climate action Archives - Page 11 of 15

Jun172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Nepal’s Wildfires Intensify: Over 5,000 Blazes Recorded in 2024 Amidst Climate Change and Forest Mismanagement Concerns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Nepal is grappling with an alarming increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires, with nearly 5,000 incidents recorded this year alone. This makes 2024 the second-worst year for wildfires since records began in 2002, surpassed only by the devastating fire season of 2021, which saw over 6,300 outbreaks. In the past 12 months, more than 100 people have lost their lives due to wildfires, and the capital city, Kathmandu, was shrouded in hazardous wildfire smog for days on end. Climate models predict that Nepal will continue to experience more frequent drought conditions in the future, likely exacerbating the wildfire situation. However, forest scientists suggest that the increasing incidence of wildfires is not solely due to climate change. They point to changes in Nepalese communit...

Jun152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Slowing of Earth’s Inner Core May Alter Length of Days, Study Reveals

Breaking News, Space

A groundbreaking study has found "clear evidence" that the Earth's inner core has slowed its rotation relative to the planet's surface since 2010, potentially affecting the length of a day by a fraction of a second. The inner core, a solid sphere of iron and nickel, is encased within the liquid outer core and stabilized by gravity. Researchers typically study the core through seismograms, which record waves generated by earthquakes. "When I first saw the seismograms showing these changes, I was shocked," said John Widale, Earth sciences professor at the University of Southern California. "But after finding dozens more observations with the same pattern, the conclusion was inescapable. The inner core has slowed down for the first time in decades," added Widale, co-author of the study ...

Jun152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Huge Success for Ozone Layer: Scientists Hail Rapid Decline in Harmful Gases, Thanks to Montreal Protocol

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Scientists said on Tuesday that international efforts to protect the ozone layer had been a "huge success" after they revealed that the harmful gas in the atmosphere is declining faster than previously thought. The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, aims to detect ozone-depleting substances found mainly in refrigerants, air conditioners, and aerosol sprays. New research has found that atmospheric levels of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), harmful gases that cause holes in the ozone layer, will rise in 2021—five years earlier than predicted. "This is a big achievement. We can see that things are going in the right direction," the lead author of the study, Luke Western, from the from the University of Bristol in England, told AFP. The most harmful CFCs were phased out in 2010 to...

Jun102024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Newly Discovered Fossils Suggest Ancient Age of Monotremes in Australia

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Bones encased in rock rotted away, and water-borne silica seeped into the crevices, solidifying into opal and preserving precious details for 100 million years. The resulting fossils now provide evidence that there may have been an Age of Monotremes before other mammals came to dominate. "It's like discovering a whole new civilization," says Australian Museum paleontologist Tim Flannery. "Today, Australia is known as a land of marsupials, but discovering these new fossils is the first indication that Australia was previously home to a diversity of monotremes." Currently, only five species of these rare mammals exist: one platypus and four echidna species, shared between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Due to their reptilian-like egg-laying feature, it has long been thought that these...

Jun52024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Human Activities Driving Record Levels of Global Warming, Study Finds

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Human activities are accelerating global warming at unprecedented rates, leading to a temperature rise of 1.19 degrees Celsius between 2014 and 2023, according to new research by over 50 leading international scientists. This marks an increase from the 1.14 degrees Celsius observed between 2013 and 2022, as revealed by the second annual Indicators of Global Climate Change report, spearheaded by the University of Leeds, UK. The study highlights that global warming induced by human actions is progressing at 0.26 degrees Celsius per decade, the fastest rate since record-keeping began. "Our analysis shows that the level of global warming caused by human action has continued to increase over the past year, even though climate action has slowed the rise in greenhouse gas emissions," stated Pr...

Jun42024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

El Nino Weather Pattern Cause High Global temperatures and Extreme Hearwave in 2024

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Record warmth has been easing as El Niño shows signs of ending. The return of the cold weather phenomenon La Nina this year should help bring down temperatures after several months of record global heat, the United Nations Weather Agency said on Monday. The impact is likely to be felt in the coming months as the El Nino weather pattern that causes global temperatures and extreme weather from mid-2023 "shows signs of ending," the UN's World Meteorological Organization said in its latest update. The WMO warns, however, that global temperatures will rise in the long term due to human-caused climate change, which continues to worsen extreme climates and increase seasonal rainfall and weather. La Nina is associated with cooling sea surface temperatures, changes in wind, rainfall, and ...

Jun22024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Reveals Predictable Patterns in Stick Insect Evolution

Breaking News, Environment

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered that the evolution of camouflage patterns in stick insects follows a predictable pattern, challenging the long-held belief that evolution is a haphazard process. The study, led by evolutionary biologist Patrik Nosil from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, examined 30 years of data on Timema cristinae stick insects. Nosil and his team focused on the camouflage traits of these insects, which are essential for their survival as they blend into their environment to avoid predators. The study, conducted along roadsides in the mountains near Santa Barbara, California, involved netting and cataloging over 32,000 insects. The researchers found that in all 10 geographically separated populations, the frequency of green an...

May312024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Orange Peels: A Potential Heart Health Boost Hiding in Your Kitchen

Breaking News, Environment, Idea & Innovations

Orange peels, often discarded as waste, might hold significant health benefits, according to a recent study by scientists at the University of Florida and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The study has discovered a novel bioactive compound in orange peels, called feruloylputrescine (FP), which shows promise in promoting heart health. Feruloylputrescine, previously found in grapefruit leaves and juice, has now been identified in orange peels. This compound does not appear in other citrus fruits like limes, lemons, tangerines, or mandarins. FP has garnered attention for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may contribute to cardiovascular health. Research Findings In a six-week experiment, mice were fed a nutritious orange peel extract rich in FP. The resu...

May292024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Urgency of Tackling Erratic Monsoons and Climate Change in India: Study

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments

India's monsoon season is approaching amid a heatwave, with the India Meteorological Department predicting "above normal" rainfall. The monsoon, critical for agriculture and water supply, has become increasingly erratic due to climate change, impacting the economy and livelihoods. Dissecting 40 Years of Rainfall Data As a data scientist, I have analyzed four decades of rainfall data across more than 4,500 Indian tehsils. Our research at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) shows significant changes in monsoon patterns, affecting local preparedness. For instance, historically arid states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and central Maharashtra have seen a 10-30% increase in southwest monsoon rains in the past decade. Conversely, around 11% of tehsils, particularly in the Indo-G...

May172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Unexpected Winter Strikes Chile as Autumn Weather Takes a Dramatic Turn

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Chile's capital, Santiago, was in the midst of autumn when an unexpected and extreme weather event occurred, signaling the abrupt onset of winter. Within hours, temperatures plummeted, breaking a 74-year record and catching residents off guard. Climatologists, like Raul Cordero from the University of Santiago, noted that such a rapid shift in weather during the autumn season has not been witnessed since 1950, marking an unprecedented and prolonged winter season. On Thursday morning, the mercury dropped to a chilling one degree Celsius in Santiago, with snow blanketing the surrounding mountains, further emphasizing the severity of the weather anomaly. This sudden change has left scientists worldwide astonished, highlighting it as a dangerous manifestation of climate change and categorizi...