Development and urbanisation often destroys wildlife habitats but researchers have found that, for the UAE’s amphibians at least, it may have an upside. Researchers say urban lakes and ponds have become habitats for Dhofar toads, one of only two amphibious species native to the country, demonstrating how certain species can thrive in areas transformed by people. […]
Two Emirati researchers who have returned from Antarctica after participating in the National Centre of Meteorology’s (NCM) first scientific expedition to the South Pole hope their work could improve weather forecasting models in the UAE and around the world, The National can reveal. Teaming up with the Bulgarian Institute of Polar Research, Ahmed Al Kaabi and Badr Al Ameri underwent rigorous training to withstand the […]
Cloud-seeding is a crucial tool in securing new supplies of freshwater, the process “100 per cent works” and it can help bolster water security, a leading US expert has told The National. Kala Golden, cloud-seeding programme manager for the state of Idaho, was speaking on the sidelines of the International Rain Enhancement Forum in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, and highlighted studies which found how […]
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Mariam Almheiri, head of International Affairs at the UAE Presidential Court, explored the future of agricultural technology at an event showcasing artificial intelligence-powered solutions for the industry. The event, held on Wednesday at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, aimed to build on […]
A Dubai start-up is aiming to help address plastic use affecting the UAE’s water, wildlife and carbon footprint by making a greener version from plants. The newly founded Emirates Biotech hopes to make bioplastics in the UAE and eventually export them to India, Turkey and Europe. It is pinning its hopes on the growth of an alternative plastic typically made from corn and […]
A crucial gathering in Abu Dhabi ahead of Cop29 in Azerbaijan will seek to focus minds on how artificial intelligence can help in the fight against climate change. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President, said November’s event in the UAE capital will tackle the contradiction between AI’s “thirst for electricity” and its “potential to reduce emissions”. Writing on global […]
For titans of the luxury business with coveted products but a troubled clientele, it may be time to call on Dr Che Connon, a London-based scientist who has pioneered a fabric that guarantees no harm to animals. Dr Connon is out to convince the industry that products made from lab-grown leather will appeal to affluent younger […]
Electricity generation from fossil fuel dropped to its lowest share last year as sources of renewable power delivered the highest amount of energy recorded in the UK. The Energy Department said renewable generation hit 135 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2023, although this was broadly in line with 2022 levels as new capacity was offset by difficult weather conditions. The […]
France’s Engie is keen to start new hydrogen projects in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman as it aims for 4 gigawatts of green hydrogen capacity globally by 2030 amid energy transition strategies to cut emissions, a senior executive has said. The Paris and Brussels-listed company has new projects planned in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, Stephan […]
It is a measure of how technology has advanced that a modern smartphone is now more powerful than the vast computer Nasa used to manage the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, which culminated in Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the Moon. This extraordinary progress in computing power is set to continue and even accelerate, because the […]
