Food security road map while adapting to climate change

While recent climate negotiations in Durban made incremental progress toward helping farmers adapt to climate change and reduce agriculture's climate footprint, a group of international agriculture experts urges scientists to lay the groundwork for more decisive action on global food security in environmental negotiations in 2012.

Impact of land use activity in the Amazon basin evaluated

Portions of the Amazon basin are experiencing a transition in energy and water cycles. Evidence suggests that the Amazon may also be transitioning from a net carbon sink to a net source. This research shows that although the Amazon is resilient to individual disturbances, such as drought, multiple disturbances override this, increasing the vulnerability of forest ecosystems to degradation. This review provides a framework for understanding the associations between natural variability and drivers of change.

'Miracle tree' substance produces clean drinking water inexpensively and sustainably

A natural substance obtained from seeds of the "miracle tree" could purify and clarify water inexpensively and sustainably in the developing world, where more than 1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, scientists report.

Can we save the whales by putting a price on them?

Every year, anti-whaling groups spend millions of dollars on activities intended to end commercial whaling. And every year, commercial whaling not only continues, but grows. While protests, education, lobbying and dangerous confrontations on the high seas have saved some whales, the whaling industry shows no sign of shutting down -- or slowing down. Now, an economist and two marine scientists suggest a new strategy that they believe could save whales by putting a price on them.

Engineers make 'building blocks of chemical industry' from wood while boosting production 40 percent

Chemical engineers using a catalytic fast pyrolysis process that transforms renewable non-food biomass into petrochemicals, have developed a new catalyst that boosts the yield for five key "building blocks of the chemical industry" by 40 percent compared to previous methods.

New hope to save hemlock trees from attack

Thousands of broken trees line the banks of the Chattooga River. The dead gray stabs were once evergreen monsters offering shade to trout and picturesque views to visitors. These Eastern hemlocks are dying rapidly, and researchers are working to save them.

Chronic poverty stalks Haitian earthquake victims still living in camps

A new study of aid to Haiti finds that 36 percent of households in the directly affected area -- and 54 percent of those living in camps -- still have not recovered to their pre-earthquake levels almost two years after the disaster.

Stop abusing insecticides in rice, experts urge

To prevent devastating insect pest outbreaks in rice that cause millions of dollars of damage, the International Rice Research Institute has called for a ban on certain insecticides in rice production as part of its new Action plan to reduce planthopper damage to rice crops in Asia.

Community Conservation in Zanzibar: Not just mangroves and monkeys

The sustainable development goals of community conservation in Zanzibar raise more complex issues than just protecting monkeys and mangroves. Contingent socio-economic and cultural factors must be taken into account when planning and implementing conservation initiatives if they are to endure, let alone succeed.

The impact of human activities on a selection of lakes in Tanzania

An increase in human activity is posing a threat to natural aquatic ecosystems in Tanzania and contributing to environmental damage and ecological changes. New research shows that agriculture and livestock farming leads to eutrophication in lakes and the proliferation of cyanobacteria which produce microcystins. New information about microcystins and other mycotoxins in Tanzanian lakes is useful for appraising the risk linked to drinking water and edible fish, which in turn affects the health of both humans and animals.

What are the prospects for sustaining high-quality groundwater?

New research has looked at nitrate transport from agricultural land to water in the Thames basin in the UK.

Global forests are overlooked as water suppliers, study shows

The forests of the world supply a significant amount of moisture that creates rain. A new study reveals how this important contribution of forests to the hydrologic cycle is often overlooked in water resource policy, such as that of the EU.

New solar-powered classroom brings science to schools in developing countries

An innovative project is using solar generators to provide IT resources and 'hands-on' science for students in developing countries.

Building a sustainable hydrogen economy

The concept of the hydrogen economy (HE), in which hydrogen would replace the carbon-based fossil fuels of the twentieth century was first mooted in the 1970s. Today, HE is seen as a potential solution to the dual global crises of climate change and dwindling oil reserves. A research article suggests that HE is wrong and SHE has the answer in the sustainable hydrogen economy.

Solar power much cheaper to produce than most analysts realize, study finds

The public is being kept in the dark about the viability of solar photovoltaic energy, according to a new study.

Farming crucial for threatened species in developing world

A number of threatened species in the developing world are entirely dependent on human agriculture for their survival, according to new research.

Six myths about electricity in the U.S. South dubunked

Clean energy can help meet growing electricity demand and minimize pollution in the Southern United States, but progress to adopt renewable energy strategies has been hindered by a number of myths, according to a new study.

Cost-effectiveness of biofuels and their ability to cut fossil fuel use questioned

A new study questions the cost-effectiveness of biofuels and says they would barely reduce fossil fuel use and would likely increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Mast from classic racing yacht holds one of the keys to sustainable biofuels

The mast from a classic racing yacht and samples from a breeding trial have played a key role in the search for sustainable biofuels.

The shadows in a city reveal its energy flow

Researchers have created "shadow models" and a type of software that calculates the amount of solar radiation that reaches streets and buildings in high resolution. According to new results, they could help to optimize the energy consumption of cities.