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The battle for the Arctic commences…

The North Pole and the frozen seas within the Arctic Circle are melting. We have been living with this uncomfortable truth for decades now and, whichever side of the climate change debate you come down on, there is no denying that year after year, the ice is retreating and access to this far-lung reach of…

Hinkley gets the final go ahead

It has been a decision delayed since July but today the new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point has finally been given the go ahead and looks set to set the tone for future energy sources in the UK: Hinkley Point approved The graph of projected energy use, shared in this article by BBC News from…

Can carbon capture really be compared to renewable energy sources?

The appeal of gas-powered power plants has been waning justifiably under the growing global pressure to cut CO2 emissions and slow climate change. The UK in particular is under growing pressure to switch to renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar or nuclear energy but the change, as in many MEDCs, is slow to…

5.7 magnitude earthquake hits Tanzania as new tectonic plates are forming

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake on the Richter Scale has hit northern Tanzania this afternoon, 15:27 local time (12:27 GMT). Damage is extensive and the death toll is likely to rise as the impact of the earthquake is made more severe by its shallow focus (10km) and the fact that the epicentre is in a populated region…

That final frontier is fast fading

Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, Americans would speak of that elusive ‘final frontier’, the wilderness that they were claiming for the present-day USA. Across the globe as population has grown exponentially during the 20th century, wilderness regions, defined as largely untouched by humans, have become increasingly rare. What is much more alarming is the rate at…

Babies in demand!

The threat of depopulation in Europe is finally making the headlines as MEDCs begin to realise that the European population is ageing and needs replenishing: Need for more babies in Europe

G20 promises much, but will it deliver?

G20 summit promises hope for the future of emissions and climate change… or does it? Only time will tell but it is off to a promising start as the USA and China agree to honour the Paris Climate Change agreement: G20

6.2 earthquake in Italy

Italian earthquake measuring 6.2 on Richter Scale causes major disruption and loss of life in Umbria Italian earthquake 2016. Although nearly 1000 times weaker than the Japan 2011 earthquake, poorly structured buildings, lack of information and the timing of the earthquake (at 3.30am) are likely to be responsible for the high death toll.

Welcome to the “anthropocene”

The worrying impact of humans on the physical environment has reached the point where it has arguably generated a whole new geological era: welcome to the anthropocene:

How mapping revealed the inequality of dementia care

You may have heard of the postcode lottery when it comes to schooling and healthcare. Recent investigations into dementia care reveal a startling inequality in patient care within the UK: Dementia care in UK

Promise of UK off-shore wind farm: too good to be true?

Mammoth British wind farm gets the go ahead: Britain is getting greener after a project to build over 300 off-shore wind turbines which will generate enough electricity to power 1.8 million homes has been given the go ahead. Located in Hornsea, off the Yorkshire coast this will be the world’s biggest off-shore wind farm to date. Very exciting…

UK bees under threat from pesticides

Environmental impact of pesticides: Long-held suspicions about the negative impact of certain pesticides commonly used in commercial agriculture have been confirmed after the release of the findings a 2-decade study into the effect of neonicotinoids on bee populations. By mapping the correlation (link) between certain plant species, bee populations and the use of neonicotinoids pesticides, it is clear…