Dr Nadine Johnston discusses the mission and research of the RRS Sir David Attenborough in Antarctica. Professor Shahida Moosa and Jessica Jane Cormick talk about the need for better genetic databases for Africans. Simon Evans analyzes the responsibility for climate change and the impact of historical rule and colonialism. Professor Cory Zigler reveals the deaths caused by coal-fired power plants in the US.
The RRS Sir David Attenborough will conduct research on polar ecosystems and their global impacts, focusing on springtime processes in the polar oceans and their effects on marine food webs.
A study reveals that the responsibility for climate change significantly shifts when historical rule and colonialism are taken into account, highlighting the need to acknowledge historical responsibilities in addressing climate change.
Deep dives
Research ship begins scientific voyage in the Southern Ocean
The British Antarctic Survey's research vessel, the Sir David Attenborough, has embarked on its first scientific voyage. The research vessel is part of the BioPole project, a £9 million initiative funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The project focuses on studying polar ecosystems and their global impacts, particularly the springtime processes in the polar oceans. It aims to understand the growth of sea ice, the release of nutrients, and the subsequent bloom of microscopic plants, which have significant effects on the entire marine food web, including whales and other predators.
Colonial legacy increases responsibility for climate change
A study by Carbon Brief highlights the impact of colonial history on current climate change. The analysis shows that countries that were colonial powers, such as the UK, France, and the Netherlands, have a significantly higher responsibility for carbon emissions based on their former colonies. For example, the study finds that the UK's responsibility for current climate change nearly doubled when accounting for emissions from its former colonies, including India, Australia, and Nigeria. This research adds to the discussion on climate justice and the need to acknowledge historical responsibilities in addressing climate change.
Coal pollution and its underestimated health impacts
New research reveals that the health impacts of coal pollution may be worse than previously believed. A study conducted in the United States suggests that coal combustion for electricity generation caused around 460,000 deaths among people aged 65 and older between 1999 and 2020. This number is nearly double previous estimates. The research emphasizes the harmful effects of the particulate matter released by coal power plants, which can travel long distances and have significant impacts on human health. It calls for increased attention to the health consequences of coal pollution and the need for stricter regulations.
This week, the RRS Sir David Attenborough arrived in Antarctica to start its first full season of science in the polar region. Dr Nadine Johnston reveals more about the mission and the research they’ll be carrying out.
Next up, medical geneticist Professor Shahida Moosa and her student Jessica Jane Cormick are working to help diagnose and treat rare diseases. They explain why better genetic databases for Africans are urgently needed.
We also hear from Simon Evans of the Carbon Brief, who has just completed an analysis that found the responsibility for climate change dramatically shifts once historical rule and colonialism are taken into account.
Finally, a new study has revealed that emissions from coal-fired power plants have led to the deaths of nearly half a million Americans in the last 20 years. Professor Cory Zigler, from the University of Texas at Austin, tells us more.
Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
Sounds provided by: Nadine Johnston and Katherine Turner from BAS and the University of Southampton
(Image: A general view of the RRS David Attenborough vessel on October 28, 2021 in Greenwich, England. Credit: Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
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