Greenhouse gases hit modern-day highs

sea-maid submitted, created time 1 week 1 day (www.nature.com)

Atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases reached new highs in 2007, according to the most recent analysis by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — which together contribute 88% of the anthropogenic global-warming effect — were last year 37%, 156% and 19% above pre-industrial levels, respectively.

Since 1990, total radiative forcing — the re-radiation of heat back towards Earth's surface — by all long-lived heat-trapping gases has increased by 24%, the WMO reports

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Carbon-free energy? Already in progress, says Nature.

Darkfrog submitted, created time 4 months 3 weeks (www.nature.com)

Here, Nature magazine gives an overview of the several different means of generating electricity without releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Increasing the efficiency of existing fossil fuel systems is also given its due.

Once again, we see why Nature is at the very top of science writing. Take a look at this:

"The fact that hydroelectric systems require no fuel means that they also require no fuel-extracting infrastructure and no fuel transport

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Global 'sunscreen' has likely thinned, report NASA scientists

biscuits submitted, created time 1 year 9 months (www.biologynews.net)

A new NASA study has found that an important counter-balance to the warming of our planet by greenhouse gases – sunlight blocked by dust, pollution and other aerosol particles – appears to have lost ground.

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$25 million prize offered to capture carbon

Hunter9 submitted, created time 1 year 10 months (www.nature.com)

A multi-million dollar prize is on offer to anyone who can invent a device that will remove significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As one of the largest science prizes on offer, it is likely to attract huge interest globally in a bid to combat climate change.

The initiative was launched today by British billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson and former US Vice-President Al Gore in London

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