoring framework
As the UN COP16 on biodiversity meets in Calì, Colombia, experts from McGill University are on-site, providing important input into the global conversation. These experts have been instrumental in shaping the global biodiversity monitoring framework.....»»
New research may lead to potatoes that are less reliant on nitrogen fertilizers
Because nitrogen fertilizers contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are looking for ways to modify agricultural plants so that they rely on less nitrogen. In research published in New Phytologist, investigators have found that bloc.....»»
Apple’s global head of accessibility to attend Web Summit Lisbon 2024
This year’s Web Summit Lisbon kicks off next week, and guests will have the chance to attend a talk by Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s current global head of accessibility. Unsurprisingly, the presentation will discuss how Apple considers accessibility.....»»
Decades after global regulations, the Arctic Ocean"s legacy persistent organic pollutants haven"t dropped
The presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in all the world's oceans but one has been in steady decline since 2001, when 152 countries agreed on a comprehensive global ban. The exception has been the Arctic Ocean, which has seen a sharp ris.....»»
Earth underwent a massive, rapid melting period after the last global ice age, new study suggests
At the end of the last global ice age, the deep-frozen Earth reached a built-in limit of climate change and thawed into a slushy planet. Results from a Virginia Tech-led study provide the first direct geochemical evidence of the slushy planet—other.....»»
African countries shouldn"t have to borrow money to fix climate damage they never caused, says economist
As we approach the global annual climate change conference, COP29, the need for increased public finance from the global north to address climate adaptation in Africa has become more urgent than ever......»»
Campaign rewards gamers on Roblox for engaging with the US election. What does it mean for global politics?
If historical trends are anything to go by, most young people in the United States will not vote in this week's presidential election. For example, in the 2016 presidential election, less than half of Americans aged 18 to 29 cast their ballot......»»
To a great degree, Ecuadorian oil profits end up in the Global North
Research by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) reveals an unbalanced distribution of the impacts generated by the exploitation of two blocks in the Amazon......»»
Nano-optical sensors enable structural safety monitoring of buildings with color variations
As buildings age, the demand for effective monitoring of their structural integrity has grown significantly. A breakthrough in nano-optical sensor technology now enables precise, real-time measurement of structural deformation and stability......»»
Open-source software: A first attempt at organization after CRA
The open-source software (OSS) industry is developing the core software for the global infrastructure, to the point that even some proprietary software giants adopt Linux servers for their cloud services. Still, it has never been able to get organize.....»»
Study explores how Rwanda and Ethiopia tried to shape the future of development in Africa
Contemporary economic challenges in Africa appear to be shifting the continent into a new era of development. From COVID-19 to war-induced inflation, many countries in Africa are facing significant economic challenges. The crises of recent years come.....»»
Bacteria discovery could accelerate mosquito control schemes
Mosquito larvae grow faster if they're exposed to particular bacteria, according to a new study that could help global health programs......»»
Svalbard Global Seed Vault evokes epic imagery and controversy because of the symbolic value of seeds
Two-thirds of the world's food comes today from just nine plants: sugar cane, maize (corn), rice, wheat, potatoes, soybeans, oil-palm fruit, sugar beet and cassava. In the past, farmers grew tens of thousands of crop varieties around the world. This.....»»
Artificial intelligence: A double-edged sword for the environment?
As AI technology progresses, the energy demands of training complex AI models have surged, raising widespread concerns about associated carbon emissions. This rapid growth is fueled by global demand across industries and academia, leading to exponent.....»»