Human development and climate-driven sea level rise are accelerating global beach erosion and undermining the natural processes that sustain coastal ecosystems. Studies reveal that urban activity on the sand harms biodiversity in every connected zone, magnifying worldwide erosion risks.
Mining Waste Used in Concrete
Flinders University researchers are turning mining waste into a powerful tool for sustainable construction – proving that superior construction materials can be developed from unlikely sources.
Over Half of Global Coastal Settlements are Retreating Inland Due to Intensifying Climate Risks
For centuries, coastlines have attracted dense human settlement and economic activity.
Old Air Samples Hint at Effects of Climate Change
Through the DNA analysis of old air samples collected by the Swedish Armed Forces, researchers at Lund University in Sweden can show that spore dispersal of northern mosses has shifted over the past 35 years.
Southern Ocean’s Heat Storage – a Possible Cause of Future ‘Heat Burps’
A modelling study shows how heat stored in the ocean could be released after centuries of global cooling.
Exploring the Links Between Climate and Volcanism
Today, the German research vessel SONNE departs from Balboa (Panama) on a five-week expedition along the Central American Volcanic Arc.
Researchers Discover Cell Defect Linked to the Development of Alzheimer’s
They’re tiny particles – with potentially huge human consequences.
Archaeologists uncover a 2,000-year-old crop in the Canary Islands
Scientists decoded DNA from millennia-old lentils preserved in volcanic rock silos on Gran Canaria. The findings show that today’s Canary Island lentils largely descend from varieties brought from North Africa around the 200s. These crops survived cultural upheavals because they were so well-suited to the islands’ harsh climate. Their long-standing...
New evidence shows the Maya collapse was more than just drought
Researchers studying Classic Maya cities discovered that urban growth was driven by a blend of climate downturns, conflict, and powerful economies of scale in agriculture. These forces made crowded, costly city life worthwhile for rural farmers. But when conditions improved in the countryside, people abandoned cities for more autonomy and...
Scientists discover a hidden deep sea hotspot bursting with life
Beneath the waters off Papua New Guinea lies an extraordinary deep-sea environment where scorching hydrothermal vents and cool methane seeps coexist side by side — a pairing never before seen. This unusual chemistry fuels a vibrant oasis teeming with mussels, tube worms, shrimp, and even purple sea cucumbers, many of...