economics

Himalayan glacier shows evidence of start of Industrial Revolution

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Human beings altered one of the highest peaks in the Himalayas hundreds of years before a person ever set foot there, new research has found. The study, publishing today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicates that the byproducts of burning coal in Europe in the late 18th century made their way to … Read more Himalayan glacier shows evidence of start of Industrial Revolution

Scientists warn of sustainability crisis as relentless and excessive mining of sand is impacting environment and threatening lives

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It’s a resource used in global construction and mined from rivers and coasts across the world. But the humble grain of sand is being depleted by increased and relentless mining. New research published in the journal Nature Sustainability and led by academics at the University of Hull has shown excessive sand mining is causing river … Read more Scientists warn of sustainability crisis as relentless and excessive mining of sand is impacting environment and threatening lives

Going big with marine conservation

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In the first days of 2020, the Pacific Ocean archipelago nation of Palau took the momentous step of protecting 80% — 500,000 square kilometers — of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from fishing. The move is at once a cultural tradition, a far-sighted strategy for future generations and an example of the level of conservation … Read more Going big with marine conservation

Dismal math results can’t be ignored

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Australian school students’ poor performance in mathematics could harm the economy and the next generation’s job prospects, according to a University of Queensland researcher. The results from the 2018 OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reveal that Australian students’ mathematics performance ranked 20 or above on a decreasing scale of one to 26. Professor … Read more Dismal math results can’t be ignored

UBC declares climate emergency and moves forward on two key divestment initiatives

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The University of British Columbia has joined communities and organizations around the world in declaring a climate emergency. “UBC acknowledges the urgency of the climate crisis and we must directly face the coming challenges. At this pivotal moment, the decisions and actions we take will reverberate beyond our own borders and lifetimes,” said UBC President … Read more UBC declares climate emergency and moves forward on two key divestment initiatives

Eureka! Stories from the goldfields brought back to life 165 years on

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A new book of “ripping yarns” from the Australian goldfields of the mid-1800s has put the tumultuous times and tales surrounding the Eureka Stockade rebellion back into the popular imagination. The book has been curated by academics at The Australian National University (ANU) and draws on thousands of fictional stories published in newspapers at the … Read more Eureka! Stories from the goldfields brought back to life 165 years on

Climate change and the threat to global breadbaskets

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Extreme climatic conditions could lead to an increased risk of unusually low agricultural harvests if more than one global breadbasket is affected by adverse climate conditions at the same time. The findings of a new IIASA study show that these breadbaskets, the geographical areas responsible for growing much of the world’s food, are at risk … Read more Climate change and the threat to global breadbaskets

Economic status cues from clothes affect perceived competence from faces

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Impressions of competence from faces predict important real-world outcomes, including electoral success and chief executive officer selection. Presumed competence is associated with social status. And previous research has shown that people are sensitive to how rich or poor other individuals appear. “Our work show that on top of that, people are susceptible to these cues … Read more Economic status cues from clothes affect perceived competence from faces

As farmers protest, ANU experts offer stark water warning

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A convoy of farmers and other community members affected by drought are heading to Canberra today to protest about water management in the Murray Darling Basin. They say it’s failing communities. Water experts Professor Jamie Pittock and Professor Quentin Grafton from The Australian National University (ANU) are available to speak to media on the issue, … Read more As farmers protest, ANU experts offer stark water warning

Atmospheric river storms create $1 billion-a-year flood damage

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Atmospheric rivers pose a $1 billion-a-year flood risk in the West, according to a study released today. Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers analyzed the economic impact of the winter storms that deliver an increasingly large share of rain and snow … Read more Atmospheric river storms create $1 billion-a-year flood damage