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When the US space agency's next rover gets to Mars in 2021, it will seek evidence of ancient life.

Nascent industry aims to reduce environmental impact of beef production

The first steak grown from cells in the lab and not requiring the slaughter of a cow has been produced in Israel.

The meat is not the finished article: the prototype costs $50 for a small strip, and the taste needs perfecting, according to its makers. But it is the first meat grown outside an animal that has a muscle-like texture similar to conventional meat.

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Comments by science review board chairman add weight to fears that Trump administration is aiming to discredit research to justify scrapping regulations

A conservative science adviser to the Trump administration is casting doubt on longstanding research linking fossil fuel pollution to early deaths and health problems, worrying environmental experts.

At a meeting to review air pollution science compiled by staffers at the Environmental Protection Agency this week the advisory board chairman, Tony Cox – a consultant and statistician who has worked for the industry and criticized EPA standards – questioned whether soot from coal plants and cars can be directly blamed for asthma and cardiopulmonary problems.

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Closing prices, ranges and volumes for China's regional pilot carbon markets this week.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo rocket ship has made a successful test flight, 82.7km above the Earth's surface.

'The Wrap' is RN Drive's summary of the biggest stories of the year, plus some you may have missed.

Australia’s Mary River turtle went viral after it was named on an endangered species list – and Cate Blanchett even voiced a puppet of it. But was that enough to save it?

It was “the punk turtle” – an eccentric and yet strangely human-looking reptile with a vivid green mohican, fleshy “fingers” under its chin and the ability to breathe through its genitals. The Mary River turtle went viral in April when pictures of the hitherto little-known creature were shared around the world after it was placed 30th on the Zoological Society of London’s Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered list for reptiles. The rating, which guides conservation prioritiesfor at-risk species, was compiled by Rikki Gumbs. He says that turtle fascination “went absolutely crazy” after its publication, as he fielded calls from journalists around the world. Reptiles are often overlooked but the connection many felt for the animal does not surprise Gumbs. “It’s the least these amazing reptiles deserve,” he says. “Once people can see how incredible and unique they are, it’s not surprising they are drawn to them.”

The turtle became endangered because it was widely collected for the pet trade in the 1960s and 70s. Such collecting is outlawed now but the turtle faces a new threat. It is only found on a relatively small part of the Mary River, in Queensland, Australia, and is imperilled by the loss and degradation of its habitat. Non-native plants prevent it laying eggs in sandy river banks; non-native foxes and dogs predate it.

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Regulator report critical of AEMO's actions in the lead-up to South Australia's System Black in 2016, but says it was not to blame for state-wide blackout.

The post Regulator says AEMO made errors, but not to blame for South Australia blackout appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A new political party will appear on the scene tomorrow and will seek to disrupt the “politics as usual” that Australian voters do not like, but have become used to.

The post Climate Democrats to enter the fray and disrupt Australia’s politics appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Progress on joint plans of Photon Energy and Canadian Solar to develop 1.4GW of large-scale PV in NSW, as 170MW Suntop Solar Farm approved for state's central west.

The post Photon, Canadian get green light for 170MW Suntop Solar Farm in NSW appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Scientists have already planned the route Nasa's next robot will drive when it lands on Mars in 2021.

AER announced changes to RIT-T making it more robust, efficient and timely, and more aligned wth AEMO’s Integrated System Plan and keeping customer power costs down.

The post AER updates RIT-T guidelines to look beyond poles and wires for network upgrades appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A test drive with the Jaguar I-Pace and an interview with the company’s head of product development.

The post The Driven Podcast: Test drive with the Jaguar I-Pace appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The NSW Independent Planning Commission has approved with conditions, changes to the state planning approval for the Yass Valley (Coppabella) Wind Farm in the NSW Southern Tablelands

The post Goldwind’s Coppabella wind farm one step closer to construction appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Native cherries are everywhere, but we know surprisingly little about them. Gregg Müller, Lecturer in Natural History, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

Nine member states have pledged to co-operate to strengthen EU carbon prices to help meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, either at EU level, regionally, or nationally.

APA formally terminates collapsed RCR as contractor for Darling Downs solar farm, which is going through final commissioning.

The post APA dumps RCR as it seeks to complete Darling Downs solar farm appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW approves state's 49th large-scale solar farm, a 275MW plus 100MWh of battery storage project proposed by Edify Energy for Darlington Point.

The post Green light for 275MW solar plus big battery storage project near Griffith appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Some media have reported shark numbers at 'plague proportions' in Australian waters. But a new analysis suggests the opposite: species such as hammerheads and white sharks have plummeted in number. George Roff, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Christopher Brown, Research Fellow, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.