Feature Article

Nowhere did the alarm bells sounded by the Fukushima nuclear disaster ring more loudly than in France, which leads the world in nuclear energy. About three-quarters of its electricity comes from nuclear power stations, and it is one of the main exporters of reactors and related technology.

Controlling who is allowed access to information about mutations in the H5N1 bird flu virus is unacceptable, says Peter Palese.

A quota-trading scheme could end conflict between whalers and conservationists. (Editorial)

The UK government hopes to squeeze even more out of science — without paying a penny extra. (Editorial)

A refreshingly frank and forward-looking report on the safety of French nuclear power plants in the wake of Fukushima should spur other countries to take a hard look at regulation of their own reactors. (Editorial)

As human activity in the Arctic increases, so does the risk of hydrocarbon pollution events. On site bioremediation of contaminated soil is the only feasible clean up solution in these remote areas, but degradation rates vary widely between bioremediation treatments. Most previous studies have focused on the feasibility of on site clean-up and very little attention has been given to the microbial and functional communities involved and their ecology.

Will Britain's court of appeal uphold government decision to slash solar power subsidies? After a short-lived solar boom for residential solar installations in the UK, the industry has run into trouble with the government slashing subsidies in the wake of the sharply falling silicon prices and poor fiscal conditions prevailing in the country. In October-end last year, UK minister for climate change Greg Barker slashed benefits for the solar power producers. The solar industry has decided to fight against what it calls “unjust” and “overly speedy” cuts.

In the past century, the global average temperature has increased by approximately 0.74°C and extreme weather events have become prevalent. Recent studies have shown that species have shifted from high-elevation areas to low ones because the rise in temperature has increased rainfall. These outcomes challenge the existing hypothesis about the responses of species to climate change.