Planet Earth online: Latest news

Climate-change effects on malaria risk

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:22:59 GMT

A new study suggests that climate change will cause patterns of malaria infection to change over the next 50 years. A combined weather-disease model reveals likely changes to patterns of malaria infection in Africa, including areas that will become more, or less, at risk as temperatures increase.

Dry conditions spurred advanced photosynthesis

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:41:26 GMT

The need to conserve water played a vital role in driving many plant species to independently evolve a specialised form of photosynthesis. This happened as the environment changed, eating into the damp forest habitats the plants had evolved in and forcing them into drier open environments.

Hunger may inhibit defensive behaviour

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Most animals don't spend nearly as much time and energy defending nesting or mating sites against intruders outside the breeding season. That's a given. But this might be less about having no need to, and more because food is at a premium and they have no choice but to save their energy.

Scientists reveal how females store sperm for decades

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Scientists have discovered that all sorts of females -- from birds to reptiles to insects -- have a nifty trick to prolong the lifespan of sperm, letting them store it for weeks, months or even years on end. They found that females do this by lowering the metabolic rate of sperm, so it can survive in their bodies almost indefinitely.

Dog study warns of rising Lyme disease threat

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:45:37 GMT

Lyme disease is more common than we thought, a survey of the nation's dogs suggests. Scientists estimate that something like one in 200 dogs may be carrying infected ticks.

Real benefits of scientific research measured

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:20:39 GMT

Researchers have developed a new way to measure the impact of scientific research. Their qualitative approach assesses the contribution research projects have made to tackling real-life issues.

Huge pool of Arctic fresh water could cool Europe

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

British scientists have discovered an enormous dome of fresh water in the western Arctic Ocean. They think it may result from strong Arctic winds accelerating a great clockwise ocean circulation called the Beaufort Gyre, causing the sea surface to bulge upwards.

Wild dogs didn't go extinct in east Africa after all

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In 1991, conservationists announced with dismay that endangered African wild dogs had gone extinct from the Serengeti-Mara region of east Africa. Now the latest genetic study reveals that this proclamation may have been premature -- it turns out they almost certainly didn't go extinct at all.

Cliffhanging corals avoid trawler damage

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Bottom trawling fishing boats have devastated many cold water coral reefs along the margin of the North East Atlantic Ocean. Now, researchers have found large cold water coral colonies clinging to the vertical and overhanging sides of submarine canyons 1350 metres below the surface of the Bay of Biscay.

'Lost' Darwin fossils rediscovered

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:00:00 GMT

A rare collection of fossils, including some collected by Charles Darwin, has been rediscovered at the British Geological Survey. The fossils, which had been 'lost' for 165 years, have now been photographed and are available to the public through a new online museum exhibit.

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