Category Archives: Environment

How to make your life greener in 2024

j.chizhe/Shutterstock Ian Williams, University of Southampton and Alice Brock, University of Southampton People all around the world traditionally use their new year to embark on a change in lifestyle. The People’s Climate Vote, a UN survey of public opinion on … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

How bird feeders help small species fight infection

Great tits are familiar visitors to gardens. allanw/Shutterstock Hannah Watson, Lund University Every day, throughout the world, people put huge quantities of food out at feeding stations for birds and other wild animals. Although we know that connecting with nature … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

Why iconic trees are so important to us – and how replacing those that fall is often complicated

The Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall, UK. Mark Godden/Shutterstock Helen Parish, University of Reading and Ewan Macdonald, University of Oxford An ancient kola tree has been cut down in southern Ghana. Local tradition held that the tree had grown … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

How a hybrid heating system could lower your bills and shrink your carbon footprint

Hybrid systems combine two or more technologies to heat a house. ThomsonD/Shutterstock Jovana Radulovic, University of Portsmouth To heat your home without damaging the climate, you will need to replace your gas boiler. UK government advisers recommend switching to appliances … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

Sails and satellite navigation could cut shipping industry’s emissions by up to a third

A cargo vessel with Flettner rotors – a modern equivalent to sails. Norsepower, Author provided James Mason, University of Manchester; Alice Larkin, University of Manchester, and Simon Bullock, University of Manchester In the vast expanse of the world’s oceans, a … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

Lough Neagh: UK and Ireland’s largest lake is being suffocated by business and agricultural interests

Calum McGeown, Queen’s University Belfast; John Barry, Queen’s University Belfast, and Louise Taylor, Queen’s University Belfast Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland. It is a protected area of special scientific interest and the source … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

One in six UK species threatened with extinction – here’s what we could lose (plus how to save them)

Richard Gregory, UCL The UK is considered one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. This is not surprising given its history of early industrialisation and agricultural intensification. These islands have lost species and unique habitats have shrunk to … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

People who grow their own fruit and veg waste less food and eat more healthily, says research

Households that produced their own fruit and veg wasted 95% less than the average UK household. Air Images/Shutterstock Boglarka Zilla Gulyas, University of Sheffield and Jill Edmondson, University of Sheffield The rising cost of living is making it harder for … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

Trees, rivers and mountains are gaining legal status – but it’s not been a quick fix for environmental problems

The Whanganui River, New Zealand. Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock Rónán Kennedy, University of Galway As the scale and severity of environmental issues become more obvious, lawmakers are experimenting with new ways to protect nature. One approach that has gone from blue-sky debate … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

Ivy, dandelions and other common wildflowers are often seen as weeds – but they’re a crucial resource for pollinating insects

A bumblebee flying over a blooming bramble bush. Legonkov Vladimir Francis Ratnieks, University of Sussex and Nick Balfour, University of Sussex Since the end of the second world war, factors such as more intensive farming and urbanisation have reduced the … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment