2020 another grim year for Brazilian Amazon
2020 was a devastating year for the Brazilian Amazon Deforestation destroyed the equivalent of more than two football pitches each minute in the Brazilian Amazon in 2020, another devastating year for a resource seen as vital to curbing climate change, according to government data released Friday. Brazilian space agency INPE identified 8,426 square kilometers (3,253 […]
Sprawling 8-mile-long ‘canvas’ of ice age beasts discovered hidden in Amazon rainforest
An 8-mile-long “canvas” filled with ice age drawings of mastodons, giant sloths and other extinct beasts has been discovered in the Amazon rainforest. The gorgeous art, drawn with ochre — a red pigment frequently used as paint in the ancient world — spans nearly 8 miles (13 kilometers) of rock on the hills above three […]
Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon surges to 12-year high
Aerial view of a burning area of Amazon rainforest reserve, south of Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil, on August 16, 2020 Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon surged again over the past year, hitting a 12-year high, according to official figures released Monday that drew a chorus of condemnation of President Jair Bolsonaro’s government. A […]
Mine ponds amplify mercury risks in Peru’s Amazon
IMAGE: Thousands of artificial ponds like this one, created when rainwater filled in an abandoned gold mining pit, are amplifying risks of mercury exposure for humans and wildlife in the Peruvian… view more Credit: Melissa Marchese DURHAM, N.C. – The proliferation of pits and ponds created in recent years by miners digging for small deposits of […]
Mine ponds amplify mercury risks in Peru’s Amazon
Thousands of artificial ponds like this one, created when rainwater filled in an abandoned gold mining pit, are amplifying risks of mercury exposure for humans and wildlife in the Peruvian Amazon. Credit: Melissa Marchese The proliferation of pits and ponds created in recent years by miners digging for small deposits of alluvial gold in Peru’s […]
Some Amazon rainforest regions more resistant to climate change than previously thought
Photo was taken from the top of the K34 flux tower site located 60km north of Manaus, Brazil. Credit: Xi Yang/University of Virginia Forests can help mitigate climate change, by taking in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and storing it in their biomass (tree trunks, roots, etc.). In fact, forests currently take in around 25-30% of […]
The best Amazon Cyber Monday deals: the best early deals and sales on air fryers, espresso machines, WiFi extenders, and more
All the best Cyber Monday deals from the most convenient retailer. (Ionut Vlad via Unsplash/) 2020 is looking up! Although Black Friday and Cyber Monday may not have the usual pomp and excitement of years past, we won’t say no to deeply discounted gear for friends, family and (let’s be honest) ourselves. It’s not even […]
The best Amazon Black Friday deals: The best early deals and sales on Ring doorbells, iRobot vacuums, hair appliances, and more
The best savings you can find on Amazon this Black Friday. (Christopher Gower via Unsplash/) As the weirdest year in recent history heads into the holiday season, we’re all facing the realization that many of us won’t be seeing our families in person. The best way to make up for it? More gifts! At least, […]
Amazon fires cause Brazil’s CO2 emissions to jump amid pandemic
Credit: CC0 Public Domain Forest fires have sent carbon dioxide emissions soaring in Brazil over the past two years, undermining efforts by the government of President Jair Bolsonaro to restore the country’s environmental credentials. Emissions jumped 10% in 2019, Bolsonaro’s first year in office, following a decade of small declines or stagnation, according to a […]
Scientists unravel how and why Amazon trees die
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The capacity of the Amazon forest to store carbon in a changing climate will ultimately be determined by how fast trees die—and what kills them. Now, a huge new study has unravelled what factors control tree mortality rates in Amazon forests and helps to explain why tree mortality is increasing across […]
