Farewell to summer? ‘Haze’ and ‘trash’ among Earth’s new seasons as climate change and pollution play havoc: Throughout history, people have viewed seasons as relatively stable, recurrent blocks of time that neatly align farming, cultural celebrations and routines with nature’s cycles. But the seasons as we know them are changing. Human activity is rapidly transforming …
Tiny technology that can find pollution in South Africa’s water and trap it: Nanotechnology is the use of materials that are one-billionth of a metre (a nanometre) in size. One of its potential uses is to clean up whatever is contaminating water supplies. Analytical chemist Philiswa Nomngongo, a leading researcher in nanotechnology for water in …
Reducing air pollution could increase methane emissions from wetlands – here’s what needs to be done: Sampling in a Pantanal lake, Brazil. Vincent Gauci, CC BY-NC-ND What if well-meaning policies that reduce one atmospheric pollutant could also increase natural emissions of powerful greenhouse gases? Our findings, just published in the journal Science Advances, advance an …
Oil pollution in North Sea is ‘grossly underestimated’, suggests new report: Kichigin/Shutterstock Growing up in Aberdeen, Scotland, the shadow of the Piper Alpha disaster loomed large over our community. The tragic explosion of the oil rig platform in 1988 claimed the lives of 167 people. Back then, I was blissfully unaware of the ecological ramifications …
South Africa: Gold mine pollution is poisoning Soweto’s water and soil – study finds food gardens are at risk: For 140 years, gold mines in Johannesburg, South Africa have been leaking wastewater contaminated with heavy metals. The acid mine drainage from Johannesburg’s estimated 278 abandoned mines and 200 mine dumps includes uranium (a radioactive metal), …
Glitter is ready-made microplastic pollution – time to ditch it this Christmas: Efetova Anna / shutterstock A few months ago, shoppers in Germany were reported to have been stockpiling decorative glitter. That’s because it is now officially banned in the EU. Glitter is made of plastic, and since plastic doesn’t really degrade, almost every bit …
Myths about plastic pollution are leading to public confusion: here’s why: STEKLO/Shutterstock Does the prediction that there could be “more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050” concern you? How about reports that “we eat a credit card’s worth of plastic per week”? These are some of the “facts” about plastic that are cited …
How air pollution is making life tougher for bugs: Air pollution is the latest threat facing our insects. Robbie Girling/Inka Lusebrink, CC BY-NC-SA Whether you love them or loathe them, we all depend on bugs. Insects help to pollinate three-quarters of the world’s crop varieties, making them a treasured resource. But we’re making the lives …
Why the UK government is relaxing rules for river pollution: New homes under construction in Rochester, Kent. Flyby Photography/Shutterstock The UK government has announced plans to enable the delivery of 100,000 new homes by 2030 that are currently being held up by a controversial EU law designed to protect water bodies from pollution. This move …
Air pollution linked with global rise in antibiotic resistance: Air pollution is linked with many health problems. Saurav022/ Shutterstock Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to global health. In 2019, it caused over 1.27 million deaths worldwide – and it’s projected that antimicrobial resistance (which includes bacterial resistance to antibiotics) may contribute to ten million …
Plastic pollution threatens birds far out at sea – new research: Northern fulmar Beth Clark, Author provided Seabirds are one of the world’s most threatened animal groups. They already contend with multiple issues, including climate change, accidental capture in fishing gear and being eaten by invasive species like cats and some rodents. But these birds, …
Plastic pollution: campaigners around the world are using the courts to clean up – but manufacturers are fighting back: Jose Calsina / shutterstock Plastic pollution has become such major problem that it’s threatening our human rights. That’s the view of two UN special rapporteurs (human rights advisers) who recently issued a joint statement, warning against …
Light pollution is taking the sparkle out of glow-worm mating: Female glow-worms attract males with a chemical reaction in their abdomen. Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock The invention of electric light has extended our lives deeper into the night: street lamps help us travel more safely outdoors, while lighting indoors lets us work and play for longer. Entire …
Cholera in South Africa: a symptom of two decades of continued sewage pollution and neglect: Preventing cholera is more than just making sure your hygiene practices are in order. Michele Spatari / AFP via Getty Images South Africans have expressed outrage at the deaths of at least 15 residents of Hammanskraal, in the city of …
La pollution de l’air est une pandémie cachée en Afrique : conseils pour réduire votre exposition et contribuer à la combattre: Les enfants et les personnes âgées sont vulnérables à la pollution de l'air. Photo de Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP. from www,gettyimages.com L’urbanisation rapide en Afrique aggrave les niveaux de pollution de l’air. Les conséquences sont …
Air pollution is a hidden pandemic in Africa – tips on how to reduce your exposure and help combat it: Children and elderly people are vulnerable to air pollution. Photo by Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP. from www,gettyimages.com Rapid urbanisation in Africa is worsening air pollution levels. There are economic as well as health consequences. Air pollution …
‘Noisome stinking scum’: how Londoners protested river pollution in the 1600s: London imagined from above by artist Claes Jansz. Visscher, in 1616. wiki The UK government and water companies have recently been heavily criticised for allowing raw sewage and other pollutants to spill into the nation’s waterways. While a recent flurry of stories and reports …
Air pollution can increase the risk of COVID infection and severe disease – a roundup of what we know: Tatiana Grozetskaya/Shutterstock The early part of the COVID pandemic led to a significant reduction in air pollution in many parts of the world. With lockdowns, travel restrictions and decreased economic activity, there was a noticeable drop …