Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionGreenland melting ‘faster than expected’ Greenland is losing ice seven times faster than it was in the 1990s. The assessment comes from an international team of polar scientists who’ve reviewed all the satellite observations over a 26-year period. They say Greenland’s contribution to sea-level rise is currently […]
Science
Refugees at ‘increased risk’ from extreme weather
Image copyright IDMC Image caption Temporary camps have been hit by extreme weather in recent years Refugees and people displaced within countries because of conflict are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather, experts say. Humanitarian agencies told the BBC this posed significant challenges for their operations in different parts of the world. Temporary […]
Climate change: 1.9 billion people rely on natural ‘water towers’
Image copyright Matthew Paley/National Geographic Image caption Two women tend their potato field in the Chipursan valley, Pakistan. This region is part of the Indus water tower In a unique study, scientists have assessed and ranked the importance of Earth’s great “water towers”. These are the 78 mountainous regions that are able to generate and […]
Brian Cox: Why I’ve been exploring our scientific past
Image caption In the People of Science series, Prof Brian Cox discusses some of the greatest researchers and their achievements The UK’s Royal Society has launched a project called People of Science to tell the stories of extraordinary scientists through interviews and access to the society’s rich archive. Here, Professor Brian Cox explains some of […]
General election 2019: Your questions on climate change and the environment
Image copyright Getty Images With concerns about the environment a major theme in the election, what are the parties’ plans on green issues? Here, we answer a selection of readers’ questions. What is being done to stop the decline in UK wildlife? – Jet Janman, Seaford More than a quarter of UK mammals – including […]
Biodiversity: The best plants for attracting insects to gardens
Image copyright RHS/Paul Debois Image caption A harvestman scurries across seedheads in research beds at Wisley Garden You can do your bit for insects by growing lots of foliage in your garden, a study has found. Ground-dwelling insects, such as beetles, generally benefit from dense vegetation, including evergreens. Spiders, however, prefer a bit of bare […]
How to have a more sustainable Christmas
Image caption Alastair and Diane Lucking: Some people rent the same tree each year, says Alastair There’s nothing like 15,000 Christmas trees to get you into the holiday mood, as for many of us, picking out a festive fir signals the start of the holiday season. Unsurprisingly it’s the busiest time of the year for […]
Bloodhound diary: Getting the job done at over 600mph
Image copyright BLOODHOUND LSR/Charlie Sperring A British team is developing a car that will be capable of reaching 1,000mph (1,610km/h). Powered by a rocket bolted to a Eurofighter-Typhoon jet engine, the vehicle aims to show its potential by going progressively faster, year after year. Recent high-speed trials saw Bloodhound hit 628mph (1,010km/h). The next step […]
Hungry North Pole explorers Horn and Ousland near end of epic trek
Image copyright Mike Horn website Image caption Boerge Ousland eating breakfast near the North Pole last month Two explorers are short of food and battling strong winds after trekking hundreds of miles at the North Pole, but they hope to reach safety soon. South African Mike Horn and Norwegian Boerge Ousland have covered about 1,800km […]
Genetics can play key role in saving trees
Image copyright V. Sork Image caption The study found that many trees were already struggling to cope with today’s temperatures Tree conservation strategies based on genetic data are best suited for landscapes affected by a rapidly changing climate, a study suggests. Researchers found using genetic markers of climate resilient traits are more effective than traditional […]