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State minister says Australia’s NEG unacceptable in current version
Country diary: metamorphosis in a museum tower
Oxford University Museum: For 70 years, researchers have been watching ‘particularly hideous’ young swifts turn into long-winged angels
This glorious structure is a place rich in history. As we walked through the galleries our guide paused to show us the great oak door behind which Bishop Wilberforce confronted “Darwin’s bulldog”, Thomas Huxley, in their famous debate on evolution. We, however, were intent on a more modest fraction of the building’s past. For it was here in 1947 that the ecologists Elizabeth and David Lack noticed how breeding swifts were vanishing into air vents in the roof’s slate-covered tower.
Continue reading...AEMO's new electricity plan is neither a death knell nor a shot in the arm for coal
Only 2% of lithium-ion batteries in Australia are recycled, report says
CSIRO says lack of consumer awareness is ‘number one issue’ affecting recycling
Australians have to boost their recycling of lithium-ion batteries, a new CSIRO report has found.
Consumers only recycle 2% of our lithium-ion batteries, and an estimated $813m to $3bn worth of valuable components is in landfill. The commonly-used rechargeable batteries are used in mobile phones, laptops, household appliances and, increasingly, electric vehicles.
Continue reading...Swan upping on the Thames: counting the Queen's birds – in pictures
This week marks the annual stocktake of the crown’s swans on the River Thames, known as swan upping. The process of counting the swans on the river and identifying them as belonging to the Queen or one of the two City livery companies that also have rights to them – has been carried out since the 12th century, when the birds were so prized for their meat that all wild swans in England were appropriated as property of the crown. The pomp, finery and techniques of swan upping would be familiar to the villagers who looked on centuries ago
Continue reading...Dumas, VW sets new EV speed record at Goodwood
Common cranes 'here to stay' after recolonising eastern England
Model predicts population of UK’s tallest bird could double within 50 years after its return to the east of England following a 400-year absence
Common cranes which recolonised eastern England less than 40 years ago after a 400-year absence are now here to stay, research has found.
There could be as many as 275 breeding pairs of the UK’s tallest bird within 50 years, scientists at the University of Exeter, the RSPB and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) predict.
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AEMO report shows only ‘6 coal-fired power stations’ will be left: Bandt
Ergon takes steps to manage booming rooftop solar uptake
Renewables overtake coal as Germany’s most important power source
Western Sydney Uni solar car wins first leg of American Solar Challenge
ACT won’t back NEG in current form, despite intense pressure
Bad news for coal-huggers: Renewables at 50% by 2030
Endangered bandicoot 'should never have been brought to South Australia'
Researchers say the western barred bandicoot was actually five species and those ‘reintroduced’ would never have lived in SA
An endangered Australian bandicoot that was reintroduced to the Australian mainland is now believed to be one of five distinct species, and researchers say it may have been a mistake to introduce it to South Australia.
Scientists working for the Western Australian Museum have published research that concludes that what has been known as the western barred bandicoot is in fact five distinct species – four of which had become extinct by the 1940s as a result of agriculture and introduced predators. The species were closely related but occurred in different parts of Australia.
Continue reading...Prehistoric bake-off: Recipe for oldest bread revealed
Heatwave to bring hosepipe ban to north-east England
United Utilities says 7 million customers will be affected by first ban since 2012
Millions of households in the north-west of England will face the first hosepipe ban in the country since 2012 after the UK’s longest heatwave in more than 40 years.
The water company United Utilities said 7 million customers would be affected by the ban, which is due to come into force on 5 August.
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