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'Hunger stones' tell Elbe's centuries-old tale of drought![]() Dec�n, Czech Republic (AFP) Sept 10, 2018 Once an ominous harbinger of hard times and even famine due to critically low water levels, a massive "hunger stone" embedded deep in the Elbe River has reappeared in the Czech Republic after Europe's long, dry summer. The boulder in the town of Decin, north of the capital, Prague, is roughly the size of a van and bears the foreboding inscription, "If you can see me, then weep". Boatman and riverside innkeeper Franz Mayer etched the words in German - "Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine" - during ... read more |
Urban vineyards: Parisians pick grapes for city vintagesParis (AFP) Sept 4, 2018 Grape pickers at the Clos des Morillons look like thousands of others at work in vineyards across France at this time of year. But behind them looms a high-rise housing estate and a short walk away is the noisy Paris ring road. ... more
Blue-green algae promises to help boost food crop yieldsCanberra, Australia (SPX) Sep 10, 2018 Scientists at The Australian National University (ANU) have engineered tiny carbon-capturing engines from blue-green algae into plants, in a breakthrough that promises to help boost the yields of im ... more
Hong Kong dim sum favourite faces uncertain futureHong Kong (AFP) Sept 2, 2018 Impatient diners crowd around carts of steaming dim sum steered by fierce "trolley aunties" at Hong Kong's Lin Heung Tea House, one of the city's most famous restaurants, now fearing for its future. ... more
France's ban on bee-killing pesticides begins SaturdayParis (AFP) Aug 30, 2018 A ban on five neonicotinoid pesticides enters into force in France on Saturday, placing the country at the forefront of a campaign against chemicals blamed for decimating critical populations of crop-pollinating bees. ... 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 | Sep 07 | Sep 06 | Sep 05 | Sep 04 | Sep 03 |
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Epigenome of bread wheat mapped to piece together its genetic heritageNorwich UK (SPX) Aug 31, 2018 Globally, wheat, together with maize and rice, provides the most human nutrition. It can thrive in a whole range of different environments, even within a similar geographical region. Exploring ... more
Bolivia petitions ICJ over Chilean border river sourceLa Paz (AFP) Aug 31, 2018 Bolivia submitted a counterclaim against Chile at the International Court of Justice on Friday regarding a dispute over a border spring between the South American neighbors. ... more
Shedding light on shallow watersParis (ESA) Aug 28, 2018 Keeping an eye on our waters is more important than ever, as widespread drought continues to sweep Europe this summer. Earth's changing sea levels are crucial indicators of how our environment ... more
Environmentally friendly farming practices used by a third of global farmsPullman WA (SPX) Aug 29, 2018 Nearly one-third of the world's farms have adopted more environmentally friendly practices while continuing to be productive, according to a global assessment by 17 scientists in five countries. ... more
India's devastating rains match climate change forecastsParis (AFP) Aug 24, 2018 Once-a-century rains that have pounded the Indian state of Kerala and displaced 1.3 million people are in line with the predictions of climate scientists, who warn that worse is to come if global warming continues unabated. ... more |
![]() Study uses seismic noise to track water levels in underground aquifers
Portable freshwater harvester could draw up to 10 gallons per hour from the airWashington DC (SPX) Aug 29, 2018 For thousands of years, people in the Middle East and South America have extracted water from the air to help sustain their populations. Drawing inspiration from those examples, researchers are now ... more |
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Plant biodiversity essential to bee healthWashington (UPI) Aug 22, 2018 New research suggests bees can maintain healthy colonies in agricultural regions if provided habitat islands with sufficient plant biodiversity. ... more
Bees get hooked on harmful pesticide: studyParis (AFP) Aug 28, 2018 Bumblebees acquire a taste for food laced with a pesticide known to harm them, according to a study suggesting the chemicals pose an even greater threat to pollinators than previously thought. ... more
California plain shows surprising winners and losers from prolonged droughtSeattle WA (SPX) Aug 27, 2018 The Carrizo Plain National Monument is a little-known ecological hotspot in Southern California. Though small, it explodes in wildflowers each spring and is full of threatened or endangered species. ... more
Rain brings relief to drought-stricken Australia farmersSydney (AFP) Aug 26, 2018 Widespread rain fell across drought-affected parts of eastern Australia over the weekend, bringing relief to farmers struggling to cope with the driest conditions in more than half a century. ... more
French tomato grower takes on Monsanto over weedkillerCelles-Sur-Aisne, France (AFP) Aug 24, 2018 Weaving through the aisles of his greenhouse in northern France, Jean-Claude Terlet, a retired farmer who grows tomatoes for local markets, seems to be brimming with energy. ... more |
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PlanetWatchers Announces Breakthrough SAR Analytics Platform San Francisco CA (SPX) Sep 06, 2018
PlanetWatchers has developed a new multi-source Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) platform that utilizes multiple SAR sources to deliver actionable insights without the usual delays due to weather, time of day, and environmental conditions. Natural resource managers will now receive enhanced risk management and analytical data from the new platform.
World-renowned remote sensing specialist Pr ... more |
Antenova offers ultra-small GNSS active antenna module for difficult locations Hatfield, UK (SPX) Sep 10, 2018
ntenova Ltd, manufacturer of antennas and RF antenna modules for connected devices and the Internet of Things, is now shipping its latest module for tiny positioning devices - the RADIONOVA M20047-1. This is an active antenna module for GNSS applications in the 1559-1609 MHz satellite bands using GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO or BeiDou.
The M20047-1 antenna module comprises an SMD antenna with bui ... more |
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Norway builds world's tallest timber tower Oslo (AFP) Sept 5, 2018
Norway has completed the frame of the world's tallest timber building, which is being lauded for being environmentally friendly and fire resistant.
The Mjos Tower, which is situated near and named after a lake located about 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Oslo, saw its last beam hoisted by a crane this week.
At 85.4 metres (just over 280 feet), it has 18 floors.
Promoters say tha ... more |
Methane to syngas catalyst: two for the price of one Sapporo, Japan (SPX) Sep 06, 2018
Hokkaido University researchers have created an improved catalyst for the conversion of methane gas into syngas, a precursor for liquid fuels and fundamental chemicals.
Syngas, also known as synthesis gas, is a mixture made primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen and is used to manufacture polymers, pharmaceuticals, and synthetic petroleum. It is made by exposing methane to water vapor a ... more |
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Changing the type of silicon etching drops solar power costs by more than 10 percent Houghton MI (SPX) Sep 06, 2018 |
Wind Power: It is all about the distribution Freiburg, Germany (SPX) Sep 06, 2018
Wind power is an important pillar in Germany's energy policy turnaround: According to the German government, the resource should cover 65 percent of German electricity needs by 2030, along with solar, hydropower and biomass. In a recent study, Dr. Christopher Jung and Dr. Dirk Schindler from the University of Freiburg show that it will be possible to cover 40 percent of the current electricity c ... more |
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Trump administration moves to relax coal pollution rules Washington (AFP) Aug 22, 2018
President Donald Trump's administration announced a plan Tuesday to weaken regulations on US coal plants, giving a boost to an industry that former leader Barack Obama had hoped to phase out to cut harmful emissions that drive global warming.
The Environmental Protection Agency's new Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule would allow states the flexibility to set their own standards for performa ... more |
China's Didi launches safety revamp after passenger murder Beijing (AFP) Sept 4, 2018
Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing said Tuesday it would halt most late-night ride services for a week as it tries to reassure the public following the rape and murder of a passenger.
The company has been slammed by passengers and regulators, including China's transport ministry, after a 20-year-old passenger was raped and murdered by her driver in the eastern city of Wenzhou last month ... more |
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Lockheed Martin Partners with Deakin University to Further Develop Industrial Exoskeleton Adelaide, Australia (SPX) Sep 10, 2018
A 12-month research partnership between Lockheed Martin Australia and Deakin University's Institute for Intelligent Systems Research (IISRI) has extended the capability of Lockheed Martin's FORTIS Exoskeleton.
The FORTIS is an unpowered, lightweight exoskeleton designed by Lockheed Martin that makes tools weighing up to 36 pounds feel weightless - reducing user fatigue and improving worker ... more |
Cleaning up Tokyo's beaches: An Olympic task Tokyo (AFP) Sept 6, 2018
On a blazing hot Tokyo summer day, children squeal with delight as they splash about on a sandy beach, with the skyline of the world's biggest city shimmering behind them.
The scene may seem unremarkable but it was unthinkable until recently when local activists decided to clean up the polluted water at city beaches, hoping to leave a legacy from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
"Tokyo Bay ... more |
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NASA assists in efforts to contain California wildfires Edwards AFB CA (SPX) Aug 28, 2018
An effort by multiple NASA centers to assist with the California wildfires included capturing satellite data of the smoke plumes and aircraft flights over burned areas to collect information for recovery planning.
The California Air National Guard asked the NASA Earth Science Disasters Program for support with the wildfires that have destroyed more than 410,000 acres and 11 disaster progra ... more |
Pakistan's Khan launches fundraising appeal for dams to avert drought Islamabad (AFP) Sept 7, 2018
Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday launched a fundraising appeal to construct new water storage dams to tackle droughts, warning that the country's current capacity would not last beyond a month.
Official estimates show that by 2025 Pakistan will be facing an "absolute scarcity" of water, with less than 500 cubic metres available per person - just one third of the water avai ... more |
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Prague records hottest summer on record Prague (AFP) Sept 6, 2018
The Czech capital Prague has experienced its hottest summer since records started in 1775, the weather institute said on Thursday.
"Record heat was recorded in Prague this summer, with average temperatures the highest since observations began 244 years ago," the Hydrometeorological Institute said.
Summertime average daytime temperatures hit 22.7 degrees Celsius (72.5 Fahrenheit) at th ... more |
A more prosperous global future is possible Santa Barbara CA (SPX) Sep 07, 2018
If we proactively implement effective fisheries management and limit global temperature rise, the world's oceans still have the potential to be significantly more plentiful in the future than today, despite climate change. This finding is among several that appear in a first-of-its kind study, "Improved fisheries management could offset many negative effects of climate change," that appears in t ... more |
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NASA-funded Rocket to View Sun with X-Ray Vision Greenbelt MD (SPX) Sep 07, 2018
Without special instrumentation, the Sun looks calm and inert. But beneath that placid facade are countless miniature explosions called nanoflares.
These small but intense eruptions are born when magnetic field lines in the Sun's atmosphere tangle up and stretch until they break like a rubber band. The energy they release accelerates particles to near lightspeed and according to some scien ... more |
Head-turning violence helps tiny songbirds kill big prey: study Paris (AFP) Sept 4, 2018
They may be small and striking, but shrikes are songbirds known for viciously impaling their victims with a razor-sharp bill although experts have long wondered about their ability to subdue much larger prey.
Now researchers say these carnivorous killers use powerful beak-and-jaw motions to shake their victims vigorously, whirling them around at speeds which cause injuries akin to whiplash. ... more |
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