Tropical collapse caused by lethal heat
Scientists have discovered why the 'broken world' following the worst extinction of all time lasted so long - it was simply too hot to survive.
Environment News
Large water reservoirs at the dawn of stellar birth
Scientists from the University of Leeds have discovered enough water vapour to fill Earth's oceans more than 2000 times over in a gas and dust cloud which is about to collapse into a Sun-like star.
Tree rings go with the flow of the Amazon
University of Leeds-led research has used tree rings from eight cedar trees in Bolivia to unlock a 100-year history of rainfall across the Amazon basin, that contains the world's largest river system.
Food security effects of climate change will be felt in 10 years
Research released today shows that within the next 10 years large parts of Asia can expect increased risk of more severe droughts, which will impact regional and possibly even global food security.
Bigger thinking needed to make farming more sustainable
A larger-scale approach to sustainable farming could be more beneficial for wildlife than our current system of farm-based payments, according to University of Leeds researchers.
Droughts could profoundly harm river life
Critically low water levels in many rivers could lead to the partial collapse of food webs that support aquatic life, according to a study co-authored by a University of Leeds researcher.
Loss of tropical forests reduces rain
Deforestation can have a significant effect on tropical rainfall, new research confirms. The findings have potentially devastating impacts for people living in and near the Amazon and Congo forests.
Research reveals contrasting consequences of a warmer Earth
A new study involving analysis of fossil and geological records going back 540 million years, suggests that biodiversity on Earth generally increases as the planet warms.
Biodiversity protects tropical rainforests from drought
Forest carbon stocks in protected West African rainforests increased despite a 40-year drought, due to a dramatic shift in tree species composition.
Cloud control could tame hurricanes, study shows
They are one of the most destructive forces of nature on Earth, but now environmental scientists are working to tame the hurricane.