Nature | The Journalistic

Chinese institutions on the rise, but the United States holds its position at the top of the 2022 Nature Index Annual Tables

29Jun

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Nature, Science, World News

Chinese institutions on the rise, but the United States holds its position at the top of the 2022 Nature Index Annual Tables

China sees the largest increase in research output among the countries named in the top ten and closes the gap on the United States which has seen a drop in output but retains its place as the leading country The Nature Index Annual Tables, released on the 16th of June 2022, examine the institutions and countries that contributed most to high-quality natural-sciences research in 2021. China had a strong year, second for research output overall, as measured by Share* and with 14.4% growth in output in 2021 compared with 2020, the largest increase among the top ten countries in the Annual Tables. The Chinese Academy of Sciences leads the institutional tables for the tenth consecutive year since the Index was established, with a Share of 1,963.00 in 2021. This is more than double that o...

UK allocates over five crore taka for emergency relief to flood victims in Bangladesh

23Jun

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Asia, Health & Social, Nature, Social, World News

UK allocates over five crore taka for emergency relief to flood victims in Bangladesh

This brings the UK’s contribution to the flood relief effort in recent weeks to £636,548 (over seven crore taka). The UK has released additional emergency funding of £442,548 (over five crore taka) to support communities affected by the ongoing floods in Sylhet division. This brings the UK’s contribution to the flood relief effort in recent weeks to £636,548 (over seven crore taka). Acting British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Mr Javed Patel, said “The devastation we have seen from flooding this year in Bangladesh has been heartbreaking. The new emergency funding we have released today will be used to support the most vulnerable through cash assistance, shelter management, water and sanitation, and educational materials.” The UK’s funding has been allocated through S...

21Jun

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Nature, Science

Back to Nature for Bradford Beck

The natural environment along Bradford Beck has had a welcome boost now a three year river restoration project is complete. Environment Agency 21 June 2021 The Environment Agency has worked in partnership with Bradford City Council, Friends of Bradford Beck and the Wild Trout Trust to complete a river restoration project on an urbanised stretch of Bradford Beck in Shipley since 2018. A range of measures have been introduced to improve the natural ecology and biodiversity of the beck and surrounding woodland. Rolls of natural fibre have been attached to the edges of the beck to help establish riverside plants and create varied habitats for fish and invertebrate species. Together with new planting near the beck, this will help slow the flow of water into the channel, which can p...

COP26 President Speech at UN Climate Change Conference

17Jun

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Nature, Science

COP26 President Speech at UN Climate Change Conference

Speech Press conference to close the 2021 Subsidiary Bodies Session Cabinet Office and The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP Delivered on: 17 June 2021 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) It is a pleasure to be here to mark the end of the June period of the 2021 Subsidiary Bodies Session. These have been an important few weeks. It is undeniably challenging to undertake such complicated discussions virtually with such a large group of people. So I would like to thank each and every person who took part, for taking on the challenge and engaging so fully with the process. I know colleagues have worked all hours of the day and night. And I particularly thank the Subsidiary Bodies Chairs and their co-facilitators for their leadership; and colleagues across the UNFCCC...

Thousands of Trees Planted in Leeds to Reduce Flood Risk and Mitigate Climate Change

24May

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Health & Social, Nature, Science, Social

Thousands of Trees Planted in Leeds to Reduce Flood Risk and Mitigate Climate Change

5,000 trees have been planted at the Leeds Brownlee Triathlon Centre as part of a Natural Flood Management Programme being delivered as part of phase two of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme. Environment Agency 24 May 2021 The scheme aims to reduce flood risk to 1,048 homes, 474 businesses and key infrastructure along a 14km stretch of the River Aire upstream of Leeds train station. The project is a collaboration between the Environment Agency, Leeds City Council, the University of Leeds and the River Stewardship Company and aims to store and slow the flow of flood water after heavy rain, create new habitats and store carbon, making Leeds more resilient to climate change. Students from the University of Leeds will study the effects the trees have on the depth and speed of flo...

Australia Announces $100 Million Initiative to Protect our Oceans

28Apr

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Nature, Science

Australia Announces $100 Million Initiative to Protect our Oceans

23 April 2021 Prime Minister, Minister for the Environment, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction The Morrison Government will make an additional $100 million investment to continue leading the world and our region in how we manage our ocean habitats and coastal environments and contribute to the global task of reducing emissions. As the world’s only island continent, Australia has always understood that how we manage our oceans and coastal environments will determine the success or failure of our world’s efforts to address climate change. That is why we have been leading the world in taking action in this important area. The investment package will target ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems that involve seagrass and mangroves playing a key role in drawing carbon out...

New Species of Dumbo Octopus Identified Using Minimally Invasive Techniques

25Apr

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Nature, Science

New Species of Dumbo Octopus Identified Using Minimally Invasive Techniques

A new species of deep-sea dwelling dumbo octopus called Grimpoteuthis imperator sp. nov. has been described using a combination of MRI, micro-CT and minimally invasive gene analysis rather than traditional dissection methods. The findings are presented in the open access journal BMC Biology. The single specimen, which was identified as a mature male, was named G. imperator because it was discovered in the northern part of the Emperor Seamounts, an undersea mountain ridge in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. In addition to the scientific name in Latin, the authors suggest possible common names for this new species such as Emperor dumbo, Dumbo impérial (French), 天皇ダンボ (Japanese), and Kaiserdumbo (German). Finned or dumbo octopods, although considered rare organisms, form a significant part ...

“The Ocean Urgently Needs Truly Collaborative Science Between Partners”, Oxford Scientists Say

25Apr

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Nature, Science

“The Ocean Urgently Needs Truly Collaborative Science Between Partners”, Oxford Scientists Say

14 April 2021 The ocean is at the heart of our planet. It provides many resources for those who live along its coasts and to the world as whole. To ensure a prosperous ocean now and in the future, marine research must offer clear recommendations based on representative information and demonstrate practical pathways, according to new research from Oxford University, the charity Nekton and the Seychelles Environment Ministry and published today in Biology Letters. The scientists say that the inadequate and inequitable distribution of research capacity and resources, and the practice of ‘parachute science’ limit both the opportunity for leadership and participation in science. Their paper argues that only with increased participation in ocean research and decision-making can usable know...

A trial using nature to help reduce flood risk hailed a success

20Apr

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Nature, Science

A trial using nature to help reduce flood risk hailed a success

A trial to help test how nature based solutions such as creating wetlands can be used to help reduce the risk of flooding has been successfully completed at Marlfield Farm, in Earby. This is one of a series of pilot projects which are part of Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme using natural flood management (NFM) techniques to help protect the people of Leeds and those living near the River Aire from the risk of flooding. Evidence from these projects is being gathered to fully understand the benefits of NFM and develop how best to work with landowners, tenants and key partners in the future. A team from the Environment Agency has been working with the River Stewardship Company and landowners at Marlfield Farm, which is on the border of Yorkshire and Lancashire, since last September to...

Work to repair river breach at local nature reserve gets underway

6Apr

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Nature, Science

Work to repair river breach at local nature reserve gets underway

Significant rainfall during Storm Christoph damaged one of the banks of the River Alt which caused flooding to the Lunt Meadows Lunt Meadows, which is managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust, has been designed to act as both a flood storage area and a nature reserve, providing wetland habitats for species, such as water vole, marsh harrier and kingfisher, while also holding excess rain and river water Work to repair an embankment on the River Alt at Lunt meadows Nature Reserve and flood storage area has begun as part of the Environment Agency’s programme of recovery to last month’s floods. The river burst its bank on 20 January during significant and severe rainfall caused by Storm Christoph which also saw the Environment Agency issue two Severe Flood Warnings in Maghull, coverin...