Trying to Save the Oceans, One Small Grant at a Time

Overfishing, habitat loss and pollution threaten species in so many places that research and conservation organizations cannot do all that is needed. So, with the aim of making a dent through small, targeted efforts, the New England Aquarium, in Boston, has for 15 years awarded microgrants to projects across the globe.

Ocean Wealth Valued at US$24 Trillion, But Sinking Fast

The value of the ocean’s riches rivals the size of the world’s leading economies, but its resources are rapidly eroding. The value of key ocean assets is conservatively estimated to be at least US$24 trillion. If compared to the world’s top 10 economies, the ocean would rank seventh with an annual value of goods and services of US$2.5 trillion.

Why Dangerous Sinkholes Keep Appearing Along the Dead Sea

For millennia, the salty, mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea have drawn visitors and health pilgrims to its shores. But in recent years, gaping chasms have been opening up without warning along its banks, posing a threat to such visitors and tourism in general.

Egypt Unveils Plan to Build New Capital City East of Cairo

Egyptian leaders uncovered plans for a new capital city east of Cairo to ease congestion and overpopulation in the next 40 years. The exact location has yet to be determined, but developers and city leaders said it will be between the Suez and the Ain Sokhna roads and close to the Red Sea.

The Newest Place on Earth – First Pictures

Late last year, in the sparkling blue of the South Pacific, a huge volcanic eruption produced the newest island on Earth. Images have emerged of the island’s surface, 45km (28 miles) north-west of Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa.