Contents contributed and discussions participated by Kevin Makice - Taming the Butterfly

New report on climate change and cities a 'wake-up call' for global policymakers - 0 views

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cities urban climate change first responders research environment resources temperature

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More than half the world's population live in cities, many of which are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. But cities are also emerging as the innovative "first responders" in dealing with climate change, says a major new report led by researchers at Columbia University and the City University of New York (CUNY) and published by Cambridge University Press.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">More than half the world's population live in cities, many of which are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. But cities are also emerging as the innovative "first responders" in dealing with climate change, says a major new report led by researchers at Columbia University and the City University of New York (CUNY) and published by Cambridge University Press.</div>

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Nesting turtles give clues on oil spill's impact - 0 views

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BP oil spill Gulf of Mexico sea turtles population extinction pollution environment nesting endangered

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A year after an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, scientists and biologists are getting their first real idea of how much damage was done to the regionís population of sea turtles as the females begin heading to coastal shores to nest. The greatest concern has been for the Kemps ridley, the smallest sea turtle and the most endangered.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">A year after an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, scientists and biologists are getting their first real idea of how much damage was done to the regionís population of sea turtles as the females begin heading to coastal shores to nest. The greatest concern has been for the Kemps ridley, the smallest sea turtle and the most endangered.</div>

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Changes in weather patterns creating more severe storms - 0 views

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John Harrington Kansas State University weather climate jet stream tornadoes storms 2011

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John Harrington Jr., professor of geography, is a synoptic climatologist who examines the factors behind distinctive weather events. He credits the increased tornado production this year to jet stream patterns in the upper atmosphere. The patterns have created synoptic events such as the April tornado outbreak in Alabama and recent tornado in Joplin, Mo. While these events are not unprecedented, they are significant, he said.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">John Harrington Jr., professor of geography, is a synoptic climatologist who examines the factors behind distinctive weather events. He credits the increased tornado production this year to jet stream patterns in the upper atmosphere. The patterns have created synoptic events such as the April tornado outbreak in Alabama and recent tornado in Joplin, Mo. While these events are not unprecedented, they are significant, he said.</div>

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Cool temperatures, wet weather affecting blueberry crop - 0 views

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cool temperatures wet Maine blueberry climate change crop resources food

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The recent cool, wet conditions in Maine may delay the state's blueberry crop for about a week, according to David Yarborough, University of Maine Cooperative Extension's blueberry specialist and UMaine professor of horticulture.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">The recent cool, wet conditions in Maine may delay the state's blueberry crop for about a week, according to David Yarborough, University of Maine Cooperative Extension's blueberry specialist and UMaine professor of horticulture.</div>

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Noise research to combat 'wind turbine syndrome' - 0 views

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noise wind turbines quiet wind turbine syndrome acoustics research modeling

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University of Adelaide acoustics researchers are investigating the causes of wind turbine noise with the aim of making them quieter and solving 'wind turbine syndrome'.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">University of Adelaide acoustics researchers are investigating the causes of wind turbine noise with the aim of making them quieter and solving 'wind turbine syndrome'.</div>

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UF develops method to make plastic from discarded plant material - 0 views

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science technology plastic bacteria resources environment

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Plastic may compete with paper in the grocery line, but it doesn't have to compete with the world's food supply, according to University of Florida researchers. They've developed a way to produce plastic that doesn't use valuable natural resources, such as food or fuel, for raw materials. The new method uses a strain of bacteria to create bioplastic from discarded plant material, such as yard waste.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Plastic may compete with paper in the grocery line, but it doesn't have to compete with the world's food supply, according to University of Florida researchers. They've developed a way to produce plastic that doesn't use valuable natural resources, such as food or fuel, for raw materials. The new method uses a strain of bacteria to create bioplastic from discarded plant material, such as yard waste.</div>

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From seawater to freshwater with a nanotechnology filter - 0 views

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water nanotubes CNT desalination seawater resources fluid mechanics science population fresh water drinking

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In this month's Physics World, Jason Reese, Weir Professor of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics at the University of Strathclyde, describes the role that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could play in the desalination of water, providing a possible solution to the problem of the world's ever-growing population demanding more and more fresh drinking water.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">In this month's Physics World, Jason Reese, Weir Professor of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics at the University of Strathclyde, describes the role that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could play in the desalination of water, providing a possible solution to the problem of the world's ever-growing population demanding more and more fresh drinking water.</div>

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Fungus destroying amphibian populations at higher rate than habitat destruction - 0 views

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fungus amphibian population habitat environment ecosystem extinction humans

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According to a new report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, human development and habitat loss are not the main contributor to the population decline of many amphibian species. In actuality, that human encroachment on natural habitat many actually be saving some of them.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">According to a new report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, human development and habitat loss are not the main contributor to the population decline of many amphibian species. In actuality, that human encroachment on natural habitat many actually be saving some of them.</div>

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20 former world leaders discuss looming water crisis - 0 views

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former leaders global water crisis resources panel leadership InterAction Council

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Twenty former heads of state, including former US president Bill Clinton, warned Tuesday of an impending "water crisis" and agreed to establish a panel that will tackle a worldwide leadership gap on the issue.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Twenty former heads of state, including former US president Bill Clinton, warned Tuesday of an impending "water crisis" and agreed to establish a panel that will tackle a worldwide leadership gap on the issue.</div>

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Forest fragmentation threatens Europe, species: UN - 0 views

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fires agriculture Europe forests wildlife extinction fragmentation species resources environment

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Fires, felling and agriculture are whittling Europe's forests down into isolated patches, threatening to speed up desertification and deplete wildlife, a UN report warned Tuesday.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Fires, felling and agriculture are whittling Europe's forests down into isolated patches, threatening to speed up desertification and deplete wildlife, a UN report warned Tuesday.</div>

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Climate change allows invasive weed to outcompete local species - 0 views

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climate change plants agriculture weeds invasive outcompete Yellow starthistle escalation resources

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Yellow starthistle already causes millions of dollars in damage to pastures in western states each year, and as climate changes, land managers can expect the problem with that weed and others to escalate.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Yellow starthistle already causes millions of dollars in damage to pastures in western states each year, and as climate changes, land managers can expect the problem with that weed and others to escalate.</div>

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Code green: Energy-efficient programming to curb computers' power use - 0 views

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computers energy power saving programming technology University of Washington resources

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A University of Washington project sees a role for programmers to reduce the energy appetite of the ones and zeroes in the code itself. Researchers have created a system, called EnergJ, that reduces energy consumption in simulations by up to 50 percent, and has the potential to cut energy by as much as 90 percent. They will present the research next week in San Jose at the Programming Language Design and Implementation annual meeting.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">A University of Washington project sees a role for programmers to reduce the energy appetite of the ones and zeroes in the code itself. Researchers have created a system, called EnergJ, that reduces energy consumption in simulations by up to 50 percent, and has the potential to cut energy by as much as 90 percent. They will present the research next week in San Jose at the Programming Language Design and Implementation annual meeting.</div>

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Climate change is analyzed from the perspective of the social sciences - 0 views

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climate change environment temperature social science humanity policy law adaptation innovation public policy

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Research being carried out at Carlos III University of Madrid analyzes the key factors in climate change and the risks to public policies that it implies. This study approaches the issue from the perspective of Sociology, Economics and Law.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Research being carried out at Carlos III University of Madrid analyzes the key factors in climate change and the risks to public policies that it implies. This study approaches the issue from the perspective of Sociology, Economics and Law.</div>

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Measuring the next generation of life-saving pollution sensors - 0 views

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pollution sensors respiratory disease health science

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ew research from the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is helping Duvas Technologies Ltd (Duvas) to develop improved air quality monitoring instrumentation. Currently over 1bn people a year suffer from respiratory disease associated with pollution, and according to the World Health Organisation, over 3m a year die from its effects. Duvas is planning to help provide technology to understand and address this problem.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">ew research from the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is helping Duvas Technologies Ltd (Duvas) to develop improved air quality monitoring instrumentation. Currently over 1bn people a year suffer from respiratory disease associated with pollution, and according to the World Health Organisation, over 3m a year die from its effects. Duvas is planning to help provide technology to understand and address this problem.</div>

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UN aims for biodiversity treaty by July 2012 - 0 views

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2012 treaty biological diversity harvesting genetic resources science plants

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A global treaty on the harvesting of genetic resources will probably be ratified by July 2012, the UN executive secretary on biological diversity said Tuesday.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">A global treaty on the harvesting of genetic resources will probably be ratified by July 2012, the UN executive secretary on biological diversity said Tuesday.</div>

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Study: Biodegradable products may be bad for the environment - 0 views

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biodegradable materials landfill greenhouse gas environment pollution

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Research from North Carolina State University shows that so-called biodegradable products are likely doing more harm than good in landfills, because they are releasing a powerful greenhouse gas as they break down.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Research from North Carolina State University shows that so-called biodegradable products are likely doing more harm than good in landfills, because they are releasing a powerful greenhouse gas as they break down.</div>

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Food security in 2050 on a global scale achievable but greatly challenging - 0 views

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food security crops 2050 population agriculture economy resources

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With today's crops, it would be possible to feed the 2050 global population of nine billion people. But agricultural land will have to be used optimally. And this demands solid economic and institutional preconditions. Food prices will probably eventually rise. This was discussed by Professor Martin van Ittersum on 12 May 2011 at the ceremony at which he accepted the post of Professor of Plant Production Systems with a personal chair at Wageningen University.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">With today's crops, it would be possible to feed the 2050 global population of nine billion people. But agricultural land will have to be used optimally. And this demands solid economic and institutional preconditions. Food prices will probably eventually rise. This was discussed by Professor Martin van Ittersum on 12 May 2011 at the ceremony at which he accepted the post of Professor of Plant Production Systems with a personal chair at Wageningen University.</div>

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Study: 'E-waste pollution' a threat to human health - 0 views

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e-waste pollution environment cancer health disease human extinction

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In addition to its damaging effect on the environment and its illegal smuggling into developing countries, researchers have now linked e-waste to adverse effects on human health, such as inflammation and oxidative stress - precursors to cardiovascular disease, DNA damage and possibly cancer.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">In addition to its damaging effect on the environment and its illegal smuggling into developing countries, researchers have now linked e-waste to adverse effects on human health, such as inflammation and oxidative stress - precursors to cardiovascular disease, DNA damage and possibly cancer.</div>

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Physicists describe how to make time-reversed light pulses - 0 views

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time-reversal light physics electromagnetic pulses backwards science

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By taking advantage of the properties of periodic systems, physicists have described how to efficiently time-reverse ultrashort electromagnetic pulses. Since a time-reversed pulse evolves as if time runs backwards, time reversal eliminates any distortions or scattering that occurred at earlier times, regardless of the medium the pulse has propagated through.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">By taking advantage of the properties of periodic systems, physicists have described how to efficiently time-reverse ultrashort electromagnetic pulses. Since a time-reversed pulse evolves as if time runs backwards, time reversal eliminates any distortions or scattering that occurred at earlier times, regardless of the medium the pulse has propagated through.</div>

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Progress in the development of rechargeable batteries through nanotechnology - 0 views

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battery power electric vehicles transportation nanotechnology

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Researchers are testing different ways of improving rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and nanotechnology plays an important role in the development. The aim is to offer batteries that have fast charge and discharge rates as well as high stored energy per mass. This can make electric vehicles a competitive alternative to petrol-powered vehicles.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Researchers are testing different ways of improving rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and nanotechnology plays an important role in the development. The aim is to offer batteries that have fast charge and discharge rates as well as high stored energy per mass. This can make electric vehicles a competitive alternative to petrol-powered vehicles.</div>

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