Everyone must have heard of the “Save the bees” movement but not everyone knows why we must save the bees and many other insect species. Many people still view insects as pests, nuisances and bugs. However, the role they play in ecosystems is essential. Firstly, insects maintain the food web, which humans heavily rely on. … Continue reading Why are insects important?
The consequences of noise pollution
Noise pollution is a silent (but not so silent) threat to the environment. The idea of creating too much noise is often seen as a human problem; usually your neighbour complaining about how loud a party is. Aside from these inconveniences too much noise can harm animals and our health too. How does noise pollution … Continue reading The consequences of noise pollution
Us and Them – faults in our understanding of animals.
I have been reading a book by primatologist Frans de Waal called “Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are?”. The book is an amazing display of the faults in our understanding of animal behaviour and cognition. We often group animals in one category and separate animals from humans. Us vs Them. However, … Continue reading Us and Them – faults in our understanding of animals.
Could malaria be worsened by climate change?
Malaria is a serious public health issue with around 229 million cases worldwide (in 2019). The most vulnerable groups (children and pregnant women) cause the vast majority of deaths. Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite. Plasmodium reproduces inside the Anopheles mosquito and the mosquito acts as a vector for transmission of the virus between … Continue reading Could malaria be worsened by climate change?
Paternity in the animal kingdom
It was International Men’s Day a few days ago so some appreciation for males who dominate parental roles in the animal kingdom seems extremely relevant. Although, this is less of a core science topic, it breaches into the ecology sect of biology which has proven to be equally as important to our lives as other … Continue reading Paternity in the animal kingdom
Synthetic Food? A sustainable alternative??
Synthetic Food could be the solution to famine and world hunger, however, some are dubious about the consequences of using synthetic food. Many already know that Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) production has damaged ecosystems and contributed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria (see my previous post on Superbugs). So why would synthetic food be any different? Before researching … Continue reading Synthetic Food? A sustainable alternative??
Handling Covid-19
(Nextgov, 2020) As we all start to resume our normal daily habits and lifestyles, it can be easy to slip back into quick or improper hygiene practices that a mere few months ago would have make us shudder. The hustle and bustle of shops and public spaces reopening may slacken our steadfast approach to cleanliness, … Continue reading Handling Covid-19
The Price of Palm Oil
Palm Oil. Chances are you have heard of it and higher chances are you know, along with cattle ranching and soy crops, it’s causing major deforestation across some of the world’s most biodiverse and critically endangered forests. But with palm oil being used in over 50% of all products globally, the use of palm oil … Continue reading The Price of Palm Oil
The Peoples Plastic Planet
‘I hope this is the start of something good. Hopefully we’ve seen the error of our ways and people can take more care of each other and the planet – we can see now it can be done’. My sister then changed the channel over from the news report and settled onto a programme all … Continue reading The Peoples Plastic Planet
How do Fireworks Work?
Fireworks can be characterised as self-contained explosive devices which contain a mixture of many components such as oxidising agents, fuels and metal salts. We often associate fireworks with celebration, but the first fireworks were used to warn off evil spirits. Simple firecrackers are thought to have been developed around 1000 years ago by Chinese monk … Continue reading How do Fireworks Work?
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