Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Filtered by: Earth & Environment
Farmer awareness of heavy metal contamination in urban roadside vegetables along the Accra–Tema motorway, Ghana
This study examines farmers’ awareness of heavy metal contamination in vegetables grown along Ghana’s Accra–Tema motorway. It highlights the health risks of roadside farming, the lack of knowledge among farmers, and calls for education and policies to promote safer urban agriculture
A comprehensive review of emerging environmental contaminants of global concern
Emerging contaminants like plastics, pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and endocrine disruptors are increasingly found in water, soil, and food. Often unregulated, they threaten ecosystems and health. This review explores their sources, impacts, and detection methods to guide global solutions.
How a simple rule helped Seoul support local businesses—without fueling COVID-19
When COVID-19 hit, governments aimed to protect both health and livelihoods. Stimulus payments supported spending, but raised concerns: would encouraging shopping and dining out increase risky contact and mobility, potentially fueling further virus spread?
Diamond in the Rock: How a Chance Discovery Changed Our View of Earth
In the 1970s, Barry Dawson struck a diamond hidden in mantle rock—the first ever found in its birthplace. His discovery proved diamonds form deep inside Earth. Now, 50 years later, Cambridge scientists are re-examining that rock, still uncovering Earth’s hidden story.
Unravelling the long-term river health status of Kruger National Park Rivers using macroinvertebrate-based monitoring
Freshwater ecosystems face severe threats from pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. This study analyzes a decade of biomonitoring data (2010–2019) from Kruger National Park’s four rivers using SASS5, habitat, and physicochemical metrics to assess resilience against upstream human pressures.
Solving a mystery of Greenland’s melting ice sheet—what happens when models miss refreezing?
New field measurements and modeling show meltwater refreezing in Greenland’s bare ice may reduce runoff to surrounding oceans, highlighting a process climate models can incorporate for improved predictions of future sea-level rise.
