science news

Cop31 will expose the conflicts and contradictions of the world’s fossil fuel reliance

But at this year’s Cop31 UN climate summit in Antalya, coal exporter Australia and coal consumer Turkey will be trying to shift the focus away from dirty fossil fuels and towards clean electricity, with a target on the table to meet 35% of final energy demand from electricity by 2035. Conflicts in Ukraine, Iran and Gaza are destabilising global alliances, an unpredictable White House is sowing economic uncertainty and AI is threatening to unleash digitised chaos.

Want to have a better chat? Scientists say the secret is ‘pink noise’

Scientists say the secret is ‘pink noise’. The most enjoyable conversations strike a balance between exploring a topic and pulling in fresh ideas, study finds As an early stab at rules for conversation, Cicero did a fine job: watch your tone, never look bored, never lose your temper and never ramble on, particularly about yourself, he advised.

Two JSSSTU professors make global top 2% scientists list

Most Europeans want action to tackle climate crisis but not at any cost, poll shows

YouGov survey finds support for tree planting and emissions taxes but opposition to air travel and fuel levies Europe live – latest updates Europeans believe human-made climate change is real, a survey has shown, with most feeling action must be taken soon – as long as they do not have to sacrifice too much to achieve it. The YouGov poll of six European countries showed between 69% (Germany) and 80% (France) of respondents believed the climate was changing, with few (1%-4%) denying it and 14-20% believing it was changing, but not as a result of human activity.

Keralam’s mangrove cover expanded in past decade despite prior decline, finds study

Study by ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute based in Kochi compared satellite images from 2017 and 2026 to map changes in mangrove vegetation across Keralam’s coastal districts

‘Everything is so out of whack’: UK trees experience spring six months early

Mild autumn temperatures causing premature flowering and raising concerns for pollinators, say experts Trees are experiencing an “early spring” because of mild UK temperatures this autumn, with experts warning this could cause long-term harm to pollinators. Last month was warmer than average across all parts of the UK, with October marking the ninth consecutive month with above-average mean temperatures.

UN-Habitat, IGAD launch guide to help Horn of Africa cities prepare for El Niño flooding

The UN-Habitat and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have launched a new preparedness framework to help cities across the Greater Horn of Africa take early action against El Niño-related flooding, as concerns grow over the impact of heavy rainfall on vulnerable urban communities. Titled El Niño Preparedness: An Anticipatory Action Framework for City Leaders, the advisory provides practical measures for municipal and city governments to mobilise resources, strengthen warning systems and protect critical infrastructure before flooding strikes.

‘It’s kind of a melting pot’: how one US city transformed a highway into a leafy oasis

The BLVD is home to 250 enterprises, from banks, tattoo shops and restaurants to museums and a performing arts centre Passing through the Mojave desert on State Route 14, going by landscapes Hollywood uses to represent alien planets, a driver might not expect to find a walkable, tree-lined boulevard. But there are nine beautiful, leafy blocks on West Lancaster Boulevard, a piece of what used to be Highway 14.

Major construction ongoing near Iran missile bases, satellite images suggest

Evidence of digging and new buildings are visible in satellite imagery taken in November, satellite images suggest.

How do you remove a rotting whale from a public beach?

Marine scientist Olaf Meynecke says disposing of dead whales is complex, costly and should not fall to local councils.

Family mourns loss of beloved pet dog after eastern brown snake bite

Retired farmer Lyndall Scott has owned dogs for decades, but this is the first one she has lost to a snake bite.

EU-funded study finds heavy metal contamination in Savannah mining communities

An EU-funded study has found elevated levels of heavy metals in soil samples from artisanal and small-scale mining communities in three districts of the Savannah Region, raising concerns about environmental contamination and potential health risks. Mining and security concerns along Black Volta frontier Team Leader of the Gold for Good Project and Country Director of Coginta Ghana, Rev. Fr.

Africa demands debt relief and direct finance at COP31 Climate Summit

Addressing delegates at the opening AGN plenary session at the 31st UN Climate Summit (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Simon Stiell, declared that COP31 must mark a decisive pivot from commitment to execution. In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, fossil fuels comprised almost 90 per cent of export value in 2024.

Telangana climate conclave to be special feature of global summit

Scientists and experts to deliberate on tackling climate change and drought proofing agriculture

African climate negotiators warn against debt-driven energy transition ahead of COP31

The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) has warned that the global transition away from fossil fuels cannot be considered just if developing countries are forced to take on unsustainable debt to finance climate action. AGN Chair Nana Dr Antwi-Boasiako Amoah has cautioned that African governments cannot be expected to pursue climate agreements at the expense of fundamental development needs.

Telangana to introduce specialised BA Programme in Climate Change and Sustainability

How Sundiata Post is redefining African media’s role in global research, By Max Amuchie

The ultimate significance of this undertaking will depend on the quality of the research it supports, the collaborations it attracts and the usefulness of the knowledge it helps preserve and disseminate. But the underlying proposition is clear: an African media institution can do more than report events and participate in public debate.

Climate change increased tropical Cyclone Arnab’s damage by 33%: Study

“Climate change increased Cyclone Arnab’s maximum wind speed by approximately 5%, and intensified its eyewall rainfall rate by 11% at landfall,” according to the study

Ten years of the Paris Agreement: Has the world kept its climate promises?

Nearly 200 countries pledged to limit warming to 1.5C. We look at who has delivered and who has fallen short.

Bandicoot research uncovers new subspecies amid conservation calls

Researchers say new discoveries about bandicoot species could have conservation implications for South Australian populations of the marsupials.

World’s wettest rainstorms are getting wetter, affecting flood and drought risk

Events that deliver about half of global rainfall are getting shorter but more intense, with wide-ranging implications The world’s wettest rainstorms produce about half of the global annual rainfall. Chiyuan Miao and colleagues from Beijing Normal University in China analysed daily measurements between 1980 and 2022 from more than 19,000 rain gauges around the world.

NASA's Swift space telescope plunges back to Earth in fiery demise

NASA's Swift orbital observatory fell back to Earth after running its mission for more than two decades. A rescue attempt to raise its sinking orbit had earlier failed.

Indonesia's ambassador wants feral banteng cattle protected in NT

Indonesia's ambassador to Australia wants the two countries to work together to conserve a species of wild cattle that is critically endangered internationally.

Research could reverse peanut allergy diagnosis for some infants

A study by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute has found more than one third of infants diagnosed with a peanut allergy may actually be able to tolerate the food.