Climate change may threaten Australians’ livelihoods, affect the viability of communities and put pressure on social stability, the co-chairman of an Australian thinktank hoping to influence public health responses has warned. Emeritus professor Bruce Armstrong, of the University of Sydney’s school of public health, told Guardian Australia the issue was both publicly and … [Read more...]
Giant underground “ocean” discovered beneath us
A new study by American researchers concluded that in the mantle layer that lies between the crust and the core, there are vast reserves of water, probably three times the total volume of water of all oceans on the surface of our planet. This “reservoir” of water, which seems to be stable over time, lies at a depth of up to 700 kilometers beneath the planet’s surface, in the … [Read more...]
Ocean array could clean Pacific garbage patch
Last year we reported on teenage inventor Boyan Slat’s plans to create an Ocean Cleanup Array that could remove 7,250,000 tons of plastic waste from the world’s oceans. His proposal for an anchored network of floating booms and processing platforms received a lot of criticism – but now, just over a year later, Boyan is back with the results of a year-long investigation that … [Read more...]
Wild vegetables contribute to food security
Although indigenous (wild) leafy vegetables are consumed in small quantities, they play a vital role in boosting household food security among rural people. This is one of the findings of a recent study in which the role wild vegetables play in improving food security among poor rural people in northern KwaZulu-Natal was investigated. The study also aimed to the gain an … [Read more...]
Kruger Park elephant killed for its ivory
A dead bull elephant whose tusk had been hacked off was discovered by rangers in the Kruger National Park. The head of the South African national parks rangers, Johan Jooste, said it was likely the bull was shot on purpose for its tusks. He said rangers patrolling the area noticed footprints of about four individuals leaving the park leading towards Mozambique. The park's … [Read more...]
Australia experiencing winter heatwaves
If you've stepped outside at lunchtime in Sydney, Australia over the past few days, you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was more like early summer than the beginning of winter. On each of the past 23 days, the temperature has reached highs in the mid-20s, exceeding 27C on May 25. This is characteristic of November, not May. With the exception of May 3, no daily maximum … [Read more...]
Mysterious disease rides on Pacific winds
Climatologists don't often end up working on a cardiovascular disease that affects children. But that is exactly what Xavier Rodó from the Catalan Institute of Climate Sciences has been doing: trying to find what causes the mysterious Kawasaki disease and understand how it spreads at unusual pace within Japan and the US. The answer, he thinks, may lie in a fungus that can … [Read more...]
Greentalent competition looking for our researchers
The search is on for the next Green Talents who will gain exclusive access to the hot-spots of sustainable development in Germany. Last year Pretoria University researcher Heinrich Badenhorst was amongst 25 young researchers from around the world who were honoured as 2013’s Green Talents. Sustainable development is among the most important challenges of our time. Striving … [Read more...]
Companies join forces for renewable and energy efficiencies
Local infrastructure experts and energy management services are joining forces to identify renewable energy and energy efficiency opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Akhani Group, a B-BBEE level 1 company, provides turnkey solutions of support infrastructure for the mining, oil, gas, energy sector and related industries and is based in South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania. … [Read more...]
The emergent patterns of climate change
We live in a very complex environment: we see complexity and dynamism and patterns of evidence in satellite photographs, and videos. You can even see it outside your window. It's endlessly complex, but somehow familiar. The patterns kind of repeat, but they never repeat exactly. It's a huge challenge to understand. The patterns that you see are there at all of the different … [Read more...]
CO2 could reduce nutrients in major food crops
Rising levels of CO2 around the world will significantly impact the nutrient content of crops according to a new study. Experiments show levels of zinc, iron and protein are likely to be reduced by up to 10% in wheat and rice by 2050. The scientists say this could have health implications for billions of people, especially in the developing world. The report has been … [Read more...]
Economic inequity will be the death of us
Civilization was pretty great while it lasted, wasn't it? Too bad it's not going to for much longer. According to a new study, we only have a few decades left before everything we know and hold dear collapses. The report, written by applied mathematician Safa Motesharrei of the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center along with a team of natural and social scientists, … [Read more...]
A change of heart for water & sanitation
What do we use drinking water for in this country? “To flush our toilets, to bath or shower, to wash our hands and cars and to irrigate our gardens. How much of this drinking water is actually used for drinking?” asked Councillor David Botha (pictured, right) from the Stellenbosch municipality during the university’s World Walk for Water and Sanitation this week. The event … [Read more...]
