New research finds high levels of microplastics in human brains
A new study has found that human brains contain high levels of microplastics that are increasing over time. It has higher concentrations of the material than any other organ. The human brain contains higher concentrations of microplastics than other organs, according to a study published Monday in the journal...
Current in Planet
Climate change could halve global GDP
A new report by the IFoA warns the global economy could face 50% loss in gross domestic product due to the catastrophic impacts of climate change. The numbers pertaining to the climate crisis continue to paint a grave picture. And a new report from the Institute and Faculty of...
Study reveals quarter of freshwater species are facing extinction
A recent study built on 20 years’ worth of evidence uncovered the alarming reality of freshwater species, reflecting the lack of proper data on global biodiversity loss. The trend of species going extinct is not a strange concept for humanity, for our actions drive it. Such tragedies have been traced to...
Is London’s dream of ‘swimmable rivers’ a safe one?
Mayor Sadiq Khan has made a bold pledge that rivers across the capital will be swimmable within 10 years. But local authorities are concerned the plan is a threat to public safety. In 2023, Sir Saqiq Khan announced plans to ‘turbocharge’ restoring London’s rivers and waterways, part of a broader...
Inside the ‘moonshot’ plan to rewild an area larger than London
As The National Trust marks its 130-year anniversary, it has announced a decade-long plan to rewild an area bigger than the size of Greater London. The UK’s National Trust is the biggest conservation charity in Europe, with 5.37 million members, 10,000 staff, and thousands of volunteers. Entering 130 years in operation,...
Will Trump successfully reverse Biden’s offshore drilling ban?
President Biden’s bold move to ban offshore drilling in federal waters has sparked a fierce reaction from President-elect Donald Trump, who previously pledged to undo the move. The past few days have been a field day for climate action enthusiasts thanks to Biden’s new environmental policy. For the longest...
Tropical cyclone Chido wreaks havoc in Mozambique
The tropical cyclone Chido wreaked havoc in northern Mozambique affecting more than 180,000 people, and once again showed how climate change decimates the continent. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN, OCHA) report, the organization confirms that the cyclone has killed at least 45 people, and the number is expected to increase. The cyclone has left thousands of people homeless and affected the livelihoods...
The richness of Congo Basin biodiversity revealed in new report
In this astonishing report of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Congo Basin, often known as the 'Lungs of Africa', yet again is hailed for its ecological importance. In the last decade, scientists have revealed over 700 more species of animals and plants that were previously unknown to the rest of humanity, in this rainforest of the African continent. This can be seen as proof of the extraordinary biodiversity of the...
What’s sun blocking and why are scientists warning against it?
The controversial technology, which is intended to limit the effects of climate change by reflecting sunlight back into space, might not be such a great idea after all. As we know, hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists expect our planet to breach the internationally agreed 1.5C threshold by 2027 and temperatures to rise to at least 2.5C above pre-industrial levels this century. This is due to emissions...
What happens when wildlife becomes an online sensation?
Social media is posing a new and increasing threat to vulnerable species and habitats around the world as nature enthusiasts calling attention to rare biodiversity on their platforms are unintentionally sending viewers flocking to snap their own photos of already-endangered flora and fauna. On social media, gatekeeping is standard practice. Yet as much as this irritates netizens – rightly so when it involves an item of clothing or value-for-money...
