International

"Scientists are looking for -- and finding -- little bits of plastic in a lot of places lately: ice cores, deep sea sediments, coral reefs, crab gills, the digestive system of mussels, even German beer. Now, new research suggests they need not actually be searching for the man-made material to discover it."

"SENDAI, Japan – Death, injury, displacement and destruction following natural disasters could be reduced by 2030 under a new framework adopted by countries attending the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, in Sendai."

A newly published study suggests climate change may be weakening the thermohaline circulation of the North Atlantic (responsible for the Gulf Stream). Scientists (and Hollywood screenwriters) have long feared that such a scenario could bring sudden climate shifts and unpleasant surprises.

"One of the world's most popular weed-killers — and the most widely used kind in the U.S. — has been labeled a probable carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer."

"Sorry bacon lovers, we've got some sad news about your favorite meat."

"Arctic sea ice this year is the smallest in winter since satellite records began in 1979, in a new sign of long-term climate change, U.S. data showed on Thursday."

"The Amazonian rainforest has lost much of its ability to absorb climate-altering greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, scientists reported on Wednesday."

"The mounting death toll and devastation in Vanuatu since Cyclone Pam smashed the Pacific island nation this weekend have heightened calls for a global climate change compensation fund."

"There’s an important debate going on in Europe that could dramatically influence how pesticides are used on the United States’ 400 million acres of farmland. At the center of the debate are endocrine disruptors, a broad class of chemicals known for their ability to interfere with naturally occurring hormones."

"The 100 global power companies most at risk from growing pressure to shut highly polluting coal plants have been revealed in a new report from Oxford University. Chinese companies dominate the top of the ranking but US companies, including Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, occupy 10 of the top 25 places."