Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Filtered by: Earth & Environment
The greenery beyond cities quietly shapes their rainfall
Cities are often studied as local systems, yet rainfall is shaped by processes that extend beyond them. As peri-urban vegetation changes, it may influence atmospheric moisture and, in turn, precipitation within cities.
“We Went Through It Together”: Reflections on Community Strength in Green Social Prescribing
Our study explored how Green Social Prescribing (GSP) supports wellbeing among ethnically diverse communities. What emerged highlighted the essential role of trusted community organisations in creating safe, culturally attuned spaces for connection and support.
Phosphorus: the forgotten element that quietly runs the world
Phosphorus is finite, earthbound, and irreplaceable — yet it remains the most overlooked element in sustainability debates. Here I reflect on a decade of research across Chinese farmlands and European ecosystems, and what this review taught me about a quiet crisis unfolding beneath our feet.
Making biosynthetic diversity clustering scalable and accessible: the creation journey behind the new versions of BiG-SCAPE and BiG-SLiCE
The software tools BiG-SCAPE 2.0 and BiG-SLiCE 2.0 provide an improved framework for scalable, accurate and interactive metabolic gene cluster diversity analysis. Read here how the paper came together.
Fishing for knowledge in the Central Arctic Ocean
The Central Arctic Ocean (CAO) is one of the least explored oceans because of the extensive sea-ice cover. Although no fisheries have developed in the deep basins, there is commercial fishing on the shelf and shelf slope north of Svalbard. Our main research question: Are there any fish in the CAO?
Impact of Meteorological Drought on Pastoralist Livelihood Assets in Southwest Somalia
The study aimed to understand how meteorological drought, particularly rainfall deficits and prolonged dry periods, affects the key livelihood assets of pastoral communities that depend heavily on livestock production.
