Nature

Tonka Bean Trees Attract Lightning to Win the Rainforest Arms Race—And Science Thinks That’s Electrifying

Lightning is one of the leading natural causes of tree death in tropical forests. The raw voltage and heat from a strike can instantly boil sap, splinter wood, and reduce a once-living organism to charcoal. But not tonka trees.

New Discovery in the Negev Desert Sheds Light on How Climate Affects Earth’s Surface

The research reveals how climate fluctuations over the past 230,000 years have influenced the migration of drainage divides in the Negev Desert, shedding light on the dynamic relationship between climate and landscape evolution.

Off-Grid Living: The Role of Sustainability in Modern Times

Even die-hard skeptics now find it impossible to deny the presence of climate change. This is the very same reason why a growing number of businesses have decided to adopt a "greener" approach to their everyday operations. So, what can individual consumers do to lower their environmental footprint? One strategy involves what is commonly referred to as "off-grid" living.

Saudi Arabia initiates a wild plant survey

Saudi Arabia until recently was hermetically sealed to the outside world. But times are changing and the Kingdom of Saud which once dwelled in...

Build a fire-proof home with hemp blocks

Researchers tested the fire safety and strength of hemp blocks, a sustainable building material made from hemp, lime, and water. The study, published in the Journal of Building Engineering, found that Hemp blocks don’t catch fire with open flames but instead smolder slowly, producing very little smoke. In fact, walls made of hemp blocks stayed structurally intact for 2 hours during fire tests.

Desert truffles show anticancer promise

Many studies have looked at the nutrition in desert truffles, including their phytochemical composition as potential anti-cancer therapies but a study led by a researcher from Amman, Jordan,  looked specifically at the anticancer effects of Terfezia boudieri, a delicious desert truffle.

Truffles From The Desert

The sands of Middle Eastern and North African deserts also yield truffles. They’re known as zubaidi, fagaa, terfez, kamaa (or kima), depending on the country they come from. The botanical name is Terfezia Leonis. And now, with winter in the Middle East drawing on, it's prime time for a desert truffle safari. Well, if you have an experienced Beduin guide.

Archeologists find pregnant woman with fetus in Ancient Egyptian pit burial site

The woman was found in a grave-pit, inside a small cemetery, with the skeletal remains of the unborn baby still in her stomach

Rescue divers need a global rescue alert system, following failed Sea Story incident

Could there have been a better outcome if dive boats and rescue divers are connected to a global alerts system? Can there be an app for that? How about a Whatsapp or Telegram chat group (international and country based) so that rescue divers the world over can get a call and rescue when in need? What diving group wants to start such an initiative? 

What Is the Closest Black Hole to Earth & Should We Fear the Neighbour?

In 2019, the existence of black holes was confirmed, and astronomers have discovered quite a few of those dangerous objects. But what’s the closest black hole to Earth, and how dangerous is this neighbour? Discover that and more below.

How cold water divers can save kelp forests

Kelp forests are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. We might know kelp as a superfood but in the sea it provides shelter, food, and breeding grounds for countless marine species. Unfortunately, these vital underwater habitats are in decline due to factors like climate change, pollution, and overfishing.

Pando aspen forest in Utah is one of world’s oldest beings

The Latin name Pando means "I spread," and the forest is one single living thing –– one one tree that has cloned itself tens of thousands of times. Pando consists of approximately 47,000 individual stems all connected by a single, vast root system.

Colcom Foundation and PennEnvironment Unite To Create A Green Legacy For Pennsylvania

Reaffirming its ongoing support for environmental initiatives, especially in Pennsylvania, Colcom Foundation has awarded a generous $50,000 grant to PennEnvironment.

Moss is taking over Antarctica

Climate change is causing a moss explosion in Antarctica.

These environmentalists want people to go extinct to save the planet

About 25 years ago when the environment movement was becoming a thing, we heard the strangest idea: that people were opting out of having...

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Where Should You Buy Seeds for Planting?

Good gardens start with good seeds. Learn how to choose reliable seed companies, avoid poor-quality seeds, understand heirloom and hybrid varieties, and store seeds for better germination.

La Profumoteca: The Sicilian perfume shop that remembered my daughter’s first scent

Seven years after creating her first perfume in a small Sicilian shop, my daughter had just three drops left. A family-owned perfumer in Palermo helped us recover the scent of her childhood.

Beyond the Beetle Bag: Pilsok transforms car airbags into a jacket that honours Ukrainian rescuers

Ukrainian design studio Pilsok, known for its popular Beetle backpack, transforms discarded car airbags into a striking designer jacket honouring Ukraine's emergency rescuers.

PeaceTech is the next CleanTech. And we’ve been building it for decades.

From the forests of Ontario to sea turtle conservation in Lebanon and water cooperation across the Middle East, Green Prophet founder Karin Kloosterman argues that CleanTech, EnviroTech and AgTech are already building the foundations of PeaceTech.

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The Myths Killing Your Fleet’s Carbon Numbers

Truck maintenance is more than an operating expense. From tire pressure and engine efficiency to idling and unexpected breakdowns, discover how smarter fleet maintenance can reduce fuel consumption, lower carbon emissions and improve sustainability reporting.

Where Should You Buy Seeds for Planting?

Good gardens start with good seeds. Learn how to choose reliable seed companies, avoid poor-quality seeds, understand heirloom and hybrid varieties, and store seeds for better germination.

La Profumoteca: The Sicilian perfume shop that remembered my daughter’s first scent

Seven years after creating her first perfume in a small Sicilian shop, my daughter had just three drops left. A family-owned perfumer in Palermo helped us recover the scent of her childhood.

Beyond the Beetle Bag: Pilsok transforms car airbags into a jacket that honours Ukrainian rescuers

Ukrainian design studio Pilsok, known for its popular Beetle backpack, transforms discarded car airbags into a striking designer jacket honouring Ukraine's emergency rescuers.

PeaceTech is the next CleanTech. And we’ve been building it for decades.

From the forests of Ontario to sea turtle conservation in Lebanon and water cooperation across the Middle East, Green Prophet founder Karin Kloosterman argues that CleanTech, EnviroTech and AgTech are already building the foundations of PeaceTech.

China brings back battery swapping for electric trucks. Remember Shai Agassi and Better Place? We do

CATL is building thousands of battery-swap stations for electric trucks. Can China succeed where Israel's $850 million Better Place experiment failed?

Rainwater nowhere is safe to drink

As winter rains approach the Middle East, scientists warn that PFAS forever chemicals contaminate rainwater worldwide, even in Antarctica.

Elon Musk’s flying Tesla Roadster is here. My 13-year-old son thinks it’s the future

My 13-year-old son told me about Elon Musk's flying Tesla Roadster while we were hiking. Could flying electric cars transform our cities, reduce roads and make more room for trees?
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