Extreme physics at the ends of the Earth
March 11, 2010 10:30 AM
Dan Falk, contributor
When science was young, the experiments were simple and the breakthroughs came easily – or so it seems in hindsight. Think of Galileo rolling a ball down an inclined plane, or aiming a simple tube, with a lens at each end, at the night sky. Or picture Michael Faraday discovering electromagnetic induction just by tinkering with a battery, an iron ring and some coils of wire.
Times have changed, and these days it takes a lot more work to shift a paradigm. For one thing, ground-breaking discoveries in physics are now typically made by teams rather than individuals. And, as we strive to peer more deeply into space or further inwards to probe the make-up of matter, we have been forced to build larger and more complex instruments. The scale of experiments has grown from table-top-sized to building-sized – even city-sized. Moreover, these experiments are often located in some of the remotest places on Earth. From these isolated outposts, men and women work under harsh conditions to collect the data that will, perhaps, change the way we conceive of the universe.
Humans driving extinction faster than species can evolve, say experts
Humans driving extinction faster than species can evolve, say experts
Conservationists say rate of new species slower than diversity loss caused by the destruction of habitats and climate change
• Ghost orchid comes back from extinction
- guardian.co.uk, Sunday 7 March 2010 22.59 GMT
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The IUCN lists west African giraffes as an endangered species. Conservationists say the rate of new species is slower than diversity loss. Photograph: Graeme Robertson
For the first time since the dinosaurs disappeared, humans are driving animals and plants to extinction faster than new species can evolve, one of the world’s experts on biodiversity has warned.
Conservation experts have already signalled that the world is in the grip of the “sixth great extinction” of species, driven by the destruction of natural habitats, hunting, the spread of alien predators and disease, and climate change.
EU exporting ‘one third. of CO2 emissions to poorer contries
EU exporting ‘one-third’ of CO2 emissions to poorer countries Ecologist 9th March, 2010 Study shows industrialised countries are ‘outsourcing’ carbon emissions to countries like China, one quarter of whose CO2 emissions are from exports European countries are ‘outsourcing’ almost a third of their carbon dioxide emissions to less industrialised countries, according to a new study. Continue Reading →
Vehicle scrappage scheme drives down emissions of new cars
Vehicle scrappage scheme drives down emissions of new cars
Average carbon emissions of new cars reduced by 5.4% in 2009 as drivers trade in their old car for cleaner models
- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 9 March 2010 10.40 GMT
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Average new car emissions are down 21% since 1999
The average emissions from a new car dropped at the fastest rate in 13 years last year because of the UK government’s “cash for bangers” vehicle scrappage scheme, it was announced today.
On average, new cars emitted 149.5g of CO2 per kilometre in 2009 – a 5.4% reduction on the average 2008 figure, according to a report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This was the best year-on-year improvement since the SMMT began to keep records of this kind in 1997.
SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said the scrappage scheme was a key contributor to the lower emission figure last year.
The average emissions of cars bought through the scheme was 133.3g per kilometre, which was 26.8% below the average of the vehicle being scrapped (182.3g/km). Average new car emissions are down from nearly 190g/km in 1999 to below 150g/km last year, a cut of 21.2%.