Land use changes over the last century in the Mediterranean area may be sparking shifts in weather patterns locally, across Europe, and around the globe, suggests a new study. The findings bring to light new complexities that can be integrated into climate models and predictions.

Some MNC banks may seek clarity from RBI; companies in a fix over Chinese inflow in the rights issue.

Organic growth will be difficult and consumers will only buy a phone out of necessity or maybe settle for a refurbished one depending on their spending ability

Sparrowhawks and their eggs are used to assess environmental concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), chemicals that were used until relatively recently as flame retardants. Recent research may help explain why different studies report different PBDE levels in sparrowhawks for the same countries and time periods. It appears nutrition may play an important role in determining PBDE concentrations in birds.

Natura 2000 sites may not be adequately protected in Eastern Europe, according to a recent publication. Researchers in the Czech Republic found that, despite being designated as a Natura 2000 site, environmentally damaging activities continued in the Šumava National Park. They recommend that good environmental education is needed to help post-communist countries implement Natura 2000 and better recognise its value and importance.

Oil spills at sea can be catastrophic events, with oil and discharged toxins, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, threatening marine wildlife and coastlines, damaging healthy ecosystems and harming livelihoods. A recent study found that using dispersants moderately decreased the number of cod eggs and larvae affected by spills off the Norwegian coast.

The framework for a Europe-wide biomonitoring programme has been established by a new study. The preliminary investigation of 17 European countries showed that monitored levels of toxic chemicals varied significantly between countries. Although the levels were mostly within recognised health-based guidance values, in a few cases these values were exceeded. The researchers suggest that a fully-fledged European biomonitoring programme would help to develop policies to avert public health risks presented by environmental chemicals.

Chickens foraging on soils containing environmental pollutants can accumulate these chemicals in their tissues and eggs. This study assessed levels of dioxins in eggs produced in Poland, in some cases finding concentrations several times above the safe EU limit. The researchers identified the source as preservative-treated wood in the chicken coop, which they say is a public health risk.

A study of the pollution caused by ship scrapping in Alang, India, shows significantly higher levels of heavy metal and petroleum hydrocarbons in sediment and seawater, compared to a control site. The researchers also found reduced populations of zooplankton — a critical food source for marine biota — and increased numbers of pathogenic bacteria.

European policy permits the application of nutrient-rich sewage sludge on agricultural land as a means of recycling1. However, contamination of sludge with microplastics may pose a risk to ecosystems. This study looked at the characteristics of microplastics in sewage sludge after three types of waste-water treatment, finding that anaerobic digestion should be explored as a method of microplastic reduction.

Personal Care Products (PCPs) are of increasing global concern, as thousands of tonnes enter the environment every year. Similar to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), some substances used in PCPs are toxic, persist in the environment and accumulate in the bodies of organisms that take them in. This study focused on the presence of ultraviolet filters (UV-Fs) (used in PCPs such as sunscreens and cosmetics) in the unhatched eggs of wild birds.

PFASs — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a family of chemicals used in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications. Due to concerns about their persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity, long-chain PFASs are increasingly being phased out, creating a growing market for alternatives. Researchers have developed a novel method, based on molecular simulation techniques, to estimate the rate at which novel PFASs interact and bind with particular proteins (‘binding affinity’) — an important factor in determining a substance’s bioaccumulation potential in organisms. The method indicates that replacement PFASs may be just as bioaccumulative as original (legacy) PFASs and are, therefore, not necessarily safer. If correct, this finding has significant policy implications.

Innovatively designed batteries offer a way for vehicles to move away from their dependence on fossil fuels. There has been little mass-market uptake of new battery design, however. In the last century, only four types of battery have been used: manganese oxide; lead acid; nickel; and lithium ion, which is a relative newcomer, introduced in 1991. To understand how innovation moves from research and development (R&D) to application and the mass market, scientists perform technology lifecycle (TLC) analyses, often focusing on R&D and basic research. This study adds an additional indicator — start-up companies — to explore the early phases of how batteries transition from science into industry.

Greater amounts of air pollutants emitted in East Asia will move around the globe under climate change, a recent study predicts. Changes to wind speeds and air pressure will mean that movement of pollution from this region is enhanced under a changing climate. These results highlight the need for globally coordinated efforts to tackle air pollution and climate change.

Although nanomaterials are already in widespread use, their risk to the environment is not completely understood. Researchers in the US have developed a next-generation risk-assessment model to better understand nanomaterials’ environmental impact. Applied to the San Francisco Bay area, the model predicted that even soluble nanomaterials could accumulate at toxic levels.

Myke has read _Triggers_, Grey tries to deal with a backlog, and they have amazing new merch available.

Myke wants to make some changes, Grey is taking a break, and they are both excited about some big announcements.

You’re never too old to fall in love is the heartwarming message of the Company of Ten’s next production, Ladies in Lavender.

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A study of families in Singapore with terminally ill children found that parents tend to defer discussing their psychological pain with their spouses to protect them from emotional distress. The study, conducted by psychologists at NTU through interviews, revealed the parents’ preference to support each other in pragmatic and solution-oriented ways such as discussing treatment options, arranging care plans and sharing caregiving responsibilities....

The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with low oil prices, is likely to cause the largest monthly drop in fracking activity ever recorded in the United States, according to Rystad Energy.

These adorable pictures are sure to warm even the coldest heart.

Defecating sea lions and marine birds wreak economic havoc on the affluent oceanside San Diego community of La Jolla.

New research concludes that hypersexuality is not a neurological or physiological disorder, but just heightened libido.

Male chimpanzees that wage a campaign of sustained aggression against females sire more offspring than their less violent counterparts.

A brightly-colored fungus found only on Hawaiian lava flows might be the most powerful aphrodisiac ever discovered.

Why are government officials still blocking journalists from documenting the Gulf oil spill? What are they hiding, and why is Obama letting it happen?

A federal official and a police officer told a local Florida news reporter that digging in the sand wasn't allowed without a permit.

By 2030, America could surpass Saudi Arabia in terms of crude output. That's great for energy independence, but it's not all good news.

Don’t know the difference between cage-free and free-range, natural and organic? This will help.

Researchers name the protein receptor 'Juno' after the Roman goddess of fertility.

Once feared because of cholesterol, eggs are now prized for their nutritional value. And there's more to eggs than protein. Here's why eggs are so nutritious.

How healthy is that egg? Lots of factors are involved, but the color of the egg shell isn't one of them.

Sue Flood's new book on emperor penguins, 'Emperor: The Perfect Penguin,' is the culmination of 9 years of work.

Step right up and watch how the government is misspending your tax dollars on the environment.

With the all-electric Nissan Leaf, your home acts as the car's primary 'filling station.' How will this impact potential buyers who live in apartments or don'

The mini-farm isn't just for tasty food — the Veg-01 experiment will test how well lettuce and other large plants grow in orbit.

Even a relatively small regional nuclear war could trigger global cooling, damage the ozone layer and cause droughts for more than a decade.

With groundwater pumping and the evaporation of heavy weights of water, Earth's crust rebounds. This movement affects the fault, causing earthquakes.

The venom of some cone snails contains insulin, a new study finds, helping the sluggish mollusks snag speedier prey.