Heatwave hotspots linked to urban agglomerations in Africa
Due to global warming, heatwave events will likely cause severe damage to natural ecosystems and human society. Urban areas are at higher risk owing to the significant economic activities carried out there and the populations residing in them. As suc.....»»
Sentinel-2 data reveal significant seasonal variations in intertidal seagrass
With data from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission, researchers have revealed seasonal variations in intertidal seagrass across Western Europe and North Africa. As a key indicator of biodiversity, these new findings offer valuable insights for the cons.....»»
2-billion-year-old rock could help understand very early life on Earth and the hunt for evidence of life on Mars
Pockets of microbes have been found living within a sealed fracture in a 2-billion-year-old rock. The rock was excavated from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, an area known for its rich ore deposits. This is the oldest example of living.....»»
Africa"s famous Serengeti and Maasai Mara are being hit by climate change—a major threat to wildlife and tourism
The Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, which includes Kenya's Maasai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, is one of the most famous and wildlife-rich areas in Africa......»»
More consumption, more demand for resources, more waste: Why urban mining"s time has come
Pollution and waste, climate change and biodiversity loss are creating a triple planetary crisis. In response, UN Environment Program executive director Inger Andersen has called for waste to be redefined as a valuable resource instead of a problem......»»
Wastewater bacteria can break down plastic for food, yielding new possibilities for cleaning up plastic waste
Researchers have long observed that a common family of environmental bacteria, Comamonadacae, grow on plastics littered throughout urban rivers and wastewater systems. But exactly what these Comamonas bacteria are doing has remained a mystery......»»
AI models identify marine biodiversity hotspots in Mozambique
A new study led by staff from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in East Africa has used a predictive artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to confirm the location of previously-unmapped high marine biodiversity areas along Mozambique's extensi.....»»
Study reveals invasive Apple Snail could spread further in Africa
New research reveals that the invasive Apple Snail—which threatens rice crops—could spread further in Africa. The study is published in the journal CABI Agriculture and Bioscience......»»
One in three Harris County, Texas residents face victimization: Report
New research from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research finds that nearly 50% of Harris County residents said they have been a victim of a crime or legal incident at some point in their lifetime, and one in three individuals in the co.....»»
Snakes in the city: Ten years of wildlife rescues reveal insights into human-reptile interactions
A new analysis of a decade-long collection of wildlife rescue records in NSW has delivered new insights into how humans and reptiles interact in urban environments......»»
Western media outlets are trying to fix their coverage of Africa. Is it time African media did the same?
Quick question: what do these titles have in common? A Dark Continent Seeking Light; Sure, Ebola is Bad. Africa has Worse, or; Magic and Cannibalism in the African Jungle. You guessed it—they're all about Africa. But the most correct answer is they.....»»
Q&A: Extreme weather is disrupting lives in southern Africa—new policies are needed to keep the peace
Over the past decades, heavy and more frequent rainfall and dry spells in southern Africa have caused loss and damage to agriculture, livestock, the energy sector, food security and nutrition......»»
Why we need to talk about older people and climate change in Africa
Africa is often viewed as a relatively young continent, with less than 7% of the population over 60. But this is set to change. Declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy mean that by 2050, the number of people over 60 in Africa is proj.....»»
Microplastic hotspots forming in offshore UK North Sea, researchers find
Microplastic pollution in the world's oceans is often illustrated through evocative images of wildlife caught within large items floating on the surface, or microplastics blending in among the sand on otherwise pristine beaches......»»
Some 500 scientists to be impacted when Europe lab CERN cuts Russia ties
Europe's physics lab CERN said Sunday that some 500 scientists linked to Russian institutes will be affected when it stops cooperation with Russia in late November as planned......»»
Why South America is burning
A record wave of wildfires, fueled by severe drought linked to climate change and deforestation, is causing havoc across South America......»»
More unidentified illnesses linked to unexplained bird flu case in Missouri
The update raises questions about how the health investigation is going. Enlarge / A warning sign outside a laboratory testing the H5N1 bird flu virus at The Pirbright Institute in Woking, UK, on Monday, March 13, 2023. (credit:.....»»
How climate change affects deer—experts draw findings from 20 years of research
Temperature, rainfall, snow and extreme weather events are all factors linked to climate change that directly affect wildlife. Understanding the impact of these factors on the physiology, population dynamics and distribution of different deer species.....»»
Study finds strong link between childhood opportunities and educational attainment, earnings as a young adult
The number of educational opportunities that children accrue at home, in early education and care, at school, in afterschool programs, and in their communities as they grow up are strongly linked to their educational attainment and earnings in early.....»»
Ecuador capital "under attack" from five wildfires
Firefighters battled five blazes on the outskirts of Ecuador's capital Quito on Wednesday, as wildfires continue to rip through South American nations turned into tinderboxes by droughts linked to climate change......»»
Why crickets swarm in the fall
Cricket swarms—thousands of field crickets assembling in one location, typically around urban/suburban buildings—can be alarming. They can also be annoying. But like most annoyances, they pass with time......»»