Archive for February 2021
How Paving with Plastic Could Make a Dent in the Global Waste Problem
Roads in which waste plastic is melted down and mixed with paving materials are becoming more common around the world. Although for now they remain a niche technology, experts say the roads could become one of a diverse array of uses for discarded plastic.
Read MoreAs Plastic Pollution in Rivers Gets Worse, Species Are Increasingly Living on Litter
Scientists have long warned that the world’s major rivers and estuaries are hotspots for plastic waste, as trash and microparticles wash down tributaries and congregate before entering oceans. Now, new research has found that as this waste accumulates, aquatic river species like insects and snails are increasingly choosing to settle on plastic rather than natural features like rocks or fallen branches.
Read MoreAssisting Evolution: How Far Should We Go to Help Species Adapt?
An Australian project to help threatened marsupial species adapt to avoid predatory cats is among a host of ‘assisted evolution’ efforts based on the premise that it is no longer enough to protect species from change: Humans are going to have intervene to help them change.
Read MoreDenmark Is Building an Artificial Island as a Clean Energy Hub
Denmark has approved a plan to build an artificial island 50 miles offshore in the North Sea to act as a clean energy hub that produces and stores wind energy , several news outlets reported. The island, equal in size to 18 football fields, will be linked to Danish offshore wind turbines to supply power to 3 million households, as well as to generate green hydrogen for use in shipping, aviation, and industry.
Read MoreCalifornia’s Rainy Season Now Starts a Month Later Than It Used To
The start of California’s rainy season has been getting progressively later in recent decades, and now begins a month after it did just 60 years ago, shifting from November to December, according to a new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Scientists say the delay in the start of the rain has prolonged the state’s wildfire season and exacerbated water shortages.
Read MoreWater Warning: The Looming Threat of the World’s Aging Dams
Tens of thousands of large dams across the globe are reaching the end of their expected lifespans, leading to a dramatic rise in failures and collapses, a new UN study finds. These deteriorating structures pose a serious threat to hundreds of millions of people living downstream.
Read MoreToward best practices for climate-resilient fishery management
In response to growing alarm regarding the effects of climate change on fisheries, the government of Canada demonstrated valuable global leadership recently. In partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans hosted an international expert workshop to document practices that can be taken to help fisheries […]
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