Wax on, wax off: What do plant roots and karate have in common? A particular type of wax that accumulates on the surface of plant root cells is vital for their nutrient balance, new study shows. The results truly challenge the way we think about plant growth and plant root adaptations.
Green transition: The whole world can learn from a small town in Iceland A small town in northern Iceland has gone almost CO2-neutral. Researchers went there to find out how they did it and what we can learn from them.
Human blood can help rescue world’s climate Today CO2 is removed from industry by using molecules called amines, which react with CO2. DTU has developed a new method using molecules from the human blood to remove CO2. The new technology could help prevent climate change.
From lethal spider toxins to eco-friendly pesticides Biological insecticides are naturally derived pesticides that represent an environmentally friendly alternative to many of the existing pesticides used in agriculture. More recently, spider toxins have been employed to develop highly specific pest control agents that have been introduced to the market.
Finding eco-friendly alternatives to cotton — in the forest Finnish researchers are now making fabric from trees, cardboard and old newspapers as a possible alternative to cotton.
Loss of marine habitats is threatening the global fishing industry – new research New study reveals the first quantitative global evidence for the significant roles that seagrasses play in supporting fishery productivity.
Schizophrenia more prevalent away from green spaces “We still don’t understand all of the reasons for schizophrenia, so it’s really exciting and important to have this information,” says one of Denmark’s leading experts in the condition.
Focusing on microplastic in honey or beer masks a much bigger problem OPINION: General exposure to plastic and microplastics is a bigger concern.
Meet the mud dragon: The tiny animal that lives on the beach This fascinating dragon-like animal can be found on beaches all over the world. But you will need a microscope to see one.
The Baltic Sea needs an intervention According to scientists, farming is now the biggest source of pollution in the Baltic Sea.
Beautiful buildings are more sustainable It is not all about energy efficiency. Preserving beautiful old buildings that are functional and use high quality materials is a form of sustainability, say researchers.
Is all soil more acidic than we thought? Our research suggests that it is and that we’ve been measuring soil acidity wrong for years. This could have big implications for our understanding of many fundamental biological processes.
Greenland’s recent temperature drop does not disprove global warming Unfortunately, the planet is still getting warmer.
Scientists combat a tricky soil High plasticity clay has challenged Danish engineers for decades, yet we still know very little about the clay, which can cause severe damage to buildings. A new research project aims to change that.
Northern European peatland birds down more than one third since 1981 But urgent conservation actions could reverse this trend.
How hurricanes such as Irma and Maria can devastate the Caribbean marine environment Ineffective marine protection rules leave the environment unable to recover when disaster strikes.
Hear a whale calf speak to its mother Scientists have recorded conversations between mother humpback whales and their calves for the first time. The recording shows how young whales “whisper” to their mothers so that potential predators cannot hear them.
Four big changes in the Arctic and what to do about them “The Arctic is heading for a train wreck” and the window to confront the worst of these changes is narrowing, say scientists behind a recent report. Here is what we can do.
New report: how the Arctic will look in 30 years The Arctic climate is entering a new state, say the scientists behind a new pan-Arctic report. But implementing the Paris Climate Agreement in full could stave off some of the biggest changes post 2050.
Plastic waste from Europe and USA ends up in the Arctic In just a few decades, the Arctic Ocean has become a dumping ground for plastic waste from the USA and Northwest Europe, shows a new study. Over time, plastics from as far away as China could also reach the Arctic.
New study reveals how climate change will overturn nature A new review shows just how climate change is expected to change the distribution of all animals on planet Earth, and impact on our own livelihoods. It is an all encompassing and thorough review, say scientists.
Tiny bird’s poo has tremendous impact on Greenland’s nature The little auk can affect the living conditions for a range of animals in Northwest Greenland, shows new research.
Global genetic diversity mapped by new study New method couples genes and geography to produce the first global map of genetic diversity.
Happy salmon swim further Some salmon are nervous nellies and apprehensive about swimming far out to sea, but not so if they can get a boost from anti-anxiety drugs.
Scientists risk their lives in the wilds of Greenland Neither snowstorms nor hungry polar bears could keep a group of scientists from studying musk oxen migration in North Greenland.
Scientists trace unknown ocean life from a can of water Scientists have discovered a new method to map animal life in the deep ocean, using only DNA samples contained in a can of water.
How plants use chemical weapons to protect themselves Scientists have discovered how plants fend off insects and fungal attacks using chemical poisons like hydrogen cyanide.
Traffic noise and pollution increase risk of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy Pregnant women living near noisy streets with heavy traffic have a higher risk of experiencing pre-eclampsia.
Climate change threatens the existence of Arctic musk oxen Rising temperatures are making Arctic musk oxen struggle so much to find food that their very existence could soon be threatened, say scientists.
A small fly is a super pollinator in the Arctic VIDEO: An international research group has found that a small cousin of the housefly is responsible for much of the plant pollination in the Arctic.
Ancient crops are the future for our dinner plate VIDEO: New research project aims to revolutionise the way we eat.
Viking horse breeders developed the ‘ambling gait’ New research shows that we probably have the Vikings to thank for modern horse riding's most comfortable riding style--the ambling gait.
This Arctic town has running water for just four months of the year GREENLAND: How do you supply running water when it is frozen for most of the year? The Greenlandic town of Qaanaaq has some creative solutions.
A great year for blueberries Forget those kicks on Route 66, get your thrills on blueberry hills all over Norway, Sweden and Finland! Researchers predict a recordbreaking year for blueberries.
Greenlandic fjords get their organic matter from Russia GREENLAND: A simple chemical technique sheds new light on ocean circulation in the Arctic and could help improve computer models of ocean circulation.
Take a tour of an Arctic monitoring site GREENLAND: Explore how scientists in Greenland are monitoring environmental change in the Arctic with our interactive map of the GEM-monitoring site.
Pumping CO2 into volcanic rock transforms it into limestone in record time The greenhouse gas was pumped into basalt rock and turned into limestone in just two years.
Can you spot the walrus? GREENLAND: Scientists in Greenland are developing fast and efficient ways to monitor walrus populations in remote locations using high-resolution satellite images. If successful, the technique could be rolled out to other species.
Pollution can increase the risk of stillbirths Living in a heavily polluted area can increase the risk of stillbirths, shows new study.
Arctic sea ice at a record low Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is at a record low for this time of year, as monthly temperature records continue to soar around the world.
New Book: Ice-free Greenland in photos and science GREENLAND: Dramatic mountains, lush valleys, desert plains, deep fjords and more, are brought to life in a vivid new book: The Ice-Free Greenland.
Ravens can be as clever as chimps A Swedish study shows that corvids – birds of or resembling the crow family – can be just as smart at certain tasks as chimpanzees, even though their brains are very much smaller.
Chemists take top prize in Danish Research of the Year Award The award went to researchers who turned conventional wisdom on its head and discovered how a single species of bacteria was behind the entire nitrification process.
Buttock hair used to monitor Arctic musk ox GREENLAND: Musk ox are a key species in the Arctic, but populations are in decline. A new method is helping scientists to monitor these animals in often difficult to reach, remote locations.
Charcoal makes African soil more fertile and productive West African farmers are transforming nutrient-poor rainforest land in to fertile soil and their crops are thriving. It might be the solution to food shortages in the African tropics, say scientists.
Eels can escape the Mediterranean Sea Electronic tags reveal that eels can and do make it out of the Mediterranean Sea to reach their breeding grounds in the Atlantic.
Scientists: Deep-sea fish can solve world food shortages There is a lot of food hiding in the deep ocean and it could help feed the entire world. But we must take care not to overfish, marine scientists warn.
Manure can spread antibiotic resistance Manure from farm stables can promote genes in bacteria that help make them resistant to antibiotics, shows new study.
Bacteria can make your bacon sandwich climate friendly New project attempts to replace soy proteins with proteins from methane-eating bacteria to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Scientists: Rewilding is a Pandora’s box Scientists speak out against rewilding projects, where lost species are reintroduced into the wild.
Why are banned chemicals still killing killer whales? Levels of toxic PCBs in some whale and dolphin species are now so high that it could mark the end for one of Europe’s top predators.
Top four ocean threats according to marine scientists Overfishing, global warming, waste and contamination, and ocean acidification are at the forefront of scientists concerns.
New model can help predict flooding two days in advance A new model can monitor underground water in real-time and will help to improve early flood warnings.
Plants could be unreliable for us as carbon sinks A new technique reveals how the metabolism of terrestrial plants has increased– and can decrease – with rising atmospheric CO2 levels.
COP21 agreement is unclear and unrealistic: scientists While world leaders are still patting themselves on the back over the new climate deal, scientists begin to voice their concerns.
COP21: Still far away from a two degree global warming limit The world holds its breath as 150 world leaders attempt to negotiate a deal to limit global warming. What have they agreed on so far?
COP21: Are we ready for what climate change has in store? Whatever happens after the COP21 meeting in Paris, climate will change. So how ready are we for what the future has in store?
Deadly virus discovered in Scandinavian geese A virus that plagues wild geese in North America has now been detected in Scandinavia.
Half of Amazon Rainforests on the verge of extinction Up to 57 per cent of all tree species in the Amazon Rainforest are on the verge of extinction, shows new research.
Algae: the future sustainable super crop Research into algae makes it increasingly clear that these plants have huge potential for the sustainable production of everything from food to medicine.
Large animals have removed 80 per cent of forests Without large animals such as elephants, deer, and bison, much of the world would quickly return to forest, shows new research.
Irrigation is the source of inequality Water scarcity in the past laid the ground for large differences in wealth and political power today.
Climate and intensive farming push European birds into decline Bird populations in Europe both benefit and suffer from warmer temperatures, while many populations are in decline due to threats posed by intensive agriculture.
Giant-eyed fish discovered in Greenland Discovery of a new species of fish confirms that the deep sea of the North Atlantic still hides many unexplored secrets.
Why some companies are becoming environmental activists OPINION: After decades of activists campaigning against companies’ poor environmental records, are companies suddenly becoming environmental activists themselves?
This is how we motivate people to tackle climate change Psychologists have a new way to make people act on climate change, regardless if they do not accept the underlying science.
Underground animal world crucial for life above ground New study shows that subterranean bacteria, worms, and beetles play a critical role in climate and plant life above ground.
Udzungwa! Photos of a forgotten rainforest In the past 35 years, scientists have discovered several new species in one of Africa's forgotten rainforests.
Queues move faster if the last person is served first Serving the last person to arrive in the queue could surprisingly cut waiting times, shows new research.
Wild horses could soon return to Europe Scientists say we could have wild horse populations running free in just two decades.
How to save the oceans and the food they provide Seven key issues face the oceans, among them climate change and over fishing. Read the whole list here and get the scientists’ best ideas on how to save both the oceans and the food they provide.
Urban planners have little sway on lowering use of cars Environmentally friendly cities with densely populated downtown centres offering a comprehensive array of services are not what changes people’s use of cars; the key lies with the residents themselves.
Ancient living soil microbes discovered over two kilometres beneath the seafloor A new study has drilled deeper into the seabed than ever before, and discovered a thriving community of ancient soil microbes, tens of millions of years old
Scientists: The oceans are changing and so should we An international group of researchers offer solutions on how to rescue the oceans and their fishy inhabitants from rising temperatures and overfishing by ever-hungry humans.
A new type of rice produces more food and cuts methane emissions Scientists have developed a new type of rice plant that produces less methane gas than existing varieties, whilst also producing more rice.
Only one way to get rid of Spanish slugs Forget all about beer traps and slug pellets. Only one method will rid your garden of irritating Spanish slugs, says scientist.
Chimpanzee hands and feet amputated by snares Snares have wounded almost half the chimpanzees in a Ugandan national park. Scientists investigate how this affects the chimps’ lives.
Women are greener in traffic Swedish researchers think the planet might be less threatened by air pollution from cars if more men followed the example of women.
