Scientific news in small doses

GES: Is it the millionaires’ fault?

If there are more and more millionaires by 2050, the planet is likely to suffer. This is the conclusion of a study recently published in the journal Elsevier. According to Swedish researchers Stefan Gössling and Andreas Humpe, the share of American millionaires among the world’s population will increase from 0.7% to 3.3% by 2050, which will lead to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. According to their calculations, these greenhouse gases would amount to 286 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent₂or 72% of the remaining carbon budget (400 billion tons) that will limit global warming to 1.5 degrees by the end of the century.

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Microbe to absorb carbon dioxide₂ ?

Scientists have discovered a microbe in a volcanic hot spring that has the ability to quickly absorb carbon dioxide. They hope this discovery will lead to the design of a method capable of capturing carbon dioxide₂ Widely. However, Braden Tierney, one of the researchers behind the discovery, from Harvard University, told the paper Watchman that “there is no one-size-fits-all solution to climate change and carbon sequestration. There will be circumstances in which a tree will outcompete microbes or fungi.” [pour la capture du carbone] “.

the number

500 billion

According to an international team of researchers, the ecosystem services provided by underwater kelp forests are estimated to be worth US$500 billion annually. These underwater algal forests provide nutrients for fish and store large amounts of nitrogen and carbon dioxide₂. However, these forests are increasingly threatened, among other things due to the warming of the oceans. The study has been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Floods are deadlier for the poor

Swedish researchers analyzed data from 67 countries where floods occurred between 1990 and 2018 and their conclusions are clear. The countries with the greatest income inequality were the most affected by the floods. In these polarized communities, the poor are already more vulnerable to flooding, while affluent neighborhoods concentrate the majority of services, invested resources, and adequate infrastructure. Press. It should be noted that poor countries, which are not included in this study, still deplore the highest mortality rate during floods. The study has been published in the journal nature.

Growing environmental concern in Australia

An organization dedicated to young people’s mental health in Australia recently released a report that sheds light on environmental anxiety experienced by young Australians. The Orygen Group surveyed 19,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 19 and the results indicate that 26% of them said they were very or very worried about the climate crisis. Nearly 40% also say they experience significant psychological stress. Catriona Davis-McCabe, president of the Australian Association of Psychologists, told the daily Watchman that “psychologists are seeing an increase in people of all ages showing symptoms of psychological distress due to the climate crisis.” Remember, Australia has experienced many extreme weather events in recent years, including severe droughts, floods, and bushfires.