Jakarta (AFP) May 8, 2024 A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted on Wednesday and spewed an ash tower almost a mile into the sky, prompting officials to raise an alert level to the second-highest and warn people to keep away. Mount Ibu, located on the island of Halmahera in North Maluku province, erupted at 11:11 am local time (0211 GMT) and sent a thick column … Continue reading Volcano in eastern Indonesia erupts, alert level raised

N’Djamena (AFP) May 10, 2024 Chadian soldiers deployed on Friday in large numbers across several districts of the capital after late-night celebrations marked the presidential election victory of junta leader General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno. Even before the official results gave Deby more than 61 percent in Monday’s ballot, the presidential guard had parked many armoured vehicles on major junctions and thoroughfares.http://dlvr.it/T6kdMH Continue reading Chad troops out in force after junta chief elected president

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 10, 2024 NASA has awarded the University of Florida a $12 million mission called GRATTIS (Gravitational Reference Advanced Technology Test in Space), aimed at enhancing how we monitor Earth’s water and ice movements. This was the only project selected from a national call for submissions. “GRATTIS will utilize advanced sensors to measure minute gravitational variations from space, aiding in the … Continue reading NASA chooses UF mission to monitor Earth’s water and ice

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 10, 2024 A 30-year study in the United States has found a connection between high consumption of ultra-processed foods and a modest increase in mortality risk, particularly from neurodegenerative diseases. The research, published in The BMJ, points to significant risks associated with specific types of ultra-processed foods, such as ready-to-eat meat, poultry, seafood, sugary drinks, dairy desserts, andhttp://dlvr.it/T6gSbt Continue reading US study links ultra-processed food to higher risk of early death

London, UK (SPX) May 09, 2024 The University of Essex has launched a $3.7 million plant laboratory designed to develop crops capable of thriving in future climatic conditions, characterized by higher temperatures and reduced water availability. This flagship facility, featuring state-of-the-art vertical farming and environmental simulation technology, enables researchers to experiment with and manipulate plant growth fhttp://dlvr.it/T6gSbq Continue reading New Climate-Adaptive Crop Lab at University of Essex Targets Future Food Security

Boston MA (SPX) May 09, 2024 When scientists look for an earthquake’s cause, their search often starts underground. As centuries of seismic studies have made clear, it’s the collision of tectonic plates and the movement of subsurface faults and fissures that primarily trigger a temblor. But MIT scientists have now found that certain weather events may also play a role in setting off some quakes. … Continue reading Heavy snowfall and rain may contribute to some earthquakes

Paris, France (SPX) May 06, 2024 Recently, ESA’s EarthCARE satellite was removed from its transport container at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, beginning an intensive period of preparation for its upcoming launch. The team conducted detailed inspections and testing to ensure the satellite was in optimal condition for its mission. Ensuring the cleanliness of EarthCARE was a critical step in optimizing the performhttp://dlvr.it/T6gSYB Continue reading EarthCARE satellite set for launch

Paris (AFP) April 21, 2024 Only 40 of the world’s 100 largest private firms have set net-zero carbon emissions targets to fight climate change, according to a report released Monday, lagging far behind public companies. But for the world to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming 1.5 degree Celsius, all companies need to reduce their planet-heating emissions, the report by the group … Continue reading World’s largest private firms fail to set climate targets: report

Honiara (AFP) April 22, 2024 The incumbent prime minister of Solomon Islands was set to fall short of an outright election majority Monday, forcing the pro-Beijing Pacific leader to woo an unwieldy mix of potential coalition partners. Manasseh Sogavare’s Our Party has won 12 seats with six contests still in play, according to provisional results reported by the public broadcaster – well short of a … Continue reading Pro-China Solomons PM fails to secure outright majority

Cuyabeno, Ecuador (AFP) April 22, 2024 Biologists on a trail in the Ecuadoran Amazon hold their breath as they distribute a foul-smelling delicacy to lure butterflies, critical pollinators increasingly threatened by climate change. A team has hung 32 traps made of green nets, each baited with rotting fish and fermented bananas. They are meant to blend in with the forest canopy. Their pungent odor clearly … Continue reading In Ecuadoran Amazon, butterflies provide a gauge of climate change