In pictures - are peatlands the answer to climate change?

Peatlands can store vast amounts of carbon dioxide making them vital in the fight against climate change (Image credit: Getty Images)

>> Where are the UK's biggest peat bogs? How much carbon do they store?

News in brief - Monday 21st October

Acidification of the oceans will cause mass extinction
A new report has shown that acidification of the oceans from carbon dioxide absorption will significantly reduce the amount of wildlife that can be sustained within it; scientists are warning of an 'ecological collapse' which could occur if species such as coral and phytoplankton were to die out

Promising future of solar power
Growth in the use of solar power could mean that the solar power industry will grow by 50% in the next 25 years; this would bring an end to the rise in use of fossil fuels such as coal and oil

In pictures - Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition winner

This confrontation between a fox and a marmot in China has won the award of Wildlife of the Year competition (Image credit: Yongqing Bao)

>> What do you think could be happening in this photo? Lots of people have been creating funny captions to go with this photo; can you think of one?!

News in brief - Wednesday 16th October

Humpback whale population recovering
The number of humpback whales in the southwest Atlantic has risen back up to 25,000, around 90% of its total original level before commercial whale hunting and fishing began; in the 1920s, the number of whales was so low that hunters went after different species and humpback whales were given protected status

Summer temperature records broken
During the summer of 2019, almost 400 temperature records were broken in the northern hemisphere; most of the record highs were in Germany, France and the Netherlands, and many scientists believe that this is trend that is set to continue

In pictures - aftermath of Typhoon Hagibis

Authorities in Japan are still dealing with flooding and homelessness after the typhoon last week (Image credit: Reuters)

>> What are the secondary impacts of a tropical storm such as this? How long do you think it will be until normal life resumes in a country like Japan?

News in brief - Tuesday 15th October

New government environmental bill
The UK government has published a new list of environmental priorities which include improving air and water quality, reducing plastic pollution, restoring wildlife and targeting the causes of climate change; an independent watchdog is set to monitor these targets and make sure the government is held accountable

Promising future of renewables
Rapid progress in renewable energy innovation may bring an end to fossil fuels earlier than previously thought; in the last year, the UK saw greater energy production from renewable sources than ever before

In pictures - Typhoon Hagibis makes landfall

Typhoon Hagibis moves towards Japan bringing high winds and heavy rain (Image credit: Cyclocane)

>> How could a country like Japan prepare for these typhoons? Why do you think these storms are getting worse?

News in brief - Friday 11th October

Typhoon Hagibis set to hit Japan
One of the strongest tropical storms in recent decades is set to hit Japan this weekend; people have been warned to take precautions as the 140mph winds sweep across the country brining heavy rain

The problem of microplastics
Scientists are investigating what the real risks of eating microplastics might be to our health; researchers are looking into how microplastics are invested by animals such as lungworms and can easily move up the food chain to seafood which humans might eat

California state bans animal fur
From 2023, people living in California will not be allowed to make or sell any items that contain real animal fur; this move is something for which animal rights campaigners have been calling for sometime

In pictures - ozone layer repairs

The hole in the ozone layer is currently at its smallest since records began (Image credit: Copernicus)

>> Why is it good that the ozone layer is repairing? What role does the ozone layer have in our atmosphere?

News in brief - Tuesday 8th October

Whale makes a visit to the Thames
A humpback whale around 5 m in length has been spotted swimming in the River Thames; it is not thought to be lost, and experts predict that it will soon make its return journey out to sea again

Efforts needed to maintain reduction in ozone hole
Scientists have said that people must not become complacent despite the significant progress in reducing the hole in the ozone layer; efforts are needed to make sure that gases are not released that could do it harm

Extinction Rebellion activists protest in London
The group of climate change protestors are meeting in London to make their concerns known about climate change; the are campaigning for the prime minister to act quickly and make changes that will help to save the planet

In pictures - mangroves destroyed in Australia

Large stretches of mangroves have been destroyed in north Australia (Image credit: Norman Duke)

>> What are mangroves? Why are they important ecosystems?

News in brief - Friday 4th October

Cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
A large free-floating boom has successfully captured plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch; much of the plastic in our oceans comes from the fishing industry or has been discarded from ships

Mangroves damaged in Australia 
A scientific trip to monitor mangroves has found 400km of badly damaged mangroves the north of Australia's Northern Territory and Queensland states; the remote area appears to have experienced rising sea levels, heatwaves, and back to back cyclones which has caused the devastation 

In pictures - the Scottish wildcat is at risk of extinction

Mammals in the UK are at a rising risk of extinction (Image credit: PA)

>>  What will happen if mammals start dying out? How will this affect the ecosystem balance?

News in brief - Thursday 3rd October

UK animals face threat of extinction
A new report shows that around a quarter of UK mammals are facing extinction; moths and butterflies are also disappearing along with lichens and fungi

Tuna industry puts fish stocks at risk
A boom in the tuna industry is reducing the level of fish stocks at an alarming rate; scientists are warning that the current rate of fishing is unsustainable and that global fish catches have risen by 1000% in the last 60 years

In pictures - tractor protests in the Netherlands

Tractors cause traffic jams as they protest against being blamed for nitrogen emissions (Image credit: EPA)

>> Why is farming considered bad for the environment? Why might farmers be angry about being blamed?

News in brief - Tuesday 1st October

Heavy rain across the UK
Torrential rainfall across the UK has brought road closures, floods and evacuations to some areas; the Environment Agency has published flood warnings and coastal surges in Cornwall meant that people had to leave caravans and seaside properties until at least tomorrow

Plastic washes up on remote south Atlantic island
A huge number of plastic bottles (mostly from China) have been found washed up on a remote island lying between Africa and South America; it is thought that many bottles have been discarded from passing ships, and it highlights just how bad the problem of plastic waste has become