ICARDA scientists save 80% of a priceless trove of Syrian seeds 4/5/2015

A team of Syrian scientists at the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) braved the terrors of civil war to protect a critical piece of global heritage, meticulously transporting plant genetic material from a seed bank in Aleppo to the Svalbard Seed Vault in Norway ...more

Tesla unveils batteries to power homes 4/5/2015

US electric carmaker Tesla Motors has unveiled batteries that can power homes and businesses as it attempts to expand beyond its vehicle business. ...more

Shell agrees to start clean up of 2008 Niger Delta oil spill 4/5/2015

Shell has agreed with Nigerian fishing community of Bodo in the Niger Delta to start the clean up of two devastating oil spills in 2008, activists and locals said Saturday. ...more

If you sit all day at a desk, please get up and walk around now and then! 4/5/2015

A new study suggests that engaging in low intensity activities such as standing may not be enough to offset the health hazards of sitting for long periods of time. ...more

Iberian lynx cubs born in the wild bring hope for the world's most endangered feline species 4/5/2015

Conservation groups have hailed the birth of two Iberian lynx cubs as a breakthrough in a costly project to save a species that many fear could become the first feline mammal to die out for 2,000 years. ...more

UAE destroys more than 10 tonnes of ivory 30/4/2015

The illegal wildlife trade generates an estimated US$19-billion a year, ranking fourth on the list of the most lucrative illegal activities in the world behind drugs, counterfeiting and human trafficking. ...more

California governor orders aggressive greenhouse gas cuts by 2030 30/4/2015

California Governor Jerry Brown issued an executive order on Wednesday to cut greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030, a move he said was necessary to combat the growing threat of climate change. ...more

China solar expansion needs billions from wary investors 30/4/2015

Chinese solar companies, some already heavily indebted, will need to raise many billions of dollars this year to fund a big expansion in capacity, a major test of investor confidence in a sector hit hard by the global financial crisis. ...more

Scientists crack a mystery surrounding endangered sea turtles 30/4/2015

Hours after being hatched, baby sea turtles make their way to the ocean, and that’s the last people see of them until they return years later. ...more

Court orders UK to cut NO2 air pollution 30/4/2015

The UK's highest court has ruled that the government must take immediate action to cut air pollution. ...more