Environment
Penguins discovered ‘talking’ to each other while diving for food
Penguins with video cameras strapped to their backs have been discovered 'talking' to each other while diving for food. Scientists managed to obtain 80 hours of remarkable recordings showing the 'functional role' of their sounds as they foraged in the sea. After producing the calls in waters off the coast of Antarctica the behaviour of the Gentoo penguins changed as they undertook shallower, shorter dives. They also travelled to a new area to devour krill, their favourite food, and other...
Farmers can grow bigger, juicier tomatoes – thanks to a gene mutation
Farmers can grow bigger, juicier tomatoes - thanks to a gene mutation, according to new research. When humans first began cultivating the wild tomato in the Andean mountain regions of Ecuador and Northern Peru, they continually selected plants that produced larger fruits. Now, thousands of years later, tomatoes on the market can weigh 1,000 times more than the fruits of their ancestors. In the new study, researchers investigated a gene they named Cell Size Regulator, or CSR, that boosts fruit...
What are Geomats and Why are They Being Used?
Previously used for agricultural applications, geomats are now becoming more common for industrial, corporate and residential purposes. These mats are known as the future of ground design and layout due to their extended bi-oriented polyethylene construction. The three-dimensional design of geomats is manufactured with water permeable synthetic materials such as polymer and polypropylene. A mixture of both can also be used for manufacturing the mats. The layers of geomats are adjoined with thermal technology which enhances their life and weather...
Exquisite flowers from a prehistoric tree hasve been discovered preserved in amber
An extinct rainforest tree has been identified from its beautiful flowers - dislodged by a rampaging dinosaur 100 million years ago. A Triceratops or Tyrannosaurus rex could have been crashing its way through a pine forest when it knocked off the blooms, which then became trapped in chunks of amber. It's the first time seven complete flowers this old have been found together. They are tiny - ranging from 3.4 to 5 millimetres in diameter - but so well-preserved they...
These glass blocks allow buildings to generate their own power
New glass blocks that convert the sun’s energy into electricity could soon be used to build houses thanks to innovative new technology. Renewable Energy experts from the University of Exeter are developing a pioneering new technique that could accelerate the widespread introduction of net-zero energy buildings through the latest Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). These products, similar to the solar tile created by Tesla, can become a part of a building’s architecture to generate electricity. The team have created an innovative glass block, which...
New species of damselfly dating back 70 million years named after Sir David Attenborough
A new species of damselfly dating back more than 70 million years has become the latest creature to be named after veteran TV naturalist Sir David Attenborough. The discovery was made in the Hukawng Valley of Kachin Province in Myanmar. The fossil was found in a piece of mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. A new species of damselfly dating back more than 70 million years has become the latest creature to be named after veteran TV naturalist Sir David Attenborough. The discovery...
BP plan to use coral-killing chemical near giant coral reef
Oil giant BP will use a coral-killing chemical in the event of an oil spill near a unique coral reef in the mouth of the Amazon river. The company is planning to drill in the region in from this time next year, but according to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) unearthed by Greenpeace it will use Corexit 9500 to clean up potential spills. Corexit is a chemical dispersant which was used extensively during the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010, when 11 workers died...
Stunning photos of the Perseid meteor shower
Stunning photos of the Perseid meteor shower have been released as the solar phenomenon graced our skies over the weekend. Pictures taken from Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire show the moon perfectly captured in the top window of the remains. The Abbey was founded by Walter de Clare, Lord of Chepstow, on 9 May 1131, but provided a perfect vantage point for this spectacular display. Check out some of the best photos below: Perseid meteor shower seen over the Gargunnock Hills, Stirlingshire....
Compassion in World Farming welcomes compulsory CCTV in England’s abattoirs
We are delighted that DEFRA have announced that CCTV will be mandatory in all slaughterhouses in England under new plans announced today by Michael Gove. The demand for CCTV in slaughterhouses has been steadily building for years. The need for it has sadly been evidenced by many undercover investigations showing appalling acts of cruelty and the extreme suffering that can go on behind closed doors. Emma Slawinski our Director of Campaigns said: “We are absolutely thrilled that DEFRA has recognised...