Feed aggregator

A deep-sea swimming sea cucumber has been filmed in the Southern Ocean off East Antarctica for the first time.

Creature filmed off east Antartica using technology developed by Australian researchers

A deep-sea cucumber known as a “headless chicken monster” has been filmed in the Southern Ocean for the first time using camera technology developed by Australian researchers.

The creature was filmed off east Antarctica and it is the first time the species has been seen in the area. 

Continue reading...

George Eustice’s boast that government strategy is working called untrue by vets and animal specialists

Government claims that the controversial badger cull is reducing tuberculosis rates in cattle have been undermined by a group of leading vets and animal welfare experts who have shared data that, they say, confirms it has made no difference.

Last month the farming minister George Eustice said: “Reductions in TB cases in Somerset and Gloucestershire are evidence that our strategy is delivering results.” But the group, which includes Iain McGill, the former government vet who helped expose the BSE cover-up, Adam Grogan, head of wildlife at the RSPCA, and Mark Jones, head of policy at the Born Free Foundation, disagrees.

Continue reading...

For the second time in two months, a long-held conservative seat is lost to an independent campaigning on climate and energy. But don't expect the idiocy of the Coalition to stop.

The post Wentworth wipe-out won’t shift Coalition on climate and energy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Fish eaters advised to ‘Say No’ due to environmental concerns surrounding Tasmania’s salmon farming industry

It’s one of Australia’s – and the world’s – favourite fish but Tasmanian Atlantic salmon should be off the menu for now, according to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, publishers of Australia’s independent sustainable seafood guide.

On Wednesday, the AMCS downgraded the farmed fish’s rating from an amber “Think Twice” to a red “Say No” due to ongoing environmental concerns. The previous review was in 2015.

Continue reading...

European settlers suspected Australia's high tropical forests hid native rhododendrons. Stuart Worboys, Laboratory and Technical Support Officer, Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It was feared that Luzia, a 12,000-year-old fossil, had been totally lost in the Brazil fire.

One tremor was magnitude 0.3, the level beyond which experts say fracking has to proceed with caution

A series of small earthquakes have been detected in Lancashire close to the site where major fracking operations began this week.

The British Geological Survey, which provides impartial advice on environmental processes, recorded four tremors in the vicinity of the energy firm Cuadrilla’s site on Preston New Road near Blackpool on Friday.

Continue reading...

Tiny automated machines could soon take care of the entire growing process. Fewer chemicals, more efficient – where’s the downside?

In a quiet corner of rural Hampshire, a robot called Rachel is pootling around an overgrown field. With bright orange casing and a smartphone clipped to her back end, she looks like a cross between an expensive toy and the kind of rover used on space missions. Up close, she has four USB ports, a disc-like GPS receiver, and the nuts and bolts of a system called Lidar, which enables her to orient herself using laser beams. She cost around £2,000 to make.

Every three seconds, Rachel takes a closeup photograph of the plants and soil around her, which will build into a forensic map of the field and the wider farm beyond. After 20 minutes or so of this, she is momentarily disturbed by two of the farm’s dogs, unsure what to make of her.

Continue reading...

The Poralia rufescens is swimming off the coast of southern California in the Pacific Ocean.

Scheme launched by ethical investment platform Abundance offers 12% interest

A “green” investment that pays 12% interest and involves putting your money into a major tidal energy project was launched this week.

But that high rate indicates this is a great deal riskier than putting your money into a high street savings account, with no compensation if things go wrong. So this is not one for the risk-averse.

Continue reading...

Chinese ban on waste imports is significantly affecting UK councils’ ability to collect and recycle plastic

Major problems in the plastic recycling industry are costing local councils in England up to £500,000 extra a year, as they struggle to deal with the continuing fallout from import bans imposed by countries who are no longer able to take the UK’s waste.

A survey by the Local Government Association (LGA) revealed nearly half of councils who responded (52) say China’s ban is having a significant impact on their ability to collect and recycle plastic, due to rising costs. Fourteen councils across the country say their recycling costs have increased by an average of half a million pounds a year, in part because of rising processing charges per tonne.

Continue reading...

The survival of one of the rarest butterflies in the world is entirely reliant on a ant.

The sci-fi plan would use giant mirrors in space to light city streets, but scientists are sceptical.

Something fishy is happening with the world's finite resources.

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

EUAs ended slightly lower on Friday but held above key trend support and near €20 to post a small weekly loss.

Council in Kent told that disturbing the whale would breach wildlife law

It has attracted plenty of spectators during its stay. But Benny the lost beluga whale, who took up residence in the Thames last month, may end up leaving the crowds disappointed after it was announced that a fireworks display would have to be postponed to protect him.

About 15,000 people were expected to gather for the annual bonfire night celebrations in Gravesend, Kent, on 2 November to see a display set off from a barge on the river.

Continue reading...

Due to growth, South Pole is looking for a Business Development Director to focus on strengthening its worldwide market leading position in Sustainability and Climate Change mitigation.

As part of the Key Account Management team you will be responsible for managing a portfolio of prestigious clients and supporting new business development at South Pole.