As a young engineering student contemplating the direction of his doctoral research, Jaka Tušek knew he wanted to push the boundaries of science. “I wanted to work on breakthroughs, tackle something new that hasn’t been done before.” Today, the Slovenian researcher is on the cusp of the first major breakthrough in cooling technologies
Ph. A loggerhead turtle nesting. Mollie Rickwood, CC BY-NC-ND Mollie Rickwood, University of Exeter; Annette Broderick, University of Exeter, and Robin Snape, University of Exeter Rising global temperatures are a particularly acute threat for the world’s sea turtles. That’s because the temperature of a turtle’s nest controls the sex of their offspring. Coming
Ph. UladzimirZuyeu/Shutterstock Viktoriia Ivannikova, Dublin City University Some long-haul flights connecting Europe and Asia are emitting 40% more CO₂ since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, my new study shows. The spike is largely due to airspace closures above conflict zones which are forcing airlines to seek alternative routes, significantly increasing
Mathieu Ardyna, Université Laval and Juliette Provencher, Université Laval Earlier this year our international team of scientists from the Refuge Arctic consortium departed Iqaluit, Nvt. on a 56-day research expedition in the far north. We were sailing aboard the icebreaker CCGS Amundsen and our main objective was to study the high latitudes of
In an era of escalating environmental crises, green engineering has emerged as a cornerstone in the pursuit of sustainable solutions. This transformative discipline melds engineering principles with ecological mindfulness, striving to reduce environmental impact while fostering economic and social sustainability. From energy-efficient infrastructures to eco-friendly manufacturing processes, green engineering is reshaping industries and
Paul Hudson, Leiden University From the Czech Republic to Spain, Europe has been plagued by devastating floods this autumn. Climate scientists agree that severe flooding was probably driven by climate change resulting in record-breaking rainfall. Warmer temperatures increase the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere, especially over warmer oceans, which increases the
The era of climate change as a distant concept or a matter for academic discourse has passed. It is now a stark and undeniable truth, evidenced by rising temperatures, intensifying weather extremes, and rapidly diminishing ice caps. These are not abstract phenomena—they are the visible warning signs of a planet in distress. The
When oceanographer Toste Tanhua and his research team set up a trial system to monitor aquaculture conditions near Barcelona in 2023, they were keenly aware of the havoc a powerful storm had wreaked on the region three years earlier. Storm Gloria ravaged southeast Spain in January 2020, killing 13 people and causing millions
Warmer temperatures in northern Canada, the result of human-caused global warming, are making ice roads less and less reliable. (Shutterstock) Homa Kheyrollah Pour, Wilfrid Laurier University and Daniel Gaudet Walking on the ice of the Great Bear Lake in the N.W.T. is a truly unforgettable experience. It is simply one of Canada’s most
German mechanical engineer and research manager Martin Osbild is a fan of avoiding waste. At home, he would far sooner repair than replace broken household items – from washing machines to food blenders and bicycles. At work, the same environmental principles are high on his agenda. Osbild is leading a team of researchers