Posts for Environment
What makes the world’s biggest surfable waves?
Some places, like Nazaré Canyon in Portugal, produce freakishly huge waves. AP Photo/Armando Franca Sally Warner, Brandeis University On Feb. 11, 2020, Brazilian Maya Gabeira surfed a wave off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal, that was 73.5 feet tall. Not only was this the biggest wave ever surfed by a […]
How green is your Christmas tree?
Paolo Paradiso / shutterstock Ian D. Rotherham, Sheffield Hallam University There’s no way around the fact that Christmas has a large carbon footprint, from the travelling we do to the presents we give and the large amounts of food we eat. But it is possible to at least reduce the […]
Why autumn is such a dangerous time for hedgehog mothers – and how to help them
Piotr Łaskawski/Unsplash, CC BY-SA Lauren Moore, Nottingham Trent University After months of hard work raising hoglets by themselves, autumn finds female hedgehogs in a rush to fatten up before hibernation. It’s a busy time of year which brings them closer to roads and the risk of being squashed. During the […]
Outdoor heaters are very inefficient – here’s how to keep warm outdoors more sustainably
Yuliya Yesina / shutterstock Sharon George, Keele University Over the summer, eating outdoors was a pleasant way to socialise more safely at pubs, restaurants and in gardens. But as temperatures drop and covid restrictions remain in place, socialising outdoors becomes more tricky (even after lockdown). Regular patio heaters are hugely […]
Why a UK ‘cycling and walking revolution’ won’t reduce car travel
David Metz, UCL UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced £2 billion to create thousands of miles of protected bike lanes and pedestrian space. There are lots of good reasons to encourage walking and cycling – active travel, as it’s called. The pandemic necessitates social distancing on public transport, which […]
Muddy knees and climbing trees: how a summer playing outdoors can help children recharge
Pexels Avril Rowley, Liverpool John Moores University Most adults will remember spending much of their childhood playing outdoors without much parental supervision. But fears for children’s safety plus the demands of modern life mean many parents don’t allow their children the same freedoms. We live in an age where people […]
Microplastics: tiny crustaceans can fragment them into even smaller nanoplastics
Gammarus duebeni, the shrimp-like animal that can break down microplastic. Alicia Mateos Cárdenas, Author provided Alicia Mateos Cárdenas, University College Cork Microplastics are widespread in seas and oceans, and their harmful effects on many different marine animals are well known. However, we know relatively little about the microplastics in our […]
Being outdoors – government guidance updated
The Government has updated the guidelines for being outside. It says the risk of the coronavirus being passed on to others outdoors is considered to be low as long as people maintain social distancing. Here is what is said, with a few comments of my own: In England, from today you […]
Where I beat the Government to it … the dawn chorus
The Government is advocating we all tune in to the dawn chorus over Easter. People, I have been doing this for ages. However, it is highly recommended. Tried to upload my dawn chorus movie but it isn’t working! Natural England is rallying the nation to connect with nature this Easter […]
How to discover the wildlife wonders of your own garden
Blue tits are regulars at the garden bird feeder. Mark Fellowes, Author provided Mark Fellowes, University of Reading and Ian D. Rotherham, Sheffield Hallam University Being stuck at home during lockdown could be a golden opportunity to reset your connection with nature. If you’re lucky, you’ll still have access to […]
