As if melting ice in Polar bears' Arctic habitat was not enough, Norwegian scientists have found that organic pollutants such as pesticide residues are disrupting their thyroid and endocrine systems, adding a further threat to the species' survival.
Polar bears at risk from pollution as well as warmth Tim Radford | 24th April 2015 News Toxics Pollution Ecology Oceans Waste Arctic Mammals polar-bears-cut.jpg As if melting ice in Polar bears' …
New analysis of the vast body of research shows 97% of climate scientists agree that human activities are fuelling climate change, writes Tim Radford. But thanks to aggressive attempts to convince us otherwise, only 12% of people in the US are aware of this high level of agreement.
Almost all climate scientists agree: climate change is real! Tim Radford | 19th April 2016 News Sciance Climate Change Media Politics US climate-scientist-cut.jpg New analysis of the vast body of …
Australia's prime minister thinks climate change is 'crap' and has just abolished his country's carbon-pricing system. But scientists say that it's rising levels of CO2 that are leaving the south of the country parched and sweltering - and it's only going to get worse.
Australia's drought - yes, it's climate change Tim Radford | 18th July 2014 News Climate Change Water Oceans Australia Antarctica water_depth_marker_in_the_dry_lake_bed_of_lake_albert-cut.jpg …
Scientists think the amount of methane emitted to the atmosphere from freshwater ecosystems will increase as the climate warms, reports Tim Radford. And that will trigger further warming.
Warmer freshwater ecosystems emit more methane Tim Radford | 22nd March 2014 News Climate Change Natural World swamp-forest.png Scientists think the amount of methane emitted to the atmosphere from …
Increasing use of air conditioners to stay cool is making entire cities warmers in a 'vicious circle' of increasing energy use and discomfort, writes Tim Radford.
Aircon: keeping cool raises the city heat Tim Radford | 16th June 2014 News Energy Cities Climate Change shibuya-tokyo-cut.jpg Increasing use of air conditioners to stay cool is making entire cities …
The fracking boom has caused massive vegetation loss over North America's rangelands, writes Tim Radford, as 3 million hectares have been occupied by oil and gas infrastructure and 34 billion cubic metres of water have been pumped from semi-arid ecosystems.
Future dustbowl? Fracking ravages Great Plains land and water Tim Radford | 4th May 2015 News Fossil Fuels Fracking Oil USA Water Ecology bakken-oil-cut.jpg The fracking boom has caused massive …
Scientific studies show that as carbon dioxide acidifies the oceans, sharks are less able to detect prey, and their chances of survival are reduced, writes Tim Radford - with serious consequences for ocean ecology.
Acidifying seas endanger sharks' survival Tim Radford | 12th October 2014 News Oceans Ecology Climate Change bamboo-shark-cut.jpg Scientific studies show that as carbon dioxide acidifies the oceans, …
Scientists in the US have established that chemicals used in fracking to extract gas and oil could represent health and environmental hazards, writes Tim Radford. Among the greatest hazards: biocides and corrosion inhibitors.
Health alert - fracking’s chemical cocktails Tim Radford | 21st August 2014 News Fracking Fossil Fuels Toxics USA fracking-well-cut.jpg Scientists in the US have established that chemicals used in …
Human exploitation of peatlands has led to some of the biggest fires on Earth, including one in Indonesia that released 2.5 Gt of carbon, writes Tim Radford. A new study calculates that the world's peatlands contain almost a trillion tonnes of carbon at growing risk of burning.
Burnable: peat bogs' 850bn tonnes of carbon Tim Radford | 12th January 2015 News Climate Change Natural World peat-fire-indonesia-cut.jpg Human exploitation of peatlands has led to some of the …
Scientists are calling for the urgent protection of ecologically valuable roadless areas, writes Tim Radford, as a new global map shows that roads lead to loss of biodiversity and damage to ecosystems by fragmenting habitat and providing access to exploiters.
New map shows way to reducing roads' destruction of nature Tim Radford | 18th January 2017 News Forests Roads Transport Conservation roadless_areas_map-cut.jpg Scientists are calling for the urgent …
Temperatures in the Middle East and North Africa could reach unbearably high levels by mid-century, writes Tim Radford - and then keep on rising. The intolerable heat would render large areas uninhabitable and give rise to a wave of 'climate refugees' seeking escape to more temperate regions.
Searing heat may spark Middle East, North Africa climate exodus Tim Radford | 17th May 2016 News Climate Change Middle East Africa Science desert-cut.jpg Temperatures in the Middle East and North …