Farm vehicles are now heavier than most dinosaurs – here’s why that’s a problem

Whether a combine harvester or a Diplodocus is the cause, compacted soils are a big problem.

John Quinton, Professor of Soil Science, Lancaster University • conversation
May 16, 2022 ~6 min

Thawing permafrost is roiling the Arctic landscape, driven by a hidden world of changes beneath the surface as the climate warms

Ground is collapsing and massive lakes are draining in a matter of days. Thawing permafrost is having profound effects on the region and its infrastructure.

Mark J. Lara, Assistant Professor in Plant Biology & Geography, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • conversation
April 12, 2022 ~12 min


Bare winter fields to disappear as part of new plan for healthy greener countryside

Soil health is at the heart of new government plans for farm payments with policies to increase soil organic matter and promote winter cover.

Ian Dodd, Professor of Sustainable Agriculture, Lancaster University • conversation
Dec. 10, 2021 ~7 min

Tropical forests can recover surprisingly quickly on deforested lands – and letting them regrow naturally is an effective and low-cost way to slow climate change

As governments and corporations pledge to help the planet by planting trillions of trees, a new study spotlights an effective, low-cost alternative: letting tropical forests regrow naturally.

Lourens Poorter, Professor of Functional Ecology, Wageningen University • conversation
Dec. 9, 2021 ~11 min

COP26: how unlocking nature's power can help the UK step up its fight against climate change

Nature-based solutions can help us sustainably tackle climate disasters - but to do that, they urgently need policy support.

Nathalie Seddon, Professor of Biodiversity, University of Oxford • conversation
Nov. 9, 2021 ~8 min

How unlocking nature's power can help the UK step up its fight against climate change

Nature-based solutions can help us sustainably tackle climate disasters - but to do that, they urgently need policy support.

Nathalie Seddon, Professor of Biodiversity, University of Oxford • conversation
Nov. 9, 2021 ~8 min

A new, lower threshold for lead poisoning in children means more kids will get tested – but the ultimate solution is eliminating lead sources

The Centers for Disease Control has announced a new, stricter standard for lead poisoning in children, which will more than double the number of kids considered to have high blood lead levels.

Gabriel Filippelli, Chancellor's Professor of Earth Sciences and Director of the Center for Urban Health, IUPUI • conversation
Nov. 5, 2021 ~9 min

Forests can't handle all the net-zero emissions plans – companies and countries expect nature to offset too much carbon

Yes, trees and soils can absorb and store carbon, but the carbon doesn’t stay stored forever. That’s one of the problems with how net-zero plans for the climate are being designed.

Kate Dooley, Research Fellow, Climate & Energy College, The University of Melbourne • conversation
Nov. 5, 2021 ~8 min


Why the fate of our planet's environment depends on the state of its soil

If we want to reduce carbon emissions and preserve planetary ecosystems, we need to protect our soils.

Duncan Cameron, Professor of Plant and Soil Biology, University of Sheffield • conversation
Nov. 3, 2021 ~7 min

Wildfire burn scars can intensify and even create thunderstorms that lead to catastrophic flooding – here's how it works

An atmospheric scientist and sailplane pilot describes why large areas of burned land can produce clouds and rainstorms.

William R. Cotton, Professor Emeritus of Meteorology, Colorado State University • conversation
Sept. 7, 2021 ~5 min

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