Tag

ecosystems

Global Warming and the Rare Haleakala Silverswords

One of the most spectacular sights in the Hawaiian Islands is the Haleakalā Volcano. This amazing volcano rises more than 10,000 feet from near sea level at its base. The ecosystems change dramatically as you drive up the twisting road that takes you to the summit. Near the top, you s
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Desertification solution? Olive Trees.

The planting of ten of thousands of olive trees in arid areas in Israel have proved highly beneficial, according to a study which said the trees provide shade for animals, purge the air and even produce excellent olive oil. ADVERTISEMENT The study was conducted by the Faculty of Agric
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Should deep-sea mining go ahead in Papua New Guinea?

The fate of a currently halted deep-sea mining project in the Pacific is being watched closely by a number of parties. ADVERTISEMENT Mining companies hope that the project might become the start of an extraordinary bonanza of mineral deposits, but environmentalists are fearful that al
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Tree height and leaf size dependent on internal physics

The tallest trees in the world can grow up around 100 meters (think of a tree climbing the length of an entire football field!) but if a tree has all the necessary sunlight, water, and space what actually stops a tree from growing even taller? ADVERTISEMENT According to researchers at
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Terapod Backbone

Research published today in the journal Nature documents, for the first time, the intricate three-dimensional structure of the backbone in the earliest four-legged animals (tetrapods). The international team of scientists, led by Dr Stephanie Pierce from the University’s Zoology Depar
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2012 Weather in Review

From tropical storms and hurricanes like Sandy, to extended heat waves and detrimental summer droughts, to unprecedented wildfire outbreaks in the American West, 2012 marked a historic year for extreme weather events in the United States. ADVERTISEMENT In fact, 2012 takes the prize fo
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El Salvador Prioritizes Geothermal Energy Development

During the last two decades, the global installed capacity for geothermal electricity has nearly doubled. Despite this recent expansion, geothermal energy is not getting the same level of attention as other renewable energy resources, and it remains heavily underutilized. If the world
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Eating Sustainable Seafood

In the sea, almost everything that swims, burrows or crawls can be presented on a plate and eaten. Yet many marine species aren’t well known among chefs and diners. The lack of variety on the menu represents not only a loss of culinary opportunity, but also a potential source of
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Invasive Aquarium Fish

Home tropical fish aquariums are home to a number of pretty fish and seaweeds. Perfectly harmless right? Not in the wrong environment. It is surprising how hardy some of them can be if let loose in the wild. In a report released today to the California Ocean Protection Council, lead a
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Coral Fighting Back

Corals are marine animals typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton. Coral reefs are under stress around the world often du
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