Swedish researchers measure the scale of peatlands, and the amount of carbon stored in themHow much of the Earth’s landmass is made of peat? We know that peatlands store as much as a quarter of all soil carbon, and if this were to be released we would face climate havoc. Until now, however, no one had made a comprehensive map of where peatlands occurred and how deep they were. Related: Ultimate...
Parents and teachers fear face masks and other measures not enough to prevent second waveCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageTens of millions of pupils, most wearing face masks, have headed back to class in France, Belgium, Poland and Russia, as schools across Europe cautiously reopened amid spiralling numbers of new coronavirus cases in several countries.Parents and...
Shift led to local extinctions and could have important implications for species todayGenetic diversity could shrink as animals venture into new territories because of global heating leaving them vulnerable to extinction, scientists have warned after tracking the impact of climate change on the American mastodon.Huge, hairy and with a pair of fearsome tusks, mastodons resembled stocky, hirsute...
Actor appeals for funds to save jobs in industry that is one of worst affected by pandemicCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageVanessa Redgrave has urged businesses and entrepreneurs to give money to help restore Britain’s coronavirus-threatened arts infrastructure.The actor is expected to be joined by Sir Lenny Henry, Maxine Peake and Sir Trevor Nunn on Tuesday evening...
Italian scientists warn Marmolada has shrunk 80% in 70 years due to global heatingThe largest and most symbolic glacier in the Dolomites could vanish within 15 years because of global heating, Italian scientists have warned.The 3,343m Marmolada, located on the border of the Trentino and Veneto regions and known as the Queen of the Dolomites, has already lost more than 80% of its volume over the...
According to a recent study, obesity increases the risk of dying of Covid-19 by nearly 50%. Governments around the world are now hoping to encourage their citizens to lose weight. But with so much complex and often contradictory dietary advice, as well as endless fads, it can be hard to know what healthy eating actually looks like. How many pieces of fruit and vegetables should you eat a day? Will...
Jens Spahn subjected to shouts of ‘shame’ and ‘gay pig’ as he confronts crowdCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageGermany’s health minister was jeered, spat at and targeted by homophobic abuse as the countrywide protests of a vocal minority of people against coronavirus restrictions has taken on an increasingly aggressive tone.The Conservative politician Jens...
The billionaire entrepreneur loves to make headline-grabbing claims, but behind the hype his innovations are often underwhelmingHere is a philosophical conundrum: if no one is talking about Elon Musk, does he really exist? The entrepreneur needs attention the way mortals need oxygen. If the 49-year-old is not in the news for a couple of days, he finds a way to shoehorn himself back into the...
Pieces of bone were turned into ornaments, and may have been placed on displayBronze age Britons remembered the dead by keeping and curating bits of their bodies, and even turning them into instruments and ornaments, according to new research on the remains.Archaeologists found that pieces of bone buried with the dead were often from people who had died decades earlier, suggesting their remains...