Watch Global Temperatures Spiral Out of Control in New Climate Change Animation

Climate change is spiraling out of control, and that’s never been easier to see. A winding coil of global temperatures spanning 1880 to 2021 is practically a maelstrom of menace.   The animation is based on data from NASA’s GISS Surface Temperature Analysis and was designed by climate scientist Ed Hawkins, who is known for … Read more

Health Check newsletter: Parallels between vaping and covid-19 debates

By Clare Wilson Hello, and welcome to this week’s Health Check, the weekly newsletter that gives you the health and fitness news you can really trust. To receive this free, weekly newsletter in your inbox, sign up here. Last week, one of my stories was on whether vaping is helpful or harmful in reducing smoking rates. … Read more

Wound healing: Genetically engineered cheese bacteria may help chronic wounds to heal

Lactococcus lactis bacteria have been engineered to produce skin-healing proteins and could be useful for treating diabetic ulcers Health 15 March 2022 By Alice Klein Lactococcus lactis bacteria seen in a scanning electron microscope image STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Cheese-making bacteria have been engineered to produce skin repair proteins that promote rapid healing when applied … Read more

Asteroid hits Earth near Iceland hours after being spotted by astronomers

A space rock that exploded in the atmosphere near Iceland was only the fifth asteroid that has been observed before an impact with Earth Space 15 March 2022 By Will Gater Artwork showing an asteroid approaching Earth Andrzej Wojcicki/Science Photo Library/Getty Images A small asteroid harmlessly collided with Earth on 11 March, creating an explosion … Read more

IT Army of Ukraine: How a team of amateur hackers is striking at Russia

An amateur army of hackers formed by the Ukrainian government is bringing down the websites of Russian government departments and national banks Technology 15 March 2022 By Matthew Sparkes Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s vice prime minister, requested help from amateurs to form the IT Army of Ukraine Ukrinform/Shutterstock Thousands of amateur hackers from countries around the … Read more

Pollen season in the US may start 40 days earlier by end of century

Climate change may see pollen season in the US begin earlier and end later by the end of the century – and those with hay fever may experience worse symptoms as pollen emissions could rise by as much as 250 per cent Environment 15 March 2022 By Jason Arunn Murugesu Green clover leaves surrounded by … Read more

Fall armyworms with offspring-killing gene tested on farms in Brazil

Male fall armyworms carrying a gene that kills female offspring were released on farms in Brazil as a possible way to control wild populations of a major pest Life 15 March 2022 By Michael Le Page A fall armyworm Shutterstock/kale kkm Fall armyworms genetically modified to wipe out wild populations of the pests have been … Read more

Chernobyl: Nuclear safety regulators urge Russia to grant access

Russian forces have threatened safety at several nuclear power plants in Ukraine including Chernobyl, but the risk of a serious radiation release is thought to be low Physics 15 March 2022 By Matthew Sparkes Satellite photo of Chernobyl power plant taken on 10 March Maxar/DigitalGlobe/Getty​ Images Three weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, concerns are growing … Read more

Psychology: Non-pilots think they can land a plane after watching a YouTube video

A psychological study shows people can be over-confident in their ability to perform tasks for which they have no formal training Humans 16 March 2022 By Christa Lesté-Lasserre Pilot working through a simulation a simulation exercise Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA Wire/Alamy People can be so confident they can teach themselves skills they actually lack – … Read more

Inconsistent human behaviour around animals putting wildlife at risk

A computer model suggests that wildlife may face survival problems if some of the humans in the environment help wild animals while others hunt them Life 16 March 2022 By Christa Lesté-Lasserre Feeding wild animals might give them the misleading impression that all humans will offer assistance d3sign/Getty Images Well-meaning humans might be inadvertently putting … Read more