Around The Web

Massive wave is southern hemisphere record, scientists believe

BBC - Fri, 2018-05-11 16:30
The 23.8m (78ft) swell is the largest ever recorded below the equator, New Zealand scientists say.
Categories: Around The Web

They're out to get you: study finds cyclists face paranoia about drivers

The Guardian - Fri, 2018-05-11 16:00

Study finds that 70% of London cyclists believe drivers mean them harm. But is it mainly the fault of the road system?

As a cyclist in a busy urban environment, it can seem that some drivers are out to get you. And now a new study has concluded that for many bike riders, this is only too true: a sense of paranoia is a clinical reality.

The research led by Lyn Ellet, a clinical psychology academic at Royal Holloway, University of London, studied 323 cyclists in London aged between 18-66, and used a series of questions to gauge their levels of paranoia when on a bike.

Continue reading...
Categories: Around The Web

Sharks groove to the sound of jazz – video

The Guardian - Fri, 2018-05-11 15:58

Researchers at Sydney’s Macquarie University discover sharks can recognise jazz music, but struggle to differentiate between styles of music.

Continue reading...
Categories: Around The Web

The guerilla cyclists solving urban problems | Kieran Smith

The Guardian - Fri, 2018-05-11 15:30

From pop-up bike lanes to painted potholes, here are the imaginative ways frustrated cyclists are taking action to create a safer environment

Across the world, transport planning and infrastructure tends to favour the car, and facilities for cyclists and pedestrians are an afterthought. In response, frustrated urban cyclists have thrown caution to the wind and written their own will into the fabric of the city, overturning the dominance of the car and creating a safer environment for cycling in imaginative ways.

Cycling has the power to turn individuals into a community and communities have the power to improve our cities. These examples show how activism can be a real solution to urban problems.

Continue reading...
Categories: Around The Web

RES eyes 215MW battery storage with Twin Creek wind farm

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-05-11 15:17
RES plans for new Twin Creek wind farm in South Australia could include up to 215MW of battery storage, the largest in Australia.
Categories: Around The Web

The secret agents protecting our crops and gardens

The Conversation - Fri, 2018-05-11 15:13
Not all bugs are bad! Put down the pesticides and get to know the predators and parasites hidden around you. Lizzy Lowe, Postdoctoral researcher, Macquarie University Manu Saunders, Research fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
Categories: Around The Web

What in health’s name is an ERT?

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-05-11 15:01
Since Australia’s emissions have not fallen in the last 10 years, and there is no federal plan to make really significant reductions, Australia’s states must take up the challenge.
Categories: Around The Web

Clean Energy Regulator confirms the RET is met

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-05-11 15:00
Clean Energy Regulator confirms the 2020 Renewable Energy Target will be met ahead of schedule, with 6,553MW of wind and solar projects already built or under construction.
Categories: Around The Web

Country diary: a trapped hunter, rescued and returned to the wild

The Guardian - Fri, 2018-05-11 14:30

Allendale, Northumberland: Barn owls can starve in snowy winters; it may be that the injury saved her life


It was on Boxing Day that the two boys found her. A flash of cream among field rushes, she had a wing caught in a fence and was flapping wildly to break free. A female barn owl. They carried her to a garden shed, leaving water and a pheasant carcass from which she ate. Clearly hungry, she must have been trapped for some time. With no obvious sign of wound, they followed the video on the Barn Owl Trust website on how to check for injuries.

Continue reading...
Categories: Around The Web

Linc Energy fined $4.5m for pollution amounting to 'ecological vandalism'

The Guardian - Fri, 2018-05-11 14:10

Prosecution seen as key test of Queensland’s ability to hold mining companies to account

The failed Queensland energy company Linc Energy has been slapped with one of the state’s largest environmental fines and ordered to pay $4.5m for contaminating farmland in the state’s western downs.

Judge Michael Shanahan said the company’s actions amounted to “ecological vandalism”.

But questions remain about whether the company’s liquidators, who pleaded not guilty but chose not to mount a defence in the Brisbane district court, can be forced to pay the fine and an estimated $72m cleanup bill.

Continue reading...
Categories: Around The Web

2°C or not 2°C? The unanswered questions from ExxonMobil and Chevron climate risk reports

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-05-11 12:59
Both ExxonMobil and Chevron seem to bet against the world achieving the Paris Climate Agreement goal of keeping global temperature increase well below 2°C over pre-industrial times—and striving to limit warming to 1.5°C.
Categories: Around The Web

Amendments to the EPBC Act list of threatened species

Department of the Environment - Fri, 2018-05-11 11:12
The Assistant Minister has approved the inclusion of 41 species, transfer of 6 species, removal of 3 species on the list of threatened species under the EPBC Act.
Categories: Around The Web

Frydenberg says NEG is “best chance” for coal generation

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-05-11 11:09
Frydenberg says NEG offers "best chance" for coal, says rapid decarbonisation would cause "lights to go out", and resumes attack on AGL and Labor's renewables target.
Categories: Around The Web

US, Australia fight push to bar fossil fuel interests from climate talks

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-05-11 10:33
Developing nations want to ban fossil fuel interests from participating in, and sponsoring, UN climate talks - much to the chagrin of countries like US and Australia.
Categories: Around The Web

The stunning numbers behind success of Tesla big battery

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-05-11 10:28
Tesla big battery accounts for just 2% of capacity in South Australia's ancillary services market, but in just four months it has grabbed a 55% market share and slashed prices by 90%.
Categories: Around The Web

CP Daily: Thursday May 10, 2018

Carbon Pulse - Fri, 2018-05-11 08:52
A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.
Categories: Around The Web

Origins of amphibian-killing fungus uncovered

BBC - Fri, 2018-05-11 08:09
A deadly fungus that has devastated amphibian populations worldwide probably originated in East Asia, new research suggests.
Categories: Around The Web

NA Markets: WCI prices stall near floor price as auction looms large

Carbon Pulse - Fri, 2018-05-11 08:08
Carbon prices on both North American coasts stalled this week as participants found little incentive to trade ahead of the next round of quarterly auctions.
Categories: Around The Web

Smartphone sequestration: App targets small forest owners for California offsets

Carbon Pulse - Fri, 2018-05-11 08:07
Historically, small landowners have had a difficult time accessing carbon markets in which to sell their forest-based offsets.
Categories: Around The Web

Red tide: Electric blue waves wash California shore

BBC - Fri, 2018-05-11 07:01
Glowing blue algae have transformed California's coast.
Categories: Around The Web

Pages

Subscribe to Sustainable Engineering Society aggregator - Around The Web