Planet Earth stories
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is a word that covers so many things that its precise meaning can be tricky to pin down. So we asked Professor David Raffaelli, the director of one of our biggest biodiversity research programmes, to give us a bit of background.
15 Jun 2017
Tags: Biodiversity
The UK researchers seeking origins of China's smog
Research being conducted at a Beijing super-site is monitoring concentrations and varieties of airborne particles and volatile gases in the atmosphere and their potential impact on human health.
18 Apr 2017
Tags: Atmosphere, Health, Hazards, Pollution
Devil rays get worldwide protection, and genetic tools could catch out illegal traders
Devil rays, close cousins of the enormous manta rays, are stars of nature documentaries. These charismatic creatures are under threat from humans, specifically, because of the gill plate trade.
12 Apr 2017
Tags: Biodiversity, Conservation, Fish, Genetics, Marine life, Oceans
Keeping back the floods resources available
Want to get to know your fluvial from your pluvial? Use our posters and postcards to get up to date with what causes flooding and what's being done to reduce its impact.
10 Apr 2017
Tags: Flooding
RRS Sir David Attenborough polar research ship one year on
It's exactly a year since NERC launched a campaign to name our new polar research vessel. We take a look at what's happened since RRS Sir David Attenborough was picked.
13 Mar 2017
Tags: Antarctic, Arctic, Marine life, Oceans, Robotics
Flash Flood! - Environmental science in virtual reality
If you came to last October's Into the blue science showcase in Manchester you may have been offered the chance to immerse yourself in a dangerous virtual river valley, with the game Flash Flood!
2 Mar 2017
Tags: Climate, Environmental change, Flooding, Hazards, Technology, Weather
Revealing the UK's hidden depths
Underneath the Earth's surface lies a wealth of resources. But will the way we currently use them give us problems in the future? Dr Ciaran Beggan, Dr Andrew Barkwith and Dr Caroline Graham at the British Geological Survey (BGS) explain why we need a clearer picture.
27 Feb 2017
New footage shows crack in Larsen C Ice Shelf
Currently a huge iceberg, roughly the size of Norfolk, looks set to break off the Larsen C Ice Shelf, which is more than twice the size of Wales.
22 Feb 2017
Tags: Antarctic, Climate, Environmental change, Ice, Oceans, Sea level change
Trees of the sea share their secrets
Coralline algae are found on nearly every shore in the world and could be holding important clues to climate change. Kelvin Boot explores.
22 Feb 2017
Tags: Atmosphere, Climate, Earth system, Ecology, Marine life, Weather
Managing flooding by working with nature
The government announced £15 million for natural flood management initiatives, we went to find out more about what they are and what they can do.
20 Feb 2017