Information about geodiversity — i.e. the variety of the material, non-biological parts of the natural world — could be better used and more integrated in environmental management in the UK, finds new research. The authors examined the inclusion of geodiversity information in UK assessments and identified a number of areas where geoscience knowledge is vital for informing ecosystem management.

A better understanding of existing nitrate monitoring systems in European waters could greatly improve efforts to reduce nitrate pollution, a major cause of poor water quality, according to new research from Portugal.

According to a recent study, flood risk management projects should be economically evaluated in terms of their efficiency, i.e. the sum of the costs and benefits of a project over its lifetime. This would capture more fully the value of non-structural measures, such as warning and evacuation systems, that are better in terms of effectiveness related to hydrological protection standards.

Improvements to EU water policy have been proposed in a recent study, to help ensure that temporary rivers and streams in the Mediterranean are adequately protected in line with the goals of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The researchers suggest new classifications for river types, and highlight the importance of distinguishing between natural and human-derived causes of intermittent water flow.

Scientists have published findings from the largest and broadest survey on sewage resource recovery conducted in Europe to date. Researchers surveyed more than 600 waste-water treatment plants (WWTPs) in Italy, which represent approximately 25% of the country’s total load of treated sewage. The findings provide a comprehensive picture of the current state of sewage resource recovery in WWTPs, revealing that just 40% of plants perform some form of material or energy recovery, and identifying several of the important driving forces behind implementation. This research provides valuable information and insights for policymakers and WWTP managers aiming to improve WWTP sustainability and close the sewage resource-recovery loop.

Sujit Bhattacherjee, Group CIO at Amri Hospitals provides insights into how he is leveraging AI and analytics for ensuring better healthcare outcomes.

National lists of threatened species contribute to the monitoring of biodiversity, but new research has discovered a lack of these lists in certain countries, such as Pacific Island states, and for certain groups of wildlife, such as invertebrates. Targeted financial support, better knowledge sharing and standard systems of data collection could help bridge these gaps.

A new study suggests that improving the quality of existing wildlife habitat is more important than creating new habitat, when attempting to counteract the negative effects of climate change on species survival. This suggests that resources would be better directed towards habitat rehabilitation and reforestation than building new habitat features.

Voluntary non-monetary conservation — where citizens implement actions without a financial incentive — is an emerging approach to biodiversity protection that could be applied in many countries and environments, a new study shows. This study makes recommendations for actions, such as being simple and affordable, and calls for conservation scientists to recognise their value as a complementary tool alongside traditional market-based and coercive approaches, such as payment for ecosystem services and national parks.

A new study has analysed marine litter on beaches across the UK, indicating that the fishing industry is responsible for large quantities of marine rubbish. The researchers recommend a combination of better enforcement of regulations covering waste disposal, and incentives for fishing vessels to reduce marine litter.

A recent study has found that bumblebees in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany are more successful at pollinating urban areas than agricultural land. Urban areas also had higher flower diversity and more potential nesting areas for bees compared to agricultural areas. However, the abundance of bee parasites was also higher in urban areas, although this was not found to negatively impact on pollination. This demonstrates the value of urban green spaces as habitat for pollinators.

The effects of climate change on the distribution of species can be predicted more accurately by considering the genetic differences between different groups of the same species, a new study suggests. The researchers found that a computer model which incorporated genetic information on different groups of a US tree species was up to 12 times more accurate in predicting tree locations than a non-genetically informed model.

Researchers have pinpointed hotspots for birds in an agricultural region of Italy. These show that hotspots for wintering birds are different to those for breeding birds — yet it is often only breeding birds’ locations that are considered in the design of protected areas. The researchers say their research highlights the importance of crop-dominated land for birds in the Mediterranean region.

Halving meat and dairy consumption in Europe could reduce agricultural greenhouse-gas emissions by up to 42% and nitrogen pollution by 40%, new research suggests. The amount of land needed to grow food for each EU citizen would fall from 0.23 to 0.17 hectares and the reduced intake of saturated fats and red meat could have substantial health benefits, the researchers conclude.

Growing sugar beet varieties which are resistant to their pest, the cyst nematode, is the best way to achieve high sugar yields in northern Germany, recent research has concluded. The researchers say this method is better than growing trap crops or using pesticides to control the pests.

Reductions in air pollution in European cities significantly reduce the number of premature deaths, according to researchers. However, these results need to be communicated effectively to policy makers in order to have an impact.

A recent study has compared the impact of future power generated from large, central stations with power generated from smaller distributed generators (DG) in California on air quality. It concluded that although DG produces more emissions, its impact on air quality is likely to be smaller than central power stations due to complex interactions between air chemistry and transport.

Flexible measures, such as pollen barriers, for regulating the cultivation of GM and non-GM crops in the same landscape are more likely to encourage the adoption of GM technology by farmers than rigid measures, such as isolation distances, according to a recent study.

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Care isn’t just part of the name at GSK Nutritional Healthcare. It’s at the heart of its customer help lines. But Ashley Thomas knew that the company’s legacy telephone technology was becoming a bit of a hindrance. Keen to boost customer service with new technology, a review of the market led Ashley to BT Cloud Contact

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Badly injured from a crow attack, little Wasabi-Chan was nursed back to health by a crafty rescuer in Japan.

Given all the stress, how many people actually like Valentine's Day?

Those struggling academically saw 14% increase in test scores.

Research contradicts age-old advice about rest and recovery after a concussion.

Study finds that only 17 percent of children create deep imaginary worlds but they also exhibit higher levels of creativity.

Some schools are trying meditation instead of detention for their students ... and it's working.

Though the study's assumption of what "better" sex means is pretty specific.

Picking a partner while on the Pill might have lasting ramifications on marital satisfaction, new research finds.

Many common sleep problems can be remedied by small, but specific, changes to nutrition.

Researchers add color-coded traffic symbols along with calorie counts to a menu to see how they influence people's choices.

Southern Oregon voted to ban genetically modified crops completely, but the rest of the state may end up mapping GMO crops for better regulation.

Food Tank and The James Beard Foundation have released the first annual guide that celebrates more than 400 U.S.-based groups.

Scientists have improved on a method that uses an acidic solution to remove radioactive material from soil.

Some studies show that marriage actually has a negative health effect.

Researchers reviewed more than 20 studies that investigated the effect that several types of meditation had on positive feelings.

Wind farm power is significantly limited by how close one turbine can be to another. But a fish-like configuration could change all of that.

Prepare to be blown away by these pint-sized pop stars singing hit tunes by Adele and Beyonce. Their voices are bigger than they are!

The way snow dances around wind turbines is shedding light on the mysteries of how air turbulence behaves.

Running and walking may have similar benefits, but are there times when is walking better than running?

Study finds bananas do more than help you recover after exercise. They also help reduce pain and swelling.

A trip to Costa Rica reminds the author of the chemicals you avoid when buying organically grown products.

With the right rebates, solar panels can offer a return on investment far higher than you'll find in the S&P 500.

Being outdoors may create a better sense of connection between parents and young children, a new study finds.

A new study finds that the presence of grandmother helps younger whales thrive, just as with humans.

New study takes a closer look at the link between music and sports performance.

The Pollination Project offers small grants to social-change startups — with big results.

New research shows that just clicking the 'like' button reveals more about us than we realize.

The secret to chicken soup's medicinal properties have been revealed by dietician Sandy Allonen.

Two recent studies show that visiting an urban park for as little as 20 minutes will reduce stress and boost emotional well-being.