Environment

Thursday, May 16th 2013 - 19:34 UTC
Solar activity at its 11-year peak; major flares could impact Earth over the weekend

Between Sunday and Monday, and within a 24 hour period, the sun has let lose three major flares, all in the X range. Solar flares are rated on a scale with X flares being among the largest possible. The latest flare erupted Monday night and registered as an X3.2, which is so far the most powerful solar flare of 2013.
Thursday, May 16th 2013 - 06:41 UTC
US environmentalist donates 15.000 hectares of pristine Patagonia land for a national park

US millionaire and environmentalist Douglas Tompkins who has dedicated his life to promoting the beauty and wildlife of Patagonia will be donating one of his several estancias of pristine land to the Perito Moreno National Park in the extreme south of Argentina.
Tuesday, May 14th 2013 - 18:32 UTC
Monsanto wins leading soybean seed replicating case to the relief of biotechnology industry

In a decision that drew sighs of relief from the biotechnology industry, the US Supreme Court ruled that an Indiana farmer violated agribusiness company Monsanto Co’s patent for a type of soybean. The court agreed unanimously with Monsanto that Vernon Bowman, 75, had performed an end-run around the law when he used the company’s patented soybean seeds without seeking a licence.
Tuesday, May 14th 2013 - 05:43 UTC
FAO suggests farming and feeding on insects can address global food insecurity

While insects can be slimy, cringe-inducing creatures, often squashed on sight by humans, a new book released by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) says beetles, wasps and caterpillars are also an unexplored nutrition source that can help address global food insecurity.
Friday, May 10th 2013 - 07:23 UTC
Falklands’ denies political impact of Argentine South Georgia scientific cruise

News this week that Argentina had decided to undertake fisheries research in the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) is not connected in any way to the Falklands, Acting Governor Sandra Tyler-Haywood has assured.
Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 09:11 UTC
Winning design to replace Brazil’s destroyed Antarctic base was presented in Rio

The Brazilian Navy announced in Rio the winning proposal for the new Antarctic research base Comandante Ferraz which in February last year was destroyed by fire with the loss of two lives and damages in excess of 12 million dollars.
Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 08:42 UTC
Falklands/South Georgia dispute placed by Argentina under the CCALMR umbrella

The Buenos Aires media is reporting a potential incident situation in South Georgia waters which could erupt into something more complicated from the moment the Argentine research vessel ‘Eduardo Holmberg’ has been involved in scientific activities in a zone which last year was declared by the UK as a Maritime Protected Area, MPA, and which Argentina does not recognize since it considers it ‘an area in dispute’.
Monday, May 6th 2013 - 21:24 UTC
Arctic seas acidity from CO2 emissions advancing faster than forecasted

The Arctic seas are being made rapidly more acidic by carbon-dioxide emissions, according to a new report. Scientists from the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) monitored widespread changes in ocean chemistry in the region.
Thursday, May 2nd 2013 - 07:45 UTC
Brazil leads meeting of Amazon basin Cooperation Treaty in Ecuador

Brazilian Foreign minister Antonio Patriota arrives Thursday in Ecuador for bilateral talks on trade, investment and immigration, and to attend a day later the Amazon group summit of ministers, reports Itamaraty palace.
Tuesday, April 30th 2013 - 22:59 UTC
Chilean navy tugboat checking Antarctica area where Chinese factory ship went down

A tugboat from the Chilean Navy equipped for environmental emergencies is trying to determine the position where the remains of the Chinese factory ship Kai Xin went down in Antarctica last week after catching fire and left adrift by the 97 member crew rescued by a Norwegian vessel and a reefer.