Planet Earth stories
Listening in: Sounds of minke whales recorded for first time
The minke whale is one of the largest marine species regularly visiting the Scottish coast, but its secretive and unpredictable lifestyle means much of its behaviour remains a mystery.
12 Mar 2019
Tags: Animals, Marine life, Oceans, Technology, UK
How are plankton changing?
Scientists are one step closer to understanding how plankton communities are changing in coastal waters and shelf seas around the UK.
1 Mar 2019
Working with China to find a solution to pollution
Scientists are delving underground to study the agricultural impacts to soil and water, and are one step closer to finding a solution to land degradation and pollution.
7 Feb 2019
Tags: Farming, Food, Pollution, Soils, Technology
Plastics are being glued together in the ocean
Glue-like substances secreted by bacteria are sticking tiny particles of plastic together in the ocean to form larger masses.
5 Feb 2019
Tags: Marine life, Oceans, Plastics, Pollution
Loch Ness trees to help Scotland's carbon store
Thousands of trees planted near Loch Ness could help grow a new income stream for Scotland's forestry industry while removing thousands of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere.
15 Jan 2019
Tags: Climate, Conservation, Forests, Natural resources, Soils, Sustainability, UK
Climate change spells disaster for small businesses in southern Africa
What do you picture when you think about climate change? Perhaps you see failing crops, rising sea levels or melting glaciers. But what about struggling small businesses?
10 Jan 2019
Tags: Climate, Environmental change, Hazards, Weather
Missing ocean monitoring instrument found after five years at sea
Early Christmas present for the National Oceanography Centre as missing deep-ocean lander is found after five years lost at sea.
14 Dec 2018
Tags: Antarctic, Climate, Oceans, Sea level change, Technology
Trees can help mitigate ammonia emissions from farming
Scientists have developed a new online calculator and guidance to help farmers and others to design woodland to capture airborne ammonia, reducing pollution.
11 Dec 2018
Tags: Atmosphere, Biodiversity, Farming, Forests, Plants, Pollution, UK
Saving the forest on a shoestring
Around 80% of the Atlantic Rainforest has been lost as growers of crops like sugar cane have cleared trees to make way for plantations. But a low-cost method could help restore biodiversity.
28 Nov 2018
Tags: Biodiversity, Conservation, Farming, Forests
The Goldilocks effect: Weighing the world's forests
It is an old complaint: not being able to see the wood for the trees. But the grumble is being smashed thanks to a new dimension from a European Space Agency mission soon to launch.
26 Nov 2018
Tags: Atmosphere, Biodiversity, Climate, Earth observation, Forests, Space, Technology
Smoother and safer flying
Flying through a patch of severe and unexpected turbulence is an unforgettable, unsettling and sometimes painful experience for tens of thousands of passengers each year.
22 Nov 2018
Tags: Atmosphere, Climate, Environmental change, Technology, Weather
Uncovering energy hidden in the cracks
The discovery of an alternative source of oil in the Scottish Highlands could help the UK meet its spiralling energy needs.
20 Nov 2018
Tags: Environmental change, Geology, Natural resources, UK
Protecting biodiversity in palm oil
News that chocolate, bread and dried fruit all share a common ingredient with household detergents and cosmetics might sound both unlikely and unappetising. However, palm oil is used in each of these and many more everyday products.
15 Nov 2018
The plastics journey: Where are we now?
While plastics have many benefits, plastic waste is a serious form of pollution, particularly in our oceans. Here we take a look at the history of plastics and where we are now.
8 Nov 2018
Tags: Conservation, Marine life, Microplastics, Oceans, Pollution, UK
From "trivial issue" to primetime TV: A researcher's journey through plastic
It is a rare TV programme that has the instant impact of David Attenborough's Blue Planet II.
8 Nov 2018
Tags: Conservation, Health, Marine life, Microplastics, Oceans, Pollution, UK
I'm a bat biologist
Contrary to popular belief, bats are friendly creatures that play an important role in many environments around the world.
2 Nov 2018
Tags: Animals, Biodiversity, Biology, Conservation, Pollinators
Better cocoa crops for better livelihoods
Chocolate may be one of life's little pleasures, but in Ghana, for many, it is the very means of life.
31 Oct 2018
Flood research by numbers
NERC flood science saves lives, homes and businesses. Here are a few fast facts on some of our successes.
19 Oct 2018
Tags: Adaptation and mitigation, Flooding, Hazards, UK, Water
How can we work with nature to reduce flood risk?
Our new video explores how using nature to manage flooding can make a real difference to protecting communities.
19 Oct 2018
It is a tale of survival for plants and insects
Insect pollinators that have survived the impacts of intensive agriculture may be more able to resist future environmental changes than previously thought.
9 Oct 2018
Clear biodiversity commitments made by nearly one third of the world's biggest companies
Some of the world's biggest private sector companies are committing to address their environmental impacts and factoring biodiversity into their sustainability reports.
4 Oct 2018
Tags: Biodiversity, Business, Climate, Conservation, Sustainability, UK
Tiny fossils reveal how shrinking was essential for successful evolution
Scientists have discovered that mammals successfully evolved over the years by getting smaller in size.
18 Sep 2018
Scientists closing in on source of Shetland tsunamis
Shetland has been hit by at least two more tsunamis in the past 10,000 years than previously thought, and scientists are working to identify where the giant waves originated.
17 Sep 2018
Keeping satellites in the sky
As part of a series of interviews with new NERC Independent Research Fellows, Ingrid Cnossen talks about the beauty of flexible working and how understanding the weather can help to keep satellites in orbit.
29 Aug 2018
Under the faultlines
As part of a series of interviews with new NERC Independent Research Fellows, Craig Magee tells us about the portability of being a fellow and why he's going underground to uncover the science behind volcanic eruptions.
29 Aug 2018
Tags: Earth observation, Earthquakes, Geology, Hazards, Volcanoes