Once considered a dystopian fantasy, space-based solar could soon transform the renewable energy sector. In 1941, two astronauts began the seemingly impossible feat of training a robot to operate a solar energy station in space, one capable of beaming power across the Solar System. Of course, this was purely fiction – the dystopian plot of […]
The risk of synchronous wildfires is rising – and help won’t be as likely to come from neighbouring countries busy with their own flames. The number of days when the weather gets hot, dry and windy – ideal to spark extreme wildfires – has nearly tripled in the past 45 years across the globe, with the trend increasing […]
Despite being far away from civilisation, a melting Antarctic’s “disastrous” consequences will ripple across the world, researchers warn. Scientists have highlighted just how high the stakes are as human-made climate change continues to rapidly warm Antarctica. A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science, models the best- and worst-case scenarios for global warming […]
Enhanced geothermal systems could wean the EU off fossil fuels, even in countries without volcanic activity. New technologies are unlocking geothermal electricity across much wider parts of Europe, and it could help to reduce the EU’s reliance on polluting fossil fuels. A new report by energy think tank Ember found that 43GW of enhanced geothermal capacity in […]
Scientists have expressed growing concern over a major Atlantic current that could collapse and send northern Europe into the next Ice Age. Like much of Europe, Iceland witnessed its hottest year in 2025 – as heat-trapping gases continue to warm the planet. According to the Icelandic Met Office, the national average temperature last year was 5.2°C. This […]
Chemicals introduced to shield the ozone layer are now tied to an unexpected environmental consequence. A new study shows that these substances have helped spread large amounts of a long-lasting and potentially harmful forever chemical across the planet. Researchers in atmospheric science, led by a team at Lancaster University, have calculated for the first time […]
Azerbaijan has highlighted rising environmental threats to the Caspian Sea as UN introduces cross-border environmental assessments. The Caspian Sea is suffering falling water levels and biodiversity loss. Azerbaijan recently highlighted these growing environmental risks at the United Nations in Geneva, as new international rules governing large infrastructure projects around the region come into force. During […]
In a bid to prevent human confrontations, which can turn deadly, Thailand is administering birth control vaccines to wild elephants. Thailand is using a birth control vaccine on elephants in the wild to try and curb a growing problem where human and animal populations encroach on each other. It’s an issue in areas where farms […]
Scientists have known for years that iron oxide minerals help store vast amounts of carbon by keeping it out of the atmosphere. A new study from Northwestern University now explains the chemistry behind that ability, revealing why these minerals are especially effective at locking carbon in place. By closely examining ferrihydrite, a common iron oxide […]
Trees are essential to life on Earth. They absorb and store CO2, support animals, fungi, and insects, hold soil in place, manage water cycles, and provide people with vital resources such as wood, food, and cooling shade during hot weather. Despite their importance, forests around the world are undergoing a major shift. New research shows […]
