Crop pollination is a vital ecosystem service, yet the numbers of animal pollinator species, such as bees, are in decline. Now, a team of German and American researchers have demonstrated how crops that provide the highest levels of vitamins and minerals essential to our diet globally depend heavily on animals for pollination.

A new study exploring the sensitivity of grassland and forest plants to decreasing habitat size and isolation in north-central Europe concludes that an irreversible shift in the most dominant plant species may already be underway in forests and grassland, where forests are more vulnerable than grasslands.

Monitoring and assessment of habitats is essential to evaluate biodiversity policy and improve the condition of valuable ecosystems. A new study has reviewed the value of remote sensing — using information from satellite or airborne imagery — for this purpose, and the authors make a series of key recommendations, including the importance of tailoring remote sensing output for policymakers.

Experts and members of coastal communities possess both differences and similarities in how they perceive the risks associated with changes in sea level. A new study, based on interviews with both, has found that future communication about the risks should focus on specific adaptation and mitigation strategies.

The invasion of the American mink (Neovison vison) is linked to a shift in the adult sex ratio of the native European polecat (Mustela putorius) across its entire range, a new study has discovered. Through aggressive competition, the American mink has decreased the number of reproductive female European polecats. This is the first study to identify such an effect upon a native species across its entire range in Europe.

Wild plants closely related to crops, or ‘crop wild relatives’, contain genes that could be useful for developing resilient crop varieties and are, therefore, important for food security. This global study quantified their conservation status and availability for breeding. The researchers found major gaps in gene-bank stocks, with over 70% of crop wild relative species identified as ‘high priority’ for conservation action. The researchers say systematic efforts are needed to protect crop wild relatives for future plant breeding, including both protection in gene banks and local conservation.

The use of nanomaterials in consumer goods is growing, as is their presence in waste. A new study is the first to follow the fate of engineered nanoparticles through the entire waste incineration chain. The results indicate current filter technology is effective in removing nanoparticles from flue gas, but that nanoparticles also bind to residues, such as fly ash and slag, which eventually end up in landfill.

This study assessed the effects of herbicides on non-target plants in Denmark and Canada. The findings showed that some plants are more sensitive to herbicides in the reproductive stages of their life cycle and can experience delays in flowering and reduced seed production. The authors say future ecological assessments should consider reproductive outcomes.

The removal of arsenic from water using a brown seaweed (Sargassum muticum), coated with iron hydroxide, has been tested in a recent study. Under optimal pH conditions, the method removed 100% of the arsenic, indicating the viability of this method for treating contaminated water.

New research has shown that flooding of soils contaminated with arsenic, which may occur as sea levels rise due to climate change, could lead to the mobilisation of this toxic element in the environment. The study shows that arsenic is more stable in soil flooded with saltwater, compared to river water, as salt stabilises mineral oxides and could inhibit microbial activity. However, microbes that transform arsenic into water-soluble forms may adapt to saline conditions, and the risk of arsenic entering waters due to rising sea levels should receive further attention.

Soil biodiversity, soil quality, and soil health are integral to protecting the natural environment. Soils are crucial to food production and human well-being, as highlighted by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The abundance of soil biota is of great importance for the provision of associated ecosystem services (ES) and fundamental driver of self-regulation in soil. This study explores how the presence, or absence, of earthworms affects aspects of crop health and productivity, focusing on their shielding of winter wheat from the toxic plant fungi Fusarium.

Recent research has investigated the effectiveness of air quality management at the regional level in Italy and found that some of the most commonly adopted measures do not always produce the highest emissions reductions.

Global air quality will significantly deteriorate by 2050 unless further steps are taken to cut current emissions from human activities, according to recent research. Most people around the world will be affected by worsening air quality with hotspots of particularly poor air occurring in China, northern India and the Middle East.

Underground trains are among the most widely used public transport systems in cities worldwide. A study investigating the chemical composition and source of particles in Barcelona subway stations found that a new station design, with sliding doors that separate the platform from the tunnel and good ventilation, reduced the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by over 50% compared with older station designs.

Air quality standards worldwide are facing increasing scrutiny as countries struggle to meet World Health Organisation (WHO) air-quality guidelines (AQGs), particularly regarding ozone (O₃) and particulate matter (pollutant particles with diameters of less than 10 or 2.5 micrometres — PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 respectively). A new study aimed to evaluate whether WHO guidelines are being met in Europe; the researchers focused on Portugal, using recent data alongside climate change and background air pollution predictions. At present, Portugal frequently exceeds legislated values for ozone and PM₁₀.

SASOL has adopted telepresence for collaboration between far-flung executives in Europe, North America and Africa. Running over the BT IP Connect global network it also enables federation with customers and suppliers. The solution’s earned Alec’s team a special recognition award from the CEO for bringing the company’s One SASOL philosophy and vision vibrantly to life

Every year some of the world’s best young musicians would jet into London to audition for a bursary with the Southbank Sinfonia. Simon Over wanted to cut down on those thousands of air miles and hours in transit. He also didn’t want to miss out on youngsters who couldn’t afford the fare.

Zillow will also be partnering with RE/MAX Executive, Century 21 Vanguard, Stephen Cooley Real Estate Group - Keller Williams and IDEAL Realty when Zillow Offers launches in Charlotte this year

PEOPLE in Wales are being asked to act responsibly and to avoid unnecessary travel until coronavirus restrictions have been lifted by the Welsh Government.

Because yes, you should still get them a present.

Here in St Albans Thai Square can be found in the historical quarter of the city on the corner of George Street. The entrance of Thai Square is flanked by two stone elephants with their trunks fortuitously elevated. We open the door to a richly decorated lobby.

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Kings Langley’s unbeaten run in 2020 came to an end on Tuesday night as they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to St Albans City in the semi-finals of the Herts Senior Challenge Cup.

Shell's move to cut its dividend by 66 percent has been described by Wood Mackenzie's Tom Ellacott as a 'sensible and prudent action'.

The former governor's visit will indicate how popular she really is back home and it could have major implications for the future of America's energy policy.

The polls have flipped in Alaska. Murkowski is leading, but Scott McAdams may be in the best position of all.

Stay out of the doghouse and send a Valentine e-card to your honey. Here's our favorite free sites.

This new service brings back the art of letter writing by marrying it to the Internet.

Passengers acted swiftly to save a visually impaired man who had fallen off a platform near an Atlanta public transit rail line.

The holidays have plenty of hustle and bustle, and it can overwhelm children on the autism spectrum. Sensitive Santas can help bring seasonal joy.

New data shows that seniors are more sexually active than ever, leading to a sharp rise in rates of sexually transmitted diseases.

Officials will offer money to owners of environmentally sensitive farmland if they idle it in a conservation program instead of growing crops.

A new report ranks meat and poultry based on outbreaks of foodborne illness.

A petition to to the USDA to allow food stamps to be used online could make affordable, healthy foods easily available to people in food deserts.

A newly published study finds that there may be dangerous levels of arsenic in some baby formulas.

Actor teams with Google and the United Nations to collect real-time satellite imagery of war-torn Sudan region.

These tiny, lightweight gadgets could mean huge savings for farmers.

The herb known as the 'divine root' comes in several forms that can be used to speed recovery and improve concentration, among other things.

Although it takes some time to get the plants going, homegrown "wild" ginseng has more value and character than cultivated roots.

Why people are protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The winners of the Nature Conservancy's photo contest celebrate the natural world in all its splendor.

Senators tried (again) to sneak a last-minute approval for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline into a new transportation bill. But a record-setting 500,000 s

By good fortune, we happened to share our ferry to the windy, carbon-neutral island of Samso with the Danish prophet of renewable energy, Soren Hermansen, direc

'Batman v Superman' star says his Thanksgiving tradition is all about respect for animals.

Top polluters would pay $20 per ton of carbon emissions under the carbon tax plan, with 60 percent of the revenue returned to each U.S. resident.