News
December 02, 2016
An international team led by University of Leicester geologists has made the first estimate of the sheer size of the physical structure of the planet's technosphere - suggesting that its mass approximates to an enormous 30 trillion tons. The technosphere is comprised of all of the structures that humans have constructed to keep them alive on the planet - from houses, factories and farms to computer systems, smartphones and CDs, to the waste in landfills and spoil heaps.
November 26, 2016
Saturn's largest moon might be the only place beyond Earth where humans could live. The idea of a human colony on Titan, a moon of Saturn, might sound crazy. Its temperature hovers at nearly 300° below zero Fahrenheit, and its skies rain methane and ethane that flow into hydrocarbon seas. Nevertheless, Titan could be the only place in the solar system where it makes sense to build a permanent, self-sufficient human settlement. We reached this conclusion after looking at the planets in a new way: ecologically.
November 25, 2016
Another conflict, associated with use of water resources is developing between Ukraine and Russia. It has become known this week that Ukraine started building a capital dam at the North-Crimea canal. Of course, the country is not doing this without reason. The only purpose of this is to get a revenge for Crimea and finally cut its access to potable water. However, now such condition from Kiev can be taken more as a show-off and useless money expenditure than a serious threat for the population of the peninsular.
November 25, 2016
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi promised that the waters of the Indus river basin three rivers that belong to his country, will entirely be used by Indian farmers and they will stop them flowing into Pakistan. The Head of Indian government announced this at his speech to his supporters in Bhantinda town. “The Sutledge, Bias and Ravi River waters belong to India and our peasants”, - he said. “Each drop of this water (that flows into Pakistan territory) will be stopped. I will give it the farmers of Penjab and Jammu and Kashmir – Indian peasants”.
November 24, 2016
Global warming has caused disappearance of some isles in the Arctic Ocean. The fastest sea-shore erosion is observed in the Eastern-Siberian Sea and Sea of Laptevs. Both facts are a proof of global warming. This statement was made by rofessor of Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), Russia. Head of the Arctic Researches Laboratory at the Pacific Ocean Oceanology Institute of FED of ASR, researcher of the arctic Igor Semiletov. The Sea-shore erosion velocity of the ice complex at headlands reaches 20-30 m per a summer.
November 22, 2016
Starting the second day of meetings reviewing education, tourism and community publications in frames of Drifting Apart project. The Drifting Apart project aims to unearth and strengthen our understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the fascinating and interconnected geological heritage of the Northern Periphery and Arctic region, and its many links to natural, built and cultural heritage.
November 21, 2016
Santa may need to take off some of his jolly layers this Christmas: The North Pole — the northernmost point on the globe (where Mr. Claus lives) — is more than 36 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) warmer than it has been in past decades, a new report finds. Moreover, the entire Arctic, a region that includes the North Pole, is almost 13 F (7.2 C) warmer today (Nov. 18) than in past years, the report found.
November 18, 2016
Establishing a Martian outpost is likely to bring many of the same societal problems we face on Earth. World events this year have been thought-provoking. One thought present in many minds might be: how are the plans for a Moon base or a Mars colony coming along? So, some much needed good news! US engineers have published their design for a nuclear reactor that could power a permanent off-planet settlement for 15 years (K. J. Schillo et al. Ann. Nucl. Energy 96, 307–312; 2016).
November 17, 2016
Development of a long-term development strategy for low greenhouse gas disposal levels is one of the first steps Russia has taken within preparation to ratification of Paris Agreement. Alexander Bedritsky, adviser of President of RF, Special representative of the President of RF for climate, announced this at the 22 UNO World conference on climate.
November 16, 2016
International Association for Geoethics - IAGETH is one othe Technical Partners of the Resources for Future Generations 2018 (RFG 2018), June 16-21, 2018, Vancouver (CANADA). Grounded in geoscience, RFG2018 will serve as a forum for industry, government, academia and other stakeholders to discuss their research as well as the key issues and trends shaping the future delivery of energy, minerals and water resources within the context of sustainable development. Call for Sessions: http://bit.ly/RFG2018_Call4Sessions