UK rivers contain traces of 29 pharmaceutical drugs, finds study
Traces of 29 pharmaceutical drugs have been found in rivers in York. The compounds included antidepressants, antibiotics and medicines to treat epilepsy and diabetes. The York University team which
View ArticleAt least fifth of British mammal species could be wiped out within a decade
Populations of much-loved British mammals including hedgehogs and water voles have dropped by up to two-thirds over the past 20 years, and many more are threatened with imminent extinction. Even some
View ArticleAntarctica melting faster than ever before posing significant threat to...
Ice melting in Antarctica is causing sea levels to rise at a massive rate and the frozen continent has lost about 3 trillion tonnes of ice in the last 25 years. Warning that its rate of melting is
View ArticleBritain’s coastal wetlands will soon vanish under rising sea levels, study finds
Marshlands stretching across the southeast coast of England may be overwhelmed by rising sea levels in the coming decades, scientists have warned. By testing sediment samples, researchers have tracked
View ArticleFish lose sense of smell and ability to find food as climate change turns...
Fish are losing their sense of smell as rising carbon emissions turn the water they live in to acid. A new study has revealed that as levels of carbonic acid in seawater rise, sea bass lose up to half
View ArticleMajor plan to deal with climate change by geoengineering the Earth would not...
The Earth could not be changed to save the environment, according to a new paper exploring the possibilities of "geoengineering" the planet to protect us from the worst effects of climate change....
View ArticleCapturing elephants from the wild drastically shortens their lives, study finds
Around the world elephants are kept as tourist attractions, for religious purposes and even as part of the workforce, but a new study shows taking these majestic animals from the wild cuts their lives
View ArticleGlobal tree cover has increased 7% since 1982, finds biggest ever study
Amid growing urbanisation, deforestation and agricultural expansion, it’s long been thought the number of trees across the planet is being reduced. However, that belief is probably wrong, according
View ArticleHow the antidepressants polluting our waters could change animal behaviour
Antidepressants don’t just affect human libidos. New research shows that female starlings fed food spiked with the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac), were less “attractive” to males and so less likely
View ArticleTourists to South Africa warned 'orphan' lion cub farms are a scam...
Holidaymakers are being warned against scam “orphan” lion cub attractions that are a front for the lucrative trade in shooting the animals dead. Parks in South Africa where tourists can take selfies
View ArticleCountries with twice rainfall of UK still lack drinking water, charity warns
The UK has experienced the driest start to a summer since records began in 1961, but safe drinking water remains in plentiful supply. Others around the world are not so fortunate. According to the charity
View ArticleRice farming up to twice as bad for climate change as previously thought,...
Rice farming is known to be a major contributor to climate change, but new research suggests it is far bigger a problem than previously thought. Techniques intended to reduce emissions while also cutting
View ArticleSecret gangs boil down forest jaguars for lucrative market in unproven...
Investigators exploring the plight of endangered jaguar have uncovered secretive networks of hunters, smugglers and organised gangs involved in multi-million-pound trafficking chains leading to China.
View ArticleCountries accused of using ‘cynical trick’ to restore forests that does not...
Scientists have unearthed a scandal at the heart of global plans to tackle climate change through tree planting. Forest restoration has long been hailed as a vital tool to combat global warming, as
View ArticleHunter who has killed at least 5,000 African elephants and hippos says he has...
A hunter who has killed more than 5,000 elephants and 50 hippos has said he is “10,000 times” unrepentant. Zimbabwean Ron Thomson has been identified as a prolific wildlife hunter in a new report...
View ArticleNew ‘safe’ pesticides to replace banned chemicals still hurt bees, scientists...
New pesticides regarded as “bee safe” could actually be causing harm to these vital pollinators when combined with other chemicals being applied to crops, according to a new study. Since a range of
View ArticleNorway refuses to drill for billions of barrels of oil in Arctic, leaving...
The largest party in Norway’s parliament has delivered a significant blow to the country’s huge oil industry after withdrawing support for explorative drilling off the Lofoten islands in the Arctic, which
View ArticleHawaii’s Waikiki Beach 'could soon be underwater' because of rising...
Hawaii’s Waikiki Beach - celebrated around the world for its both it eye-grabbing beauty and decades-old surf culture - could be under water in a matter of years as as result of rising sea levels...
View ArticleFrogs, salamanders and toads suffering ‘catastrophic population decline’,...
Amphibians across the world are experiencing “catastrophic population declines” from a widening range of interacting pathogens, scientists say. Fungal disease chytridiomycosis is thought to have caused
View ArticleHippo dung shortages caused by hunting could endanger fish and communities on...
Collapsing hippo numbers – and the loss of dung they produce – poses a threat to the species that thrive in eastern Africa’s rivers and great lakes, and the humans who rely on them. Hippos‘ graze the
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