135 articles from TUESDAY 16.5.2023
Plastic pollution could be cut by 80% by 2040, says UN report
Plastic pollution could reduce by 80% by 2040 if countries and companies make deep policy and market shifts using existing technologies, according to a new report by UN Environment Program (UNEP). The report is released ahead of a second round of negotiations in Paris on a global agreement to beat plastic pollution, and outlines the magnitude and nature of the changes required to end plastic...
More plants will go extinct if we do nothing, says researcher
A wide range of plant species is essential to our Earth because of the different materials and foods these plants provide. But plant diversity has decreased drastically in recent decades. Ph.D. candidate Kaixuan Pan explains what we can do to increase it once again.
Nigeria's street food adds to the plastic problem—green leaves offer a solution
Street food is popular in Nigerian cities. Most of the local food delicacies are sold by vendors whose livelihoods depend on informal subsistence activities such as local food production and street food hawking. They are part of Nigeria's vast informal sector, which accounts for 57.7% of the country's economy.
Why we should embrace the joy of dressing 'outside of the lines' like Gen Z
Have you seen that cargo pants are back? Young people are once again swishing down hallways and they might even be wearing Crocs on their feet, because these are cool now too. For many this could be seen as dressing "badly" but Y2K (2000s fashion) is all the rage at the moment.
Saturn: We may finally know when the magnificent rings were formed
Saturn's rings are one of the jewels of the solar system, but it seems that their time is short and their existence fleeting.
Scientists take flight to map California's vast snowpack and measure flooding threats
Flying thousands of feet above the Sierra Nevada in a plane equipped with specialized imaging devices, Elizabeth Carey has been scanning the mountains with lasers to precisely map the snow.
Cities have a role to play in bird conservation
Cities provide important connections to nature as well as habitat for many species, according to new research in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.
When does the gender gap start in the computer science field?
If you are a third grader, your chances of growing up to be a computer scientist is likely to heavily depend on your gender—a situation Allison Master says is just plain wrong.
Report: UK consumers paid billions more for energy while providers increased revenues
Consumers paid high energy costs while electricity generators saw enormous increases in revenues beyond their costs, finds a new report by UCL researchers that traces the revenues of the UK's electricity generation sector during the 2022 energy crisis.
Cutting the cost of education alone is not enough to prevent dropout, finds research
Recently, the French Education Minister, Pap Ndiaye, announced a potential education reform that would require private schools to diversify their student population to maintain their public subsidies from the State. Although this state intervention into private education is somewhat unusual, Ndiaye argues that public schools alone cannot achieve diversity. Similarly, India's Right to Education Act...
One in six properties in England will be affected by flood risk by 2050, study suggests
A new report from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) shows how flood risk affects English residential property values to raise awareness among policy makers and regulators.
Superior National Forest and northern Minnesota tribes make 'historic' agreement
The Superior National Forest and three northeastern Minnesota Chippewa tribes have made a first-of-its-kind agreement, one that gives the tribes a stronger voice in managing national forest and federal trust land that was ceded to the federal government nearly 170 years ago.
Using remote sensing technology in the battle to combat myrtle rust
New research using remote sensing technology has delivered promising results to scientists looking for innovative ways to help nurseries combat the spread of myrtle rust.
What Cassini's 'grand finale' taught us about Saturn's interior
Six years ago the Cassini spacecraft, which had spent nearly two decades in orbit around Saturn, finished its mission with a grand finale, plunging itself into the depths of Saturn's atmosphere. Those last few orbits and the final plunge revealed a wealth of information about Saturn's interior. A team of astronomers have collected all of the available data and are now painting a portrait of the...
Quantum physics proposes a new way to study biology—the results could revolutionize our understanding of how life works
Imagine using your cellphone to control the activity of your own cells to treat injuries and disease. It sounds like something from the imagination of an overly optimistic science fiction writer. But this may one day be a possibility through the emerging field of quantum biology.
Winter atmospheric rivers boosted crop-infecting pathogens and diseases, say experts
The wave of atmospheric rivers that swept across the state this winter has created the right conditions for plant pathogens that haven't been seen for decades in California. University of California, Davis, plant pathologist Florent "Flo" Trouillas is getting more calls from growers and farm advisors concerned about potential crop damage.
African farmers reap rewards of flood-tolerant rice
Two flood-resistant rice varieties are helping farmers in Africa to improve productivity, with huge potential returns for countries affected by climate change, agricultural food experts say.
New tool to guide efficient energy extraction from quantum sources
The idea that energy is a fundamental driver of societal progress has led to the concept that a civilization's level of technological development can be measured by its ability to harness and use energy. Based on this, Russian astrophysicist Nikolai Kardashev devised a famous Kardashev Scale in 1964 as a way to classify civilizations based on their energy consumption. Our human civilization's...
Opinion: Our hybrid media system has emboldened anti-LGBTQ+ hate—what can we do about it?
Anti-LGBTQ+ hate from religious conservatives and far-right extremists in the United States, and now in Australia, is a worrying trend.
Just 1 in 5 employees in the space industry are women—this lack of diversity is holding us back, say researchers
This week, the Australian Space Summit is celebrating some of our nation's strengths and achievements in the space sector. But it's taking place under the shadow of significant cuts to space technology investment announced in last week's federal budget.
Reusable nappies can reduce the environmental footprint of parenting—but only if they're used with care
Around the world, another 45 babies are born every ten seconds. Each of these babies will require nappies that need to be changed frequently. So it's understandable that new parents want to do what's best for their baby—and the planet—when it comes to the all-important nappy change.
Opinion: 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' urges us to defend real animals
As "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 "lights up the box office, its glow is reaching animals who are rarely seen: those in laboratories. Through the powerful stories of the central character Rocket Raccoon, alongside Floor the rabbit, Teefs the walrus and Lylla the otter, we are urged to empathize with real animals.
Supreme Court's ruling on humane treatment of pigs could catalyze a wave of new animal welfare laws
Should California be able to require higher welfare standards for farm animals raised in other states if products from those animals are to be sold in California? On May 11, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld California's position by a 5-4 vote in National Pork Producers Council v. Ross.
Short meetings could encourage teachers to stay on the job
A single, 10-minute meeting between teachers and their principals can increase teacher job satisfaction, our new research shows. This increase in job satisfaction could potentially encourage teachers to stay in the profession longer, thereby reducing turnover and potentially saving school districts hundreds of thousands of dollars.