Worldwatch
A rise in space tourism poses serious risks to Earth
Soot from space tourism is 500 times more damaging for the climate than soot from all other sources Space tourism could undo decades of work to repair the ozone layer and have a greater effect on the climate than the aviation industry, according to a new study by scientists at UCL, MIT and the University […]
Cryopreservation and nature’s SAFE
Cryopreservation could offer a future for the world’s most endangered species In a laboratory in Shropshire, hundreds of little vials hold the promise of life. This is Nature’s SAFE, where scientists are storing the cells of endangered species in the hope of safeguarding their future. Carefully frozen in cryoprotectants (like antifreeze), these cells will be […]
Plight of the Scottish salmon
With Scotland’s salmon under threat, environmental groups are planting trees along riverbanks to help save them The Atlantic salmon of Scotland are hardy and determined animals. Each spring and summer, they return from the North Atlantic Ocean to breed in Scotland’s shallow rivers, leaping up waterfalls and over weirs, propelling themselves upstream in a Herculean […]
Anthropocene timeline: the human footprint
In 2016, the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) voted in favour of recognising a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene. Whether its decision will be ratified by the International Union of Geological Sciences remains to be seen, but what is certain is that our species has left numerous marks on the Earth’s systems, environment, processes and biodiversity. […]
The weird creatures inhabiting the lava tubes of Hawaii
Unearthing the endemic Hawaiian species that have adapted to life below ground inside lava tubes Beneath the surface of Hawaii lies a subterranean world inhabited by pale, eyeless creatures. The volcanoes that created the island chain also built labyrinthine systems of lava tunnels that extend for kilometres underground. The upper reaches shelter bats and invasive […]
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Long reads
Book reviews
Geo explainers
Geo explainer: What causes heatwaves?
What exactly is a heatwave, when and why do they happen, and how is climate change having an impact on them?
Geo explainer: Cleaning up Mount Everest
The world’s highest mountain is covered in rubbish, but plans for Mount Everest clean up operations are underway
Geo explainer: The threats to coral reefs
Coral reefs are important for the huge humber of species they harbour, but they are increasingly under threat
Geo explainer: Exploring the Mariana Trench
The Mariana Trench is the deepest-known and explored point in the ocean, with many secrets yet to be revealed
The world’s fastest growing cities by population
By 2050, 68 per cent of the world population is projected to live in urban areas. Here are the world’s 10 fastest growing cities
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Editor’s Pick
Indonesia: living next to a volcano
In Indonesia, more than five million people live close to active volcanos. Photographer Putu Sayoga documents their lives
Podcast: Rewilding lost ecosystems
Rewilding has the power to safeguard species and restore lost ecosystems, but getting it right isn’t always a walk in the park
Sweden and Finland to join NATO
Tim Marshall looks at Sweden and Finland joining NATO and what it means for Europe’s strategic geopolitics
Sexuality and the city: the changing geography of LGBTQ spaces
In cities around the world, the geography of homosexuality is shifting. Queer people are finding new ways to gather
Rewilding Rwanda’s Akagera National Park
Rwanda’s Akagera National Park was on the verge of being lost. But work is underway to bring the park’s ecosystems back to life.
