Environment

The Galapagos Islands are one of the best places in the world to observe evolution, with a recent study observing finches on the island of Daphne Major demonstrating just how quick this process can sometimes be. Whilst many of us might assume that the evolution of a new species is something that might take thousands of years, scientists have just observed this process on the Galapagos and a completely new species evolved in much less time than many thought possible.

Everyone loves misjudging the weather, then spending the day sweating or shivering in their unsuitable clothes, right? Wrong. The process of endothermy, by which humans expend energy to approach an ideal body temperature, can make wearing inadequate clothing uncomfortable. A team of researchers has completed a project that they believe may address this issue.

Tesla has just revealed their eagerly awaited new electric truck. The Tesla Semi is due to start production in 2019 with CEO Elon Musk suggesting that “it’s not like any truck that you’ve ever driven.” So what makes it so special?

Since the release of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ in 2006, former Vice President of the US, Al Gore, has become something of a spokesperson for those wishing to take action against climate change.

The rare Golden Wonder salamander was first found in the Cuchumatanes Mountains of Guatemala in 1975, by two students named Paul Elias and Jeremy Jackson.

Scientists and engineers are working on new metallic alloys all the time. This is due to modern-day industrial design, and the consistent intensity in demands for materials that are lightweight, yet strong and durable. At the same time, the manufacturers of cars, aeroplanes and other such machines also value materials that are perceived as trustworthy, yet high-end and state-of-the-art, by both industry insiders and typical consumers.

As the world’s population is increasing, each year about 300 million metric tons of plastic is being generated, with more than half this number polluting the environment, specifically our oceans, by improper disposal systems and the large amounts of non-biodegradable items in it.

Are you ready to pack up and go to live on a Martian colony? Elon Musk thinks you should be.

The Montreal Protocol was brought in thirty years ago, in an attempt to reduce and eventually remove the sale of chemicals which had been implicated in the destruction of the ozone layer. Whilst the protocol has certainly helped reduce emissions of these dangerous chemicals, new research has now shed light on the fact that there is another risk to the ozone layer, from substances which are not covered by the Montreal Protocol.

It might seem that the kinematics of exactly how albatross maintain their flight over hundreds of miles per day would only be of interest to biologists however, a team of engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have found that the flight patterns of these gigantic birds could well be used for a number of applications in other areas of scientific research.

Electric cars are great, in theory. They may help you reduce your personal travel costs, carbon footprint and emissions. However, their range (or distance they can drive on a single charge) may be underwhelming for new customers. The manufacturers of these fossil fuel-free vehicles claim that the range of their electric cars improves every product cycle; however, real-world tests may find that it falls short of maximum ranges on paper.

In just the UK alone, there are an estimated 7,000 road traffic accidents at pedestrian crossings each year, which of course are always been considered the safest way to cross a road.