Water wars: how access to fresh water is fueling tensions
Two recent articles serve to highlight how securing access to fresh water is causing tensions, both within countries between various communities, and across borders with neighbouring countries. If...
China and its population policy: now it's going pro-natalist
China, for over four decades, renowned for its aggressive one-child policy to prevent over-rapid population growth, eased up on its anti-natalist programme in 2016 by allowing two children per...
Heathrow expansion plan causes conflict
The third runway at Heathrow has plans for the flight paths to be directly over Richmond Park.
UN report suggests a reduction in biodiversity will impact on food supplies
Pollinators such as bees and many micro-organisms which are responsible for decomposition and fertilising soils are declining in number.
BPs Energy Outlook report suggests that banning plastics could have a negative environmental impact
Many people think that these suggestions are due to BP needing to ensure there will still be a demand for oil based products in the future.
Strategies to reduce the risk of landslides
I spotted this tweet from Erick Solheim pointing to the example of farmers in who Kenya have found innovative solution to stop frequent landslides.
Ice chunks break off the Tasman Glacier
As a result of glacial calving on the glacier, a 2 metre tidal surge occurred on the glacial meltwater lake below.
Lakes in the northern hemisphere are set to lose their winter ice cover
Over 35,000 lakes are expected to be ice free within a generation, if the earth warms as much as scientists predict.
The Next 15 Mega Cities - How Nanjing lures new talent
Exhibit A: China's megacities. This Guardian article highlights the rise of Nanjing. Part of a hugely relevant Guardian series focusing on the next fifteen mega cities.
China's solar energy boom
Datong County in northern China is the proud location of two giant pandas, made from thousands of solar panels! This mega-solar farm covers 248acres and generates 100megawatts (MW) combined
Antarctica expedition to research impacts of climate change
The Thwaites glacier is currently experiencing melting and the US ship Palmer aims to collect important evidence during its 52 day study.
Can Etna's ash, or Iceland's basalt, be the solution to carbon storage?
Scientists from Trinity College Dublin and artist Siobhán McDonald have been investigating the possibility that Etna's ash can be used to reduce atmospheric carbon and reduce the impact of this...
Oceans evidencing climate change
Whilst Scientists usually measure changing air temperature to evidence climate change, the oceans provide more accurate data and the last five years have provided data that shows that they are the...
Building a Subway in One of the World's Most Crowded Cities
The Wall Street Journal visits Mumbai a city that has to cope with more than seven million commuters every working day. Can a huge new infrastructure project deliver a modern underground system...
Anak Krakatau (Anak Krakatoa), meaning the ‘child of Krakatau’, is a cinder cone volcano formed inside the original Krakatau caldera. It is the fourth island to have formed following the historic...
New GM crops up to 40% bigger than normal
Scientists in the USA have managed to cultivate a tobacco crop which could pave the way for improving yield of food crops. In a world with an ever increasing population and the threat of climate...
Dealing with UK plastic
Up until 12 months ago, China used to import most of our excess plastic waste. Then came the decision to stop this and now the UK has found other countries to take the waste. This however is...
Singapore plans an underground future
Subterranean urbanisation in action here as we read about Singapore's plans for extensive investment in their underground economy. Using advanced engineering capabilities, Singapore is currently...
Volcano tsunami hits Indonesia
Suspected underwater landslides from the Anak Krakatoa eruption are linked to the tsunami which has already killed 168 and left 745 injured.
Who is building the most skyscrapers?
Here is an infographic from Statista showing the cities in the world where the most skyscrapers are being built each year, 143 buildings of 200 meters and higher were completed worldwide according...