Primordial gas: fitting the picture of before the first planet
Before the first planet, before the first star, there had to be gas. For the first time, astronomers have found pristine clouds of the primordial gas that formed in the first few minutes after the Big Bang. The composition of the gas matches theoretical predictions, providing direct evidence in support of the modern cosmological explanation […]
Combating the culture of climate change denial
By Richard Matthews The failure to accept the anthropogenic origins of climate change may be partly attributable to a fallacy of modern culture. Popular culture pits us against nature which in turn undermines efforts to curtail climate change. Man versus nature is one of seven conflicts in literary studies, it relates to the theme in literature that […]
Why population matters to the environment
By Simon Ross, chief executive, Population Matters Environmentalists agree on the issues facing us, including collapsing diversity, climate change and resource insecurity. We also agree on the causal factors, including pollution, invasive species, resource over-exploitation, waste, population growth, global industrialisation, unsustainable consumption and poor business practices. Solutions are harder. None will solve all our problems […]
Curbside recycling: Preventing a market failure
By Presidio Economics, Triple Pundit Nobody likes trash: taking it out or talking about it. It smells, it is a hassle to deal with, and it can be hazardous to your health, which is why we go through great lengths to have it hauled away every week. Recycling is trash’s cuter brother, with more support […]
Zimbabwe: Thousands of girls forced out of school
Poverty, abuse and cultural practices are preventing a third of Zimbabwean girls from attending primary school and 67 percent from attending secondary school, denying them a basic education, according to a recent study which found alarming dropout rates for girls. Sexual harassment and abuse by even school teachers and parents,...
Greek PM survives confidence vote
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou survived a close confidence vote early Saturday morning. The vote was 153–145 for Papandreou. Upon winning, Papandreou stated he may step aside if necessary. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos stated a new government would be formed to last until the end of February. Venizelos has been...
Greatest tree change in North America to hit B.C., Alberta
Some of the greatest shifts in tree species are expected to occur in both the northern and southern extremes of western North America, such as British Columbia and Alberta. Over the last three to four decades, forests throughout much of western North America have been subjected to disturbance at a scale well beyond that previously […]
Scientists pin down active chemicals in Chinese herb
By Yojana Sharma, Science and Development Network Researchers are aiming to bridge the gap between Chinese and Western systems of medicine with what they say is the first database of chemical compounds found in herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. The database, known as Chem-TCM, will be used to help with drug development, according to […]
Hot, hungry and hostile: Dyer's dire prediction for our global future
By Michelle Martin “It’s going to get depressing at the middle of this talk, and it will end up a little more cheerful. Be patient and don’t cry.” With that cautionary note, Gwynne Dyer began his 2011 Power Smart Forum keynote address: Hot, Hungry & Hostile: The Geopolitics of a Warming World. The talk, which is […]
Happiness associated with longer life
By Helen Fields, Science AAAS Happy people don’t just enjoy life; they’re likely to live longer, too. A new study has found that those in better moods were 35 per cent less likely to die in the next five years when taking their life situations into account. The traditional way to measure a person’s happiness […]
