“Melted nuclear fuel” finally found at Fukushima

23 July 2017 (BBC News) – An underwater robot has captured what is believed to be the first images of melted nuclear fuel deposits inside Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, its operator Tepco says. Large amounts of solidified lava-like rocks and lumps in layers were seen underneath its unit three reactor. If confirmed, it would […]

Hopes of mild climate change dashed by new research – “All the models show there is an amplification of the amount of warming in the future”

By Damian Carrington 5 July 2017 (The Guardian) – Hopes that the world’s huge carbon emissions might not drive temperatures up to dangerous levels have been dashed by new research. The work shows that temperature rises measured over recent decades do not fully reflect the global warming already in the pipeline and that the ultimate […]

Tropical sea creatures seen for first time near Alaska – “We are clearly seeing really big changes in the marine ecosystem”

JUNEAU, Alaska, 3 July 2017 (The Associated Press) – Strange sea creatures that resemble large pink thimbles are showing up on the coast of southeast Alaska for the first time after making their way north along the West Coast for the last few years.Scientists say the creatures are pyrosomes, which are tropical, filter-feeding spineless creatures […]

Marine expert warns of climate emergency as fish abandon tropical waters – “Now nothing protects the fish”

By Helen Davidson 14 June 2017 DARWIN (The Guardian) – As climate change pushes marine species towards cooler waters, and the fishing industry expands around the globe, the tropics are emptying out, a leading fisheries expert has warned.The federal government is expected to release its new management plan for marine reserves in coming weeks, after […]

Scientists throw light on mysterious ice age temperature jumps – “A gradual rise of CO2 within the atmosphere can hit a tipping point, triggering abrupt temperature shifts that drastically affect the climate across the Northern Hemisphere”

20 June 2017 (Cardiff University) – Scientists believe they have discovered the reason behind mysterious changes to the climate that saw temperatures fluctuate by up to 15°C within just a few decades during the ice age periods. In a new study published today, the researchers show that rising levels of CO2 could have reached a […]

A climate chain reaction: Major Greenland melting could devastate crops in Africa

By Chelsea Harvey 6 June 2017 (The Washington Post) – As melting Greenland glaciers continue to pour ice into the Arctic Ocean, we have more than the rising seas to worry about, scientists say. A new study suggests that if it gets large enough, the influx of freshwater from the melting ice sheet could disrupt […]

Could global warming shut down the Gulf Stream?

By Renee Cho 6 June 2017 (Earth Institute) – The 2004 disaster movie, The Day After Tomorrow, depicted the cataclysmic effects—superstorms, tornadoes and deep freezes— resulting from the impacts of climate change. In the movie, global warming had accelerated the melting of polar ice, which disrupted circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean, triggering violent changes […]

UN Ocean Conference opens with calls for united action to reverse human damage

5 June 2017 (United Nations) – Opening a “game-changing” international conference on the health of the world’s oceans and seas, top United Nations officials today urged coordinated global action to protect the planet.Speaking in the UN General Assembly Hall, Secretary-General António Guterres cautioned Governments that unless they overcome short-term territorial and resource interests, the state […]

Is deep sea mining vital for a greener future, even if it destroys ecosystems? “Mining will be the greatest assault on deep-sea ecosystems ever inflicted by humans”

By Damian Carrington 4 June 2017 (The Guardian) – Mining the deep ocean floor for valuable metals is both inevitable and vital, according to the scientists, engineers, and industrialists exploring the world’s newest mining frontier. The special metals found in rich deposits there are critical for smart electronics and crucial green technologies, such as solar […]

Hundreds of huge craters discovered in floor of the Arctic Ocean

By Sarah Zhang 1 June 2017 (The Atlantic) – When Karin Andreassen set out for the Barents Sea, she knew she would find a lot of methane. The cold, shallow body of water just north of Norway meets Russia is home to oil and gas fields, and methane—the main component of natural gas—naturally seeps out […]

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