A new system for cleaning soils contaminated with industrial toxins harnesses the power of White rot - a common fungus that decays fallen wood in forests. Research in Finland shows it can also destroy dioxins and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons.
… Finland white-rot-3.jpg A new system for cleaning soils contaminated with industrial …
The Chilcot report reveals that the UK has disclaimed any duty to decontaminate the toxic, radioactive ash left behind by its DU munitions, or even monitor the impacts on human health, writes Doug Weir. But Iraq and other countries are working towards a UN Resolution this October that would hold contaminating governments like the UK and the US legally accountable for DU pollution.
… DU shells, has no formal responsibility of cleaning up the mess. The question is examined …
Findings have important implications for management of urban rivers - including how river clean-ups are conducted.
Invertebrates living on plastic bags Brendan Montague | 25th January 2021 | News Biodiversity University Of Nottingham Rivers river_otter_devon.jpg Findings have important implications for management …
The first ever global life-cycle assessment of clean energy sources shows that a renewable system could supply the world's entire electricity needs by mid-century, writes Tim Radford.
Renewables can supply 100% of world's power by 2050 Tim Radford | 15th October 2014 News Energy Renewables Science Mining hydropower_site_at_holbuvatnet_sunndal_2013-cut.jpg The first ever global …
This year’s United Nations Biodiversity Summit is a vital opportunity to protect threatened forests and wildlife from destructive industries.
UN Biodiversity Summit and forest protection Sally Clark | 30th September 2020 | News Editor’s Picks Biodiversity Un Black bear This year’s United Nations Biodiversity Summit is a vital opportunity …
Humanity closer than ever to catastrophic biodiversity loss, expert warns.
Sleepwalking into a silent Spring Tess de la Mare | 12th July 2022 | News Silent Spring Green Alliance Environment Agency Biodiversity 7803227436_522feeed93_k.jpeg Humanity closer than ever to …
A six-month investigation finds that the revolving door between government and the chemical industry has led the EPA to rely on easily manipulated toxicology research carried out entirely on computers - and this 'in silico' science often trumps both biology and epidemiology when it comes to regulatory action, or lack of it. The result? Toxic substances remain in everyday products.
Triumph of digital toxicology: why the US won't regulate deadly chemicals Valerie Brown Elizabeth Grossman | 27th November 2015 News Science Toxics Regulation USA Health computer-cut.jpg A six-month …
Biofouling leads the turtles into an 'olfactory trap' - causing them to ingest deadly marine plastic pieces.
Sea turtles mistake plastic waste for food Nilima Marshall | 10th March 2020 News Science & Systems Biodiversity Plastic Pollution Sea Turtles 23232278-1-2.jpg Biofouling leads the turtles into an …
Below-par farm biosecurity should block farmers from participating in England's badger culls, writes Anna Dale. But a large body of evidence of poor and negligent biosecurity by farmers suggests that Natural England, the government's official regulator, is turning a blind eye to this strict requirement - and undermining the purpose of the cull.
… herds by the use of double-fencing, cleaning and disinfecting shared equipment or … for cattle, and raising troughs and regularly cleaning and disinfecting them. Risk … cattle feed stores and buildings, cleaning out water troughs regularly and …
Therese Coffey confirms UK Government to miss crucial deadline to publish targets under its post-Brexit Environment Act obligations.
'You lying turds' Sam Blewett | 28th October 2022 | News Environment Act RSPB UK Government Biodiversity Editor’s Picks 52338867719_fb4a12c1e2_b.jpg Therese Coffey confirms UK Government to miss …
Sooner than it takes to build a nuclear power station, lithium-air batteries could be helping wind and solar to make coal, oil and nuclear obsolete, say Cambridge scientists. Five times lighter and five times cheaper than current lithium batteries, Li-air would open the way to our 100% renewable future.
Li-air battery could make oil obsolete in ten years The Ecologist | 23rd November 2015 News Renewables Technology Energy Science Nuclear tesla-cut.jpg Sooner than it takes to build a nuclear power …
The UK government is all for fracking, writes Dr Robin Russell-Jones, but on climate grounds alone it should be banned. Evidence from the US shows that shale gas is twice as dirty as coal from a climate viewpoint due to 'fugitive emissions' of methane. That makes fracking incompatible with the UK's climate change commitments and the Paris Agreement - as the CCC may soon rule.
Fracking is twice as bad for climate as coal - will the Climate Change Committee ban it? Dr Robin Russell-Jones | 9th June 2016 News Climate Change Emissions Methane Fracking Fossil Fuels COP21 …
The BBC has been excelling itself in its deliberate understatement of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe, writes Chris Busby. While calling in pseudo experts to say radiation is all but harmless, it's ignoring the science that shows that the real health impacts of nuclear fallout are around 1,000 times worse than claimed.
No matter what BBC says: Fukushima disaster is killing people Chris Busby | 14th March 2016 Comment Japan Nuclear Radiation Health Science fuku-water-sampling-cut.jpg The BBC has been excelling …
A new report from leading physicians published today reveals the excess mortality caused by UK air pollution, writes Vanessa Amaral-Rogers. The Government has already been found in breach of the EU's Air Quality Directive, but its policies remain weak. Will it finally step up to prevent early deaths from this silent killer?
… the capital in the next 4 years, starting by cleaning up London's iconic red buses. "Smog …
One of the biggest threats facing marine life is the 'microplastic' particles found in ocean ecosystems from bottom to top of food chains. Just back from a voyage of environmental exploration in the tropical Atlantic sampling the waters to build up a global picture of this ubiquitous pollutant, Ana Stanič writes of the joys and trials of life on the waves, and the need to keep our oceans clean.
In search of the unseen: an investigation into plastics in our oceans Ana Stanič | 21st February 2016 Ethical Living Oceans Pollution Waste Science 360-kmq.jpg One of the biggest threats facing …
Nanotechnology has the power to affect every aspect of life on the planet. Here, the Ecologist presents the many claims of its promoters and outlines some of the major developments taking place now or in the near future. In response, some of it’s leading critics analyse the risks that nanotechnology poses in their various fields of expertise.
Promising the World, or Costing the Earth? The Ecologist | 1st May 2003 News Nanotechnology Science Technology Military Nanotechnology Science And Technology investigates.jpg Nanotechnology has the …
Plastic pollution in the oceans is impacting every level of marine life, writes Kate Rawles, from micro-plankton to whales. And here is your chance to do something about it - join a research expedition to the Azores next month to study the problem and develop solutions!
Microplastic ocean pollution - will you join our research voyage? Kate Rawles | 5th August 2014 Comment Oceans Pollution Consumerism Toxics Oil Science rozalia-fishing-plastic-ceri-lewis-cut.jpg …
A new study explains for the first time how nanoparticles like those in diesel exhaust fumes cause heart disease by lodging in inflamed blood vessels, writes Oliver Tickell. The study, published as the UK government is ordered before the High Court to justify its refusal to publish plans to tackle illegal air pollution which afflicts 38 million people, also raises wider fears about 'engineered nanoparticles' in the environment.
As government delays pollution plan, study shows how killer nanoparticles cause heart disease Oliver Tickell | 26th April 2017 News Science Pollution Health UK Law Technology …
Bangladesh's Sundarbans forest, home of incredibly rich biodiversity, is under unprecedented threat, writes ASMG Kibria. The recent oil tanker capsize on the Shela river puts the forest at risk of widespread biodiversity loss, but just this week, the authorities re-opened the Shela river to shipping with no restrictions on hazardous cargoes.
… Ltd, owner of the spilled oil, started a cleaning up mission by employing local people. …
The steady loss of forests, soils, wetlands, fisheries, species and coral reefs around the world is closely tied to the lack of value we put on nature, says three-year study
Biodiversity 'invisible' in current economic model The Ecologist | 13th November 2009 News Biodiversity Forests Copenhagen Wildlife Natural World rainforests.jpg The long-term benefits of protecting …
They used to sleep beneath London's Queen Elizabeth Hall. Now a pioneering collaboration between the Southbank Centre and a housing association is giving a group of ex-homeless a chance to create a rooftop garden
Homeless gardeners provide makeover for iconic Southbank building Helena Drakakis | 14th June 2011 Activism Food & Gardening Biodiversity Community Gardening Ecotherapy Homeless Wild Flowers …
This World Biodiversity Day we must recognise the globally important role mangrove forest ecosystems play.
Mangroves matter for people and planet Steve Trent | 20th May 2022 | News World Biodiversity Day Mangroves Biodiversity Editor’s Picks mangrove_banglasdesh.jpg This World Biodiversity Day we must …
The UK government claim that fracking is a 'clean' energy source rests on the conclusions of a single scientific paper, writes Paul Mobbs. And now that paper has been conclusively invalidated: it uses misleading figures that understate the methane emissions from fracking, and subsequent findings have left it totally discredited. Yet the paper is still being quoted to justify fracking, and the fool the public on its climate change impacts.
Whitehall's fracking science failure: shale gas really is worse for climate than coal Paul Mobbs | 24th May 2017 News Fracking Climate Change Science Fossil Fuels USA UK ch4-cut.jpg The UK government …