Planet Earth stories
Groundwater: The threat beneath our feet
Groundwater is the ultimate invisible asset. Originating in rain and snowfall that works its way down into soil and rock, it supports key ecosystems and meets the water needs of millions. But it can also pose a potential flood risk.
13 Feb 2017
Equipping the UK to cope with coastal erosion
Frequently linked to an increased threat from flooding, coastal erosion was widespread in the 20th century. We explain how the iCOASST project is helping to reveal what the next hundred years could hold.
1 Feb 2017
Tags: Adaptation and mitigation, Conservation, Flooding, Hazards, Mapping, UK
On the road to resilience in Ethiopia
It's time to rethink roads. In the vital fields of flood prevention and water supply, they offer incredible potential to enhance and enrich the lives of some of the world's poorest people.
12 Jan 2017
How could governments around the world protect bees?
NERC-funded researchers have gathered crucial evidence on how governments and people can best protect pollinators vital to the production of food worldwide.
29 Nov 2016
Tags: Bees, Biodiversity, Environmental change, Farming, Food, Pollinators
Antibiotic resistance must be tackled in the field
We could be encouraging antimicrobial resistance by overusing antibiotics but other factors may also be at play. We spoke to researchers going beyond the clinic to understand how drug-resistance builds up in the bacteria in our sewers and rivers.
22 Nov 2016
Scientists measure snow density in Greenland
Last month, scientists from the Centre for Polar Observation & Modelling (CPOM) headed to Greenland to carry out vital fieldwork as part of a NERC-CryoSat contract to calibrate and validate measurements taken by the satellite.
10 Nov 2016
Tags: Arctic, Earth observation, Ice
New images capture Into the blue spirit
Pictured together for the first time, two of NERC's key scientific instruments capture the essence of Into the blue, a public showcase of environmental science in the northwest of England where both ship and aircraft will be on display.
3 Oct 2016
Tags: Atmosphere, Oceans
Air pollution questions with Professor Frank Kelly
Professor Kelly holds the chair in environmental health at King's College London, where he is director of the Analytical & Environmental Sciences Division. Here, he answers some key questions about air pollution in the UK's capital.
3 Oct 2016
Tags: Atmosphere, Health, Pollution, UK
Taking UK atmospheric science global
London's atmosphere may still have its mysteries, but compared to many places it's an open book.
30 Sep 2016
Tags: Atmosphere, Health, Pollution
Who's to blame for bad air?
Controlling our own emissions is a good idea, but plenty of the pollution problems most nations face come from abroad.
29 Sep 2016
Tags: Atmosphere, Health, Pollution