Global flash droughts expected to increase in a warming climate
Reading Time: 2 minutesTHE rapid development of unexpected drought, called flash drought, can severely impact agricultural and ecological systems with ripple effects that extend even further. Researchers at the University of Oklahoma are assessing how our warming climate will affect the frequency of flash droughts and the risk to croplands globally. Jordan Christian, a postdoctoral researcher, is the […]
Prudent coastal management key to sustaining local seafood supply
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY DR ALISON KIM SHAN WEE MALAYSIANS may one day no longer be able to enjoy their favourite “char kuey teow” with cockles or savour “siput sedut” if we fail to protect our coasts and mangroves. As we celebrate World Environment Day 2023, we believe the ability to secure the bountiful resources of Malaysia’s coasts rests in […]
Impact of urban heat islands on humans, environment
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY VIRMAN JURI, UMAIRAH RAZAK, MARYAM AL-HERWI THE urban heat islands (UHI) effect in Kuala Lumpur (KL) causes a staggering 6°C of temperature increase compared to rural areas with greener canopies and fewer buildings. In perspective, if rural areas with the abundant natural land and green canopy and fewer buildings have temperatures of 30°C, UHI in […]
How to choose the right cooking oil?
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY JOYCE WONG JIN YI Many people are misled by the advertisements and marketing material shared in the media about the benefits of vegetable oils that, include canola oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and soybean oil, which are sold under many famous brands in Malaysia. These are the oils that you should totally avoid in […]
Smart sex-sorting technology answer to wanton chick culling
Reading Time: 2 minutesBY VIRMAN JURI ANNUALLY, seven billion male chicks are being culled worldwide. Male layer chickens do not have commercial or economical value for hatcheries in contrast to female layer chickens that lay eggs. This fact raises a glaring concern in the poultry industry in matters pertaining to animal welfare. Furthermore in Malaysia, food security issues have […]
Expert: Treat mangroves as a precious national asset
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY UMAIRAH RAZAK MANGROVES are vital ecosystems that exist along tropical and subtropical coasts. For decades there have been rising concerns among environmentalists about the disregard for mangrove ecosystems globally. “Mangrove ecosystem worldwide is a natural and effective climate change ‘mitigation plan and strategy’. For this reason, mangroves must be treated as a national asset,” […]
New study provides first comprehensive look at oxygen loss on coral reefs
Reading Time: < 1 minuteA NEW study is providing an unprecedented examination of oxygen loss on coral reefs around the globe under ocean warming. Led by researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a large team of national and international colleagues, the study captures the current state of hypoxia—or low oxygen levels—at 32 different sites, and […]
British Council scholarships support women in STEM
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe British Council’s offer of scholarships to support women in STEM is back again for the third time. The offer supports women wishing to pursue postgraduate study in science, technology, engineering, or maths (STEM) at a university in the UK. This prestigious scholarship will allow over 100 women from selected countries including from South Asia, […]
Be the future – support available for women to lead in STEM innovation
Reading Time: < 1 minuteAre you looking for the qualification that could make the difference in your science, technology, engineering, or maths (STEM) career? The British Council is offering a prestigious scholarship for female STEM graduates to undertake a Master’s degree or Early Academic Fellowship in the UK. The British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM could be your route […]
Study links adoption of electric vehicles with less air pollution and improved health
Reading Time: 3 minutesELECTRIC vehicles are widely hailed as a key way to mitigate climate change through reduced emissions, but research on the dual benefits of reduced air pollution and improved health has been largely hypothetical. A team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC has now begun to document the actual impact of electric vehicle adoption in […]