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Beavers do good work cleaning water![]() Exeter, UK (SPX) May 10, 2018 Beavers could help clean up polluted rivers and stem the loss of valuable soils from farms, new research shows. The study, undertaken by scientists at the University of Exeter using a captive beaver trial run by the Devon Wildlife Trust, has demonstrated the significant impact the animals have had on reducing the flow of tonnes of soil and nutrients from nearby fields into a local river system. The research, led by hydrologist Professor Richard Brazier, found that the work of a single family of be ... read more |
Seven chateaux and counting: Chinese billionaire is big in BordeauxSaint-Laurent-Des-Combes, France (AFP) May 4, 2018 Over the past decade Chinese investors have conquered dozens of chateaux in Bordeaux, France's famed wine-growing region. ... more
Engineered polymer membranes could be new option for water treatmentSouth Bend IN (SPX) May 07, 2018 The world's freshwater resources are in short supply. According to the United Nations, water scarcity affects an estimated 1.9 billion people and 2.1 billion people live with drinking water services ... more
Engineers upgrade ancient, sun-powered tech to purify waterBuffalo NY (SPX) May 04, 2018 The idea of using energy from the sun to evaporate and purify water is ancient. The Greek philosopher Aristotle reportedly described such a process more than 2,000 years ago. Now, researchers ... more
Researchers levitate water droplets to improve contaminant detectionWashington DC (SPX) May 04, 2018 In a new study, researchers showed that using sound waves to levitate droplets of water in midair can improve the detection of harmful heavy metal contaminants such as lead and mercury in water. Det ... more |
Philippines digs out from Typhoon Fung-wong as death toll climbs
Philippines digs out from Typhoon Fung-wong as death toll climbs to 18 Three Vietnam men survive 40 hours at sea after typhoon Typhoon Fung-wong floods Philippine towns, leaves 5 dead in its wake Typhoon Fung-wong leaves flooded Philippine towns in its wake Typhoon exposes centuries-old shipwreck off Vietnam port Weakening Typhoon Fung-wong exits Philippines after displacing 1.4 million Super Typhoon Fung-wong makes landfall in Philippines Over 1 million evacuate as deadly Super Typhoon Fung-wong nears Philippines Dam reservoir levels drop below 3% in Iran's second city: media |
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| Previous Issues | May 09 | May 08 | May 07 | May 04 | May 03 |
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Fish farming can help relieve pressures on land resources, study showsWashington (UPI) Apr 30, 2018 As population growth accelerates in much of the world, demands for meat are putting added pressure on natural resources. New research suggests some of the pressure can be relieved by fish farming. ... more
EU to ban bee-killing pesticidesBrussels (AFP) April 27, 2018 EU countries voted on Friday for a near-total ban on insecticides blamed for killing off bee populations, in what campaigners called a "beacon of hope" for the winged insects. ... more
As water crisis bites, Venezuela governor outraged over empty poolCaracas (AFP) April 26, 2018 The chronic water shortage in Venezuela which has left millions struggling to cope sparked fresh headlines this week after a state governor expressed outrage that his swimming pool was empty. ... more
After Cape Town, Ivory Coast city feels the thirstBouake, Ivory Coast (AFP) April 26, 2018 Earlier this year, Cape Town grabbed the world's headlines as it careened towards a water armageddon. ... more
In southern Iraq, drought tightens its gripSayyed Dakhil, Iraq (AFP) April 25, 2018 Abu Ali carefully crank-starts a generator to pump water from a well out into his parched field in southern Iraq. ... more |
![]() Mediterranean fears bitter future for citrus crops
South Africa wine production drying up in water crisisParis (AFP) April 24, 2018 South Africa is set for a steep decline in wine production in 2018 as the country grapples with a water crisis ravaging Cape Town and surrounding areas, a Paris-based global organisation said Tuesday. ... more |
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Moss capable of removing arsenic from drinking water discoveredStockholm, Sweden (SPX) Apr 22, 2018 A moss capable of removing arsenic from contaminated water has been discovered by researchers from Stockholm University. And it happens quickly - in just one hour, the arsenic level is so low that t ... more
California to 'whiplash' between drought, floods: studyParis (AFP) April 23, 2018 California will zigzag between droughts and floods which will become more intense and more frequent in the coming decades unless global emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases are checked, researchers said Monday. ... more
Nuggets of contention: Chinese mine gold in CameroonLonga Mali, Cameroun (AFP) April 22, 2018 Killings, land grabs, corruption... tensions and violence are rising in eastern Cameroon as Chinese firms take advantage of a regulatory twilight zone to mine gold. ... more
How NASA and John Deere Helped Tractors Drive ThemselvesWashington DC (SPX) Apr 19, 2018 There has been a lot of talk lately of self-driving cars, but farmers have already been making good use of self-driving tractors for more than a decade-in part due to a partnership between John Deer ... more
UTA expands efforts to develop water recycling technologiesArlington TX (SPX) Apr 19, 2018 The Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation at The University of Texas at Arlington has expanded its partnership with oil field equipment supplier Challenger Water Solu ... more |
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China launches new Earth observation satellite for environmental monitoring Taiyuan, China (XNA) May 10, 2018
China on Wednesday launched Gaofen-5, a hyperspectral imaging satellite, as part of the country's high-resolution Earth observation project.
The Gaofen-5 satellite was launched off the back of a Long March 4C rocket at 2:28 a.m. Beijing Time from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province. It was the 274th flight mission by a Long March carrier rocket.
The satell ... more |
Satellite pair arrive for Galileo's next rumble in the jungle Paris (ESA) May 10, 2018
The next two satellites in Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system have arrived at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, ahead of their planned launch from the jungle space base in July.
Galileo satellites 23 and 24 left Luxembourg Airport on a Boeing 747 cargo jet on the morning of 4 May, arriving at Cayenne - Felix Eboue Airport in French Guiana that evening.
They were ... more |
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May the Forest Be With You: GEDI Moves Toward Launch to Space Station Greenbelt MD (SPX) May 07, 2018
A first-of-its-kind laser instrument designed to map the world's forests in 3-D is moving toward an earlier launch to the International Space Station than previously expected.
The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation - or GEDI, pronounced like "Jedi," of Star Wars fame - instrument is undergoing final integration and testing this spring and summer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center i ... more |
Novel approach for photosynthetic production of carbon neutral biofuel from green algae Turku, Finland (SPX) May 04, 2018
Reducing carbon emissions in order to prevent climate change requires developing new technologies for sustainable and renewable biofuel production. Molecular hydrogen is regarded as one of the most promising energy carriers due to its high energy density and clean, carbon-free use.
A research group from the University of Turku, Finland, has discovered an efficient way for transforming sola ... more |
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Harvesting clean hydrogen fuel through artificial photosynthesis Ann Arbor MI (SPX) May 04, 2018 A new, stable artificial photosynthesis device doubles the efficiency of harnessing sunlight to break apart both fresh and salt water, generating hydrogen that can then be used in fuel cells.
The device could also be reconfigured to turn carbon dioxide back into fuel.
Hydrogen is the cleanest-burning fuel, with water as its only emission. But hydrogen production is not always environ ... more |
German utility E.ON sees renewable sector growth Washington (UPI) May 8, 2018
In a market transitioning in a low-carbon way, German utility E.ON said Tuesday that its renewable energy segment saw earnings rise 7 percent.
Adjusted net income for the first quarter was up 38 percent from the same period last year to $862 million. Its renewables division saw earnings increase by about 7 percent to $203 million.
Across the board, the utility company said it add ... more |
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U.S. wants input on coal plants of the future Washington DC (UPI) May 10, 2018
Stakeholders are called to submit information that could support the design and operation of small-scale coal plants of the future, the U.S. government said.
The objective of the request is to solicit stakeholder input on ways to develop small-scale plants that would use coal, but with lower emissions.
These plants of the future are envisioned to be modular for lower cost, designed u ... more |
Former top Chinese Communist official jailed for life for bribery Beijing (AFP) May 8, 2018 A former Chinese Communist Party official who was once tipped as a potential successor to President Xi Jinping was sentenced to life in prison for bribery on Tuesday, the latest senior cadre to fall in Xi's sweeping anti-corruption crusade.
Sun Zhengcai, a former Politburo member and party chief of the southwestern mega-city of Chongqing, was found guilty of taking more than 170 million yuan ... more |
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Google pitches artificial intelligence to help unplug Mountain View, United States (AFP) May 9, 2018
Google unveiled Tuesday an artificial intelligence tool capable of handling routine tasks - such as making restaurant bookings - as a way to help people disconnect from their smartphone screens.
Kicking off the tech giant's annual developers conference, Google chief executive Sundar Pichai argued that its AI-powered digital assistant had the potential to free people from everyday chores. ... more |
Kanpur leads WHO blacklist of cities with worst air pollution Lucknow, India (AFP) May 2, 2018
Residents of Kanpur reacted with dismay Wednesday after the Indian city was found to have the worst air quality in a global World Health Organization survey that urged the nation to clean up its act.
Fourteen Indian cities, led by the northern metropolis known for its leather and shoe industries, feature in the 15 cities with the dirtiest air in the WHO's global list.
The capital New Del ... more |
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Earlier humans used dried fungi as tinder for fires during the Neolithic period Washington (UPI) Apr 26, 2018
Some 7,300 years ago in what's now Spain, humans collected and dried fungi for use as tinder to start fires. It's the earliest evidence of technological use of fungi, according to researchers at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Archaeologists discovered remains of the novel fire-starting material among the artifacts left behind by the people of la Draga, a Neolithic community loc ... more |
Spring brings phytoplankton blooms to North Sea Washington (UPI) May 8, 2018
Spring has arrived in the North Sea, as revealed by new images of phytoplankton blooms.
As winter gives way to spring, and more of the sun reaches the waters closer to the poles, warmth and solar energy fuel the growth of phytoplankton colonies.
Phytoplankton blooms feature billions of the microscopic organisms, which turn sunlight and CO2 into sugars and oxygen. They anchor rich ... more |
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Lightning strikes kill dozens across Bangladesh and India Dhaka (AFP) May 10, 2018 Dozens of Bangladeshis were killed in lightning strikes as pre-monsoon thunderstorms wreaked havoc across the South Asian country, an official said Thursday.
Farmers harvesting rice in open fields made up the majority of victims, Iftekharul Islam, a director at Bangladesh's disaster management department, told AFP.
"In the last 24 hours, 29 people have died from lightning in 12 districts ... more |
US tells German businesses to stop trade in Iran 'immediately' Berlin (AFP) May 8, 2018 German businesses should immediately halt their operations in Iran following President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, the US ambassador to Germany said Tuesday.
"As @realDonaldTrump said, US sanctions will target critical sectors of Iran's economy.
"German companies doing business in Iran should wind down operations immediately," tweeted newly-appointed R ... more |
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What will happen when our sun dies? Manchester UK (SPX) May 08, 2018
Scientists agree the sun will die in approximately 10 billion years, but they weren't sure what would happen next...until now.
A team of international astronomers, including Professor Albert Zijlstra from the University of Manchester, predict it will turn into a massive ring of luminous, interstellar gas and dust, known as a planetary nebula.
A planetary nebula marks the end of 90% o ... more |
Traumatised bears, wolves find solace at Greek sanctuary Nymfaio, Greece (AFP) May 8, 2018
Orphaned as an infant, three-year-old Patrick takes a wary view of visitors. He crouches low, licks his claws and starts humming - a bear's equivalent of thumb-sucking.
"It soothes him when he's stressed," says Melina Avgerinou, a caretaker at the Arcturos bear sanctuary in northern Greece.
Patrick's tale is typical of many bears that have found refuge in the Arcturos sanctuary at Nymf ... more |
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