Environment
EnvironmentPhytoplankton flourishes in Antarctic open areas of water where ice retreated
Large blooms of tiny marine plants called phytoplankton are flourishing in areas of open water left exposed by the recent and rapid melting of ice shelves and glaciers around the Antarctic Peninsula.
New UK energy plan anticipates 40% nuclear power by 2025
A huge expansion of nuclear power was signalled Monday by the British Government as it named 10 sites where new power stations could be built. The first is set to be operational by 2018 and, by 2025 nuclear electricity generation could amount to around 40% of new energy provision.
Lack of rain threatens the world’s highest lake in the world
The lack of rains in most of Bolivia has caused the level of the highest lake in the world, Titicaca, shared by Bolivia and Peru, to drop 4.5 metres in the last month, according to government reports quoted in La Paz press.
Caracas short or power and water for next six months
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez warned he will go after all those industries and factories private or government managed, that waste power and/or water.
Mega German project to power Europe with the Sahara sun
Plans to provide 15% of Europe’s power from solar power generators in the Sahara by 2050 have moved a step forward with the formation of a consortium of companies. The German-led Desertec Industrial Initiative (DII) has signed up 12 companies including E.ON, RWE, ABB, Siemens and Deutsche Bank, as well as solar specialists ABENGOA Solar, SCHOTT Solar and MAN Solar Millennium.
How scientists cracked puzzle of the Falklands wolf
The origin of the mysterious Falkland Islands wolf, which was persecuted to extinction in the late 19th century, may finally have been solved, 175 years after Charles Darwin puzzled over the nature of this curious fox-like creature, according to a piece written by The Independent Science editor Steve Connor on the Monday edition.
Massive oil spill from Australian underwater well; top brains unable to plug leak
An oil well at the centre of a massive spill in the Timor Sea off the North West coast of Australia is on fire. The company which runs the well, PTTEP Australasia, said the fire broke out as it made another attempt to plug a leak deep underwater at the West Atlas rig.
Methane gas more of a villain on climate change than estimated
The impacts of methane on climate change have been significantly underestimated, say scientists at Columbia University and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre. This effect is now thought to be one third higher than previous estimates.
Argentina’s Air Force Antarctic Marambio base celebrates fortieth anniversary
The Argentine Air Force commemorated on Thursday October 29 the fortieth anniversary of Air Base Vice-Commodore Gustavo Marambio, Argentina’s main logistic support in Antarctica which has seen uninterrupted activity since then.
China elaborating the “most complete” map of Antarctica
Chinese scientists are expected to conclude the most complete and precise map of Antarctica during their current expedition to the frozen continent. Although much of Antarctica has been chartered and collected in maps by different countries this latest edition to be finished at the end of this year has been described “as the most complete so far”, according to a report in the Global Times.
