What is a gem? And why painite from Myanmar can fetch US$60,000 per carat
Aug 01, 2018 13:57 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
My favourite gem is an occasional series where we ask a scientist to share the fascinating geological and social features of a beautiful rock. Humans have adorned themselves and their belongings with attractive stones...
Yes, humans are depleting Earth's resources, but 'footprint' estimates don't tell the full story
Jul 31, 2018 15:40 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
Experts widely agree that human activities are harming the global environment. Since the Industrial Revolution, the world economy has grown dramatically. Overall this is a success story, since rising incomes have lifted...
Why smart policies are key to solving the world’s clean water problems
Jul 19, 2018 16:15 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
Around 2.5 to 3 billion people worldwide dont have access to clean water. There are at least another 1.5 billion in developed countries who may have access to clean water but dont trust its quality. A number of widely...
Ozone pollution in US national parks is nearly the same as in large cities
Jul 19, 2018 14:31 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra (1911) Most Americans associate U.S. national parks with pristine environments that represent the...
The case for introducing rhinos to Australia
Jul 19, 2018 14:21 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
Rhinos in Australia might seem like an insane proposition after all, weve had historically bad luck with introduced species. But on reflection its not quite as crazy as it sounds. There are five species of rhinoceros...
The origins of those sexual organs: a fishy tale much more primitive than we thought
Jul 19, 2018 14:10 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
Fossil discoveries from the Devonian rocks of Scotland and Australia first revealed that the earliest jawed fishes, the placoderms, reproduced using copulation in much the same way as sharks and rays do today. They also...
Here's a funny thing: can comedy really change our environmental behaviours?
Jul 19, 2018 13:54 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
Someone (possibly George Bernard Shaw) once said: If you want to tell people the truth, youd better make them laugh or theyll kill you. While comedy can certainly soften a message, can it really change our...
South Africa’s plan to move away from coal: 8 steps to make it succeed
Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects