Author: Grace Johnson

The forgotten hero of Manta Bamboo is proving to be not just cheap but remarkably resilient against earthquakes. When a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Ecuador in April 2016, the coastal city of Manta suffered massive destruction. The Tarqui district was levelled, and deep fissures cut through the streets. But amid the ruins, one unexpected legacy remains. In the former ground zero area, a bamboo pavilion now shelters a fish market, a restaurant, a fire station, and a tourist information centre. Throughout Manta and the province of Manabí, hundreds of bamboo homes still stand firm. “They were all built before the earthquake,”…

As darkness falls, bat experts move carefully among the gravestones of Guestwick Church in Norfolk. The old wooden door creaks open, revealing a deserted, pitch-black church. The team sets up infrared and thermal cameras and adjusts audio detectors to bat-friendly frequencies. Soon, bats emerge, darting through the aisles while their amplified chatter fills the historic space. Churches as Vital Bat Homes “Many churches have stood here for about 1,000 years, and bats have likely shared them for just as long,” says Diana Spencer from the Bats in Churches Project. A recent study in People & Nature, led by citizen scientists…

The Federal Reserve has lowered its benchmark interest rate to a range of 3.75 to 4.00 percent. The move aims to reduce borrowing costs and encourage investment in businesses and the broader economy. Lower interest rates make loans more affordable for companies and consumers. Experts say this can boost spending, expansion projects, and overall economic activity. The rate cut reflects the Fed’s efforts to support sustained growth amid evolving economic conditions. Analysts believe that businesses may now find it easier to invest in new projects and hire additional staff. Financial markets responded positively to the announcement. Stocks in sectors that…

Authorities in India’s capital Delhi carried out a cloud-seeding trial on Tuesday to fight the city’s worsening air pollution. The experiment, meant to trigger rain and wash away toxic smog, did not achieve the desired results. A scientific effort to make rain Cloud seeding involves firing small particles, often silver iodide, into clouds to create rainfall. The technique has been used worldwide, though many experts question its long-term impact on pollution. A team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur joined forces with the Delhi government to conduct the trial over several neighbourhoods blanketed in thick haze. But the…

Only 64 countries have submitted updated plans to cut carbon emissions, the UN reports. All nations must submit new pledges before next month’s COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil. Experts warn that these submissions are insufficient. Combined, the pledges will not prevent global warming from exceeding 1.5C, the threshold for extremely dangerous climate change. The UN’s review shows modest progress in curbing emissions over the next decade, but projected reductions fall far short of the levels needed to keep temperatures below this limit. The report highlights the scale of the challenge facing world leaders. Delegates will gather in northern Brazil next…

Faced with worsening floods and a housing shortage, the Netherlands is turning to floating homes. These waterborne communities are inspiring ambitious Dutch-led projects in flood-prone regions, from French Polynesia to the Maldives. Riding Out the Storm When a heavy storm struck in October 2022, residents of Schoonschip, a floating community in Amsterdam, remained calm. They secured bikes and outdoor benches, checked neighbors for supplies, and stayed put as their neighborhood rose and fell on steel pillars. The homes floated with the water and returned to their original position once the storm passed. “We feel safer in a storm because we…

When Hong Suk-hui waited on the shore of Jeju Island, he received a devastating call. His fishing boat had capsized. Just two days earlier, the vessel had set out on what he hoped would be a long and fruitful voyage. But as the winds grew stronger, the captain was ordered to return to port. On the way back, a huge wave struck from two directions, creating a whirlpool that flipped the boat. Five of the ten crew members, asleep below deck, drowned. “When I heard the news, I felt like the sky was falling,” said Mr. Hong. A deadly rise…

After six months exploring New Guinea’s rugged landscapes, a young Czech doctoral student made a stunning discovery. František Vejmělka, from the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the University of South Bohemia, became the first scientist to observe Mallomys istapantap in its natural habitat. This enormous nocturnal rodent, among the largest in the world, lives in mist-covered forests and grasslands around 3,700 meters above sea level. Until now, researchers knew the species only from preserved museum specimens. For the first time, photographs and video footage reveal the animal alive in its remote mountain environment. Bringing a Lost…

Beef prices in the United States have climbed to historic levels, turning a staple grocery item into a political challenge. Donald Trump, who once claimed inflation was “dead,” now faces criticism as soaring beef costs threaten his promise to make groceries affordable. This week, he urged ranchers on social media to lower cattle prices. But his demands — along with other administration proposals — have angered ranchers, who warn the measures could hurt small producers while doing little to ease costs for consumers. Shrinking herds tighten supply The US cattle industry has been declining for decades. Domestic beef supply has…

The plastic recycling industry faces relentless challenges, with closures hitting companies across the UK and Europe. Biffa shut its Sunderland plant in February, barely a year after it opened at a cost of £7 million. Rival Viridor closed its Avonmouth site in 2022, Skelmersdale in 2023, and announced this summer that its Rochester plant would also cease operations. Plastic recycling plant closures spread across Europe like falling dominoes. Veolia will shut its two German operations this year, while seven recyclers closed in the Netherlands last year. Companies including Borealis, Dow, and Nester abandoned plans to build new recycling facilities in…