UN reports increase in nations supporting renewable energy
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): The number of developing countries with policies in place to support renewable energy has increased six-fold in just eight years, resulting in one-fifth of the world's power production now coming from renewable sources, according to a United Nations-backed report produced ahead of the UN Sustainable Energy for All Forum.
Astronomers find the 'Mega-Earth'
Cambridge, June 3 (IBNS): Astronomers have announced that they have discovered a new type of planet - a rocky world weighing 17 times as much as Earth.
CERN's ALPHA experiment measures charge of antihydrogen
Geneva, June 3 (IBNS): In a paper published in the journal Nature Communications on Tuesday, the ALPHA experiment at CERN's Antiproton Decelerator (AD) reported a measurement of the electric charge of antihydrogen atoms, finding it to be compatible with zero to eight decimal places.
UN hails move by US to curb power plant emissions
New York, Jun 3 (IBNS): United Nations officials on Monday welcomed the initiative announced by President Barack Obama to limit emissions from power plants in the United States, voicing their hope that it will spur other countries to take concrete action to combat climate change.
New York: Ban welcomes Mayor's pledge to flight climate threat
New York, Jun 3 (IBNS): Big cities like New York are on the frontlines of the climate threat as well as engines of innovation, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday, welcoming Mayor Bill de Blasio's pledge to "green" the "city that never sleeps" and to pursue a framework for sustainable urban areas.
UN seeks global cooperation for battle against climate change
New York, May 30 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations agency on human settlements on Thursday said he hoped thousands of cities around the world will join forces to sign a compact to strengthen cooperation in tackling climate challenges when the UN convenes a summit on the issue four months from now.
UN issues guide to make fisheries more sustainable
New York, May 29 (IBNS): A new series of guides released on Wednesday by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will make it easier for fishers to identify deep-sea sharks, as well as improve reporting on catches and make deep-sea fisheries more sustainable.
UN concerned over rising CO2 levels as average hits new high
New York, May 27 (IBNS): Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have crossed a new threshold, the United Nation's weather agency on Monday confirmed, warning that time is running out to curb rising greenhouse gas emissions.
NASA poke hole in Black Hole 'Doughnut' theory
Washington, May 23 (IBNS) A survey of more than 170,000 supermassive black holes, using NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), has astronomers reexamining a decades-old theory about the varying appearances of these interstellar objects.
CERN openlab publishes a whitepaper on future IT challenges
Geneva, May 22 (IBNS): CERN openlab, the public-private partnership between CERN, leading IT companies and research institutes, on Thurday released a whitepaper on future IT challenges in scientific research to shape its upcoming three-year phase starting in 2015.
UN adopts new global platform to tackle wildlife
New York, May 22 (IBNS): In response to the rising levels of illicit trafficking of fauna and flora, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has adopted a new global platform taking aim at this "particularly devastating" form of organized crime involving a raft of illegal activities - from poaching to timber smuggling and money laundering.
Moderate earthquake hits Bay of Bengal
New Delhi, May 22 (IBNS) A moderate earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter Scale hit the eastern coast of India on Wednesday, said reports on Thursday.
CERN sheds new light on cloud formation
Geneva, May 16 (IBNS): CERN, the European organization for nuclear research on Friday in a study on 'Cloud' noted that biogenic vapours emitted by trees and oxidised in the atmosphere have a significant impact on the formation of clouds, thus helping to cool the planet.
UN urges global action to disrupt illegal wildlife trade
New York, May 14 (IBNS): Urging the international community to "come together at the highest political level" to halt the escalation of wildlife and forest crime, the United Nations crime chief said on Tuesday that the USD 8-USD 10 billion reaped annually from this "ruthless trade" ranks it alongside the trafficking of human beings, arms and drugs in terms of illicit profits.
UN official urges vigorous response to wildlife crime
New York, May 13 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Monday stressed the need for a vigorous response to wildlife and forest crime, noting the growing threat the scourge poses to development worldwide.