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Environment - Health - 09.06.2023
Environment - Health - 09.06.2023 
Week-long weather projections for 2080 illustrate danger of extreme future heatwaves
Weather projections for the year 2080 highlight the stark reality of likely future heatwaves UK and China research team creates detailed hour-by-hour, week-long example weather forecasts for the year 2080 The realistic, sophisticated predictions show that life threatening heatwaves will become common The week-long predictions are designed to aid preparedness of buildings and infrastructure, but also present a new tool for illustrating climate ch
Psychology - Environment - 08.06.2023
Chemistry - Environment - 05.06.2023
Environment - Agronomy / Food Science - 02.06.2023 
Analysis: Europe has lost over half a billion birds in 40 years. What is the single biggest cause?
Professor Richard Gregory (UCL Biosciences) explains that pesticides and fertilisers are the single biggest cause of birds shocking decline across Europe and suggests how best to respond, writing in The Conversation. A trickle of studies warning that the enormous variety of living things on Earth is diminishing has turned into a flood.
Environment - Life Sciences - 31.05.2023
Environment - 29.05.2023 
How forest fragmentation affects birds depends on their wings
How easily birds can fly between suitable areas strongly determines whether a particular species can survive habitat fragmentation. A new study shows why tropical birds are likely to be more vulnerable to forest fragmentation, and suggests conservation policies need to take into account the role of climate in determining the ability of animals to move across fragmented landscapes.
Health - Environment - 23.05.2023
Chemistry - Environment - 18.05.2023 
Driving on sunshine: clean, usable liquid fuels made from solar power
Researchers have developed a solar-powered technology that converts carbon dioxide and water into liquid fuels that can be added directly to a car-s engine as drop-in fuel. Shining sunlight on the artificial leaves and getting liquid fuel from carbon dioxide and water is an amazing bit of chemistry Motiar Rahaman The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, harnessed the power of photosynthesis to convert CO2, water and sunlight into multicarbon fuels - ethanol and propanol - in a single step.
Environment - Life Sciences - 18.05.2023 
Climate change to push species over abrupt tipping points
Climate change is likely to abruptly push species over tipping points as their geographic ranges reach unforeseen temperatures, finds a new study led by a UCL researcher. The new Nature Ecology & Evolution study predicts when and where climate change is likely to expose species across the globe to potentially dangerous temperatures.
Environment - History / Archeology - 09.05.2023 
Tooth enamel provides clues to hunter-gatherer lifestyle of Neanderthals
A study by an international team of researchers, led by the University of Southampton, has given an intriguing glimpse of the hunting habits and diets of Neanderthals and other humans living in western Europe. The scientists examined chemical properties locked inside tooth enamel to piece together how pre-historic people lived off the land around the Almonda Cave system, near Torres Novas in central Portugal almost 100 thousand years ago.
Environment - Earth Sciences - 27.04.2023 
Twilight zone at risk from climate change
Life in the ocean's "twilight zone" could decline dramatically due to climate change, new research suggests. The twilight zone (200m to 1,000m deep) gets very little light but is home to a wide variety of organisms and billions of tonnes of organic matter. The new study warns that climate change could cause a 20-40% reduction in twilight zone life by the end of the century.
Environment - Earth Sciences - 27.04.2023 
Ocean’s twilight zone at risk from climate change
Life in the ocean's "twilight zone" could decline dramatically due to climate change, suggests a new study involving UCL researchers. The twilight zone (200m to 1,000m deep) gets very little light but is home to a wide variety of organisms and billions of tonnes of organic matter. The new study, published in the journal Nature Communications , warns that climate change could cause a 20-40% reduction in twilight zone life by the end of the century.
Environment - History / Archeology - 26.04.2023 
Prolonged droughts likely spelled the end for Indus megacities
New research involving Cambridge University has found evidence - locked into an ancient stalagmite from a cave in the Himalayas - of a series of severe and lengthy droughts which may have upturned the Bronze Age Indus Civilization.
Environment - Life Sciences - 21.04.2023 
Newly sequenced hornet genomes could help explain invasion success
The genomes of two hornet species, the European hornet and the Asian hornet (or yellow-legged hornet) have been sequenced for the first time by a team led by UCL scientists. By comparing these decoded genomes with that of the giant northern hornet, which has recently been sequenced by another team, the researchers have revealed clues suggesting why hornets have been so successful as invasive species across the globe.
Environment - 19.04.2023 
Remembrance poppy transformed to become plastic-free
Scientists at UCL have worked with the Royal British Legion to assess a new plastic-free Remembrance poppy, finding that it produces 40% less carbon emissions over its lifetime. The Royal British Legion has been developing the plastic-free poppy for the last three years, in collaboration with expert partners, in efforts to reduce its use of single-use plastic and be economical, sustainable, and less impactful to the environment.
Health - Environment - 18.04.2023
Environment - Life Sciences - 18.04.2023
Environment - 17.04.2023 
Large ponds can cool cities, but small ones can make temperatures and pollution worse, finds study
Large bodies of water in urban areas can be effective at removing pollutants and heat from cities, but smaller ones can actually make the problem worse. A new study shows that large bodies of water in urban areas can be effective at removing pollutants and heat from cities, but smaller ones can actually make the problem of the -heat island effect- worse.
Environment - Life Sciences - 14.04.2023
Environment
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Flood sandstones and leaf-led design: News from the College
Here's a batch of fresh news and announcements from across Imperial. From research into using sandstones to calculate ancient river flood events , to a project on the design principles of plant leaf structures , here is some quick-read news from across the College. How floods formed Welsh sandstones Researchers in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering have shown how it is possible to calculate the magnitudes and durations of ancient river flood events, using Welsh sandstones formed 300 million years ago.
Here's a batch of fresh news and announcements from across Imperial. From research into using sandstones to calculate ancient river flood events , to a project on the design principles of plant leaf structures , here is some quick-read news from across the College. How floods formed Welsh sandstones Researchers in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering have shown how it is possible to calculate the magnitudes and durations of ancient river flood events, using Welsh sandstones formed 300 million years ago.
Weather projections for the year 2080 highlight the stark reality of likely future heatwaves UK and China research team creates detailed hour-by-hour, week-long example weather forecasts for the year 2080 The realistic, sophisticated predictions show that life threatening heatwaves will become common The week-long predictions are designed to aid preparedness of buildings and infrastructure, but also present a new tool for illustrating climate ch
Fears about the future of the planet will impact all of us - it’s how we act on them that matters
Eco-distress is rising around the world, but a new article in the journal Nature by psychologists suggests this could be a positive catalyst for action. More and more people are experiencing -eco-distress existential fears about the future of the planet in view of increased extreme weather events and ecological loss.
Eco-distress is rising around the world, but a new article in the journal Nature by psychologists suggests this could be a positive catalyst for action. More and more people are experiencing -eco-distress existential fears about the future of the planet in view of increased extreme weather events and ecological loss.
New water pollution monitoring system set to make a splash
A new form of low-cost, 3D-printed water pollution sensor could make a splash in the world of environmental monitoring, its developers say. A team of researchers from universities in Scotland, Portugal and Germany developed the sensor, which can help detect the presence of very low concentrations of pesticides in water samples.
A new form of low-cost, 3D-printed water pollution sensor could make a splash in the world of environmental monitoring, its developers say. A team of researchers from universities in Scotland, Portugal and Germany developed the sensor, which can help detect the presence of very low concentrations of pesticides in water samples.
Professor Richard Gregory (UCL Biosciences) explains that pesticides and fertilisers are the single biggest cause of birds shocking decline across Europe and suggests how best to respond, writing in The Conversation. A trickle of studies warning that the enormous variety of living things on Earth is diminishing has turned into a flood.
Marine fish are responding to climate change by relocating towards the poles
The majority of fish populations in the sea are responding to global warming by relocating towards colder waters nearer the north and south poles, according to the latest research on the impact of climate change on our oceans. Analysing the breadth of current world-wide data on marine fish changes in recent years, researchers from the University of Glasgow have revealed how fish populations across the Earth's oceans are responding to rising sea temperatures.
The majority of fish populations in the sea are responding to global warming by relocating towards colder waters nearer the north and south poles, according to the latest research on the impact of climate change on our oceans. Analysing the breadth of current world-wide data on marine fish changes in recent years, researchers from the University of Glasgow have revealed how fish populations across the Earth's oceans are responding to rising sea temperatures.
How easily birds can fly between suitable areas strongly determines whether a particular species can survive habitat fragmentation. A new study shows why tropical birds are likely to be more vulnerable to forest fragmentation, and suggests conservation policies need to take into account the role of climate in determining the ability of animals to move across fragmented landscapes.
A deep underground lab could hold key to habitability on Mars
Tunnels deep underground in North Yorkshire are providing a unique opportunity to study how humans might be able to live and operate on the Moon or on Mars. Researchers at the University of Birmingham have launched the Bio-SPHERE project in a unique research facility located 1.1 km below the surface, in one of the deepest mine sites in the UK.
Tunnels deep underground in North Yorkshire are providing a unique opportunity to study how humans might be able to live and operate on the Moon or on Mars. Researchers at the University of Birmingham have launched the Bio-SPHERE project in a unique research facility located 1.1 km below the surface, in one of the deepest mine sites in the UK.
Researchers have developed a solar-powered technology that converts carbon dioxide and water into liquid fuels that can be added directly to a car-s engine as drop-in fuel. Shining sunlight on the artificial leaves and getting liquid fuel from carbon dioxide and water is an amazing bit of chemistry Motiar Rahaman The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, harnessed the power of photosynthesis to convert CO2, water and sunlight into multicarbon fuels - ethanol and propanol - in a single step.
Climate change is likely to abruptly push species over tipping points as their geographic ranges reach unforeseen temperatures, finds a new study led by a UCL researcher. The new Nature Ecology & Evolution study predicts when and where climate change is likely to expose species across the globe to potentially dangerous temperatures.
A study by an international team of researchers, led by the University of Southampton, has given an intriguing glimpse of the hunting habits and diets of Neanderthals and other humans living in western Europe. The scientists examined chemical properties locked inside tooth enamel to piece together how pre-historic people lived off the land around the Almonda Cave system, near Torres Novas in central Portugal almost 100 thousand years ago.
Life in the ocean's "twilight zone" could decline dramatically due to climate change, new research suggests. The twilight zone (200m to 1,000m deep) gets very little light but is home to a wide variety of organisms and billions of tonnes of organic matter. The new study warns that climate change could cause a 20-40% reduction in twilight zone life by the end of the century.
Life in the ocean's "twilight zone" could decline dramatically due to climate change, suggests a new study involving UCL researchers. The twilight zone (200m to 1,000m deep) gets very little light but is home to a wide variety of organisms and billions of tonnes of organic matter. The new study, published in the journal Nature Communications , warns that climate change could cause a 20-40% reduction in twilight zone life by the end of the century.
New research involving Cambridge University has found evidence - locked into an ancient stalagmite from a cave in the Himalayas - of a series of severe and lengthy droughts which may have upturned the Bronze Age Indus Civilization.
The genomes of two hornet species, the European hornet and the Asian hornet (or yellow-legged hornet) have been sequenced for the first time by a team led by UCL scientists. By comparing these decoded genomes with that of the giant northern hornet, which has recently been sequenced by another team, the researchers have revealed clues suggesting why hornets have been so successful as invasive species across the globe.
Scientists at UCL have worked with the Royal British Legion to assess a new plastic-free Remembrance poppy, finding that it produces 40% less carbon emissions over its lifetime. The Royal British Legion has been developing the plastic-free poppy for the last three years, in collaboration with expert partners, in efforts to reduce its use of single-use plastic and be economical, sustainable, and less impactful to the environment.
Review highlights lifelong health impacts of air pollution
A new review of evidence highlights the impact air pollution has on health across the life course, from before birth through to old age. The report was commissioned by the Greater London Auth ority via Imperial Projects and carried out by researchers from Imperial College London's Environmental Research Group.
A new review of evidence highlights the impact air pollution has on health across the life course, from before birth through to old age. The report was commissioned by the Greater London Auth ority via Imperial Projects and carried out by researchers from Imperial College London's Environmental Research Group.
What lockdown taught us about roadkill
UK-wide lockdowns gave scientists a unique opportunity to observe wildlife with the absence of traffic, shedding light on what characteristics and traits make iconic British species - like badgers and pheasants - more likely to be involved in collisions with vehicles. Researchers at The Road Lab, based at Cardiff University, used data of roadkill records to assess the 19 wildlife species most frequently involved in vehicular collisions, to see which exhibited changes in road mortality during two major lockdown periods (March- May 2020 and December 2020 - March 2021).
UK-wide lockdowns gave scientists a unique opportunity to observe wildlife with the absence of traffic, shedding light on what characteristics and traits make iconic British species - like badgers and pheasants - more likely to be involved in collisions with vehicles. Researchers at The Road Lab, based at Cardiff University, used data of roadkill records to assess the 19 wildlife species most frequently involved in vehicular collisions, to see which exhibited changes in road mortality during two major lockdown periods (March- May 2020 and December 2020 - March 2021).
Large bodies of water in urban areas can be effective at removing pollutants and heat from cities, but smaller ones can actually make the problem worse. A new study shows that large bodies of water in urban areas can be effective at removing pollutants and heat from cities, but smaller ones can actually make the problem of the -heat island effect- worse.
River pollution recovery slowdown
New research has found that rivers in England and Wales have recovered biologically from pollution since the early 1990s, but improvements appear to have slowed in recent years. Researchers from Cardiff University's School of Biosciences investigated invertebrates that live on river beds across England and Wales.
New research has found that rivers in England and Wales have recovered biologically from pollution since the early 1990s, but improvements appear to have slowed in recent years. Researchers from Cardiff University's School of Biosciences investigated invertebrates that live on river beds across England and Wales.
