18. November 2008
Alpine rivers hold important clues for preserving biodiversity and coping with climate change
Marginal plants, particularly trees, play a crucial role in sustaining the biodiversity of Europe’s big river systems, according to a recently held workshop organised by the European Science Foundation (ESF). This finding provides important clues for protecting Europe’s rivers against a combined... [more]
14. November 2008
New life beneath sea and ice
Scientists have long known that life can exist in some very extreme environments. But Earth continues to surprise us. At a European Science Foundation (ESF) and COST (European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research) ‘Frontiers of Science’ meeting in Sicily in October,... [more]
13. November 2008
Complex systems and Mars missions help understand how life began
Understanding how life started remains a major challenge for science. At a European Science Foundation (ESF) and COST ‘Frontiers of Science’ conference in Sicily in October, scientists discussed two new approaches to the problem. The first applies complex systems theory to the chemistry that... [more]
12. November 2008
Measuring water from space
Observations from satellites now allow scientists to monitor changes to water levels in the sea, in rivers and lakes, in ice sheets and even under the ground. As the climate changes, this information will be crucial for monitoring its effects and predicting future impacts in different regions.Sea... [more]
12. November 2008
Computers make sense of experiments on human disease
Mathematical models resolve controversy over nicotine addiction [more]
7. November 2008
ESF launches “Humans in Outer Space” book - focusing on humans
New book to examine humanity aspects in space explorations [more]
7. November 2008
Podcast: Jelle Bijma on the achievements of the EUROCORES programme EuroCLIMATE
Prof. Jelle Bijma, chair of the scientific committee of the EUROCORES programme EuroCLIMATE (Climate Variability & Past, Present & Future Carbon Cycle) speaks about the outcomes and benefits of the programme. Jelle Bijma is a biogeochemist at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine... [more]
7. November 2008
Major advance in cancer radiotherapy
Radical improvements in outcome for many cancer sufferers are in prospect following one of the most significant advances in radiotherapy since x-rays were first used to treat a tumour in 1904. The use of charged particles as an alternative to x-ray or gamma ray radiation can extend the scope of... [more]
5. November 2008
Very cold ice films in laboratory reveal mysteries of universe
Could life have started in a lump of ice? [more]
4. November 2008
What is really happening to Greenland ice cap?
The Greenland ice cap has been a focal point of recent climate change research because it is much more exposed to immediate global warming than the larger Antarctic ice sheet. Yet while the southern Greenland ice cap has been melting, it is still not clear how much this is contributing to rising... [more]
