On this week’s news update…

Protecting Coral

Protecting coral with clouds…

Livable Cities

Designing livable cities…

Volcano Erupts

And a volcano erupts on the Canary Islands.

First up...

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world!

Great Barrier Reef

Stretching along the coastline of northeastern Australia the unique marine ecosystem is home to hundreds of fish species.

Made up of millions of tiny coral, the reef thrives in Australia's warm tropical waters.

However, if the water becomes too warm, or too much sunlight reaches the reef, the coral can start to wither and die.

This process is called “coral bleaching.”

coral bleaching

Now, scientists are working to reduce the effect of the sun's rays on the coral by creating clouds!

The scientists have mounted a small turbine on a boat to transform salty seawater into a fine mist.

Tiny salt crystals in the mist then drift into the atmosphere, where water vapor collects around them to form clouds.

The newly formed clouds reduce the amount of sunlight hitting the water by filtering and reflecting sunlight protecting the coral, and giving the delicate ecosystem a chance to recover!

Next up...

From New York City to Tokyo, most people around the world live in towns and cities.

Unfortunately, many of our cities can sometimes be challenging to travel around.

For example, people living in cities might spend an hour or more stuck in traffic on their commute to work.

Traffic congestion can damage the environment, with exhaust fumes causing harmful air pollution.

However, urban designers, people who plan how cities work, are seeking to make our communities more environmentally sustainable and healthier places for people to live in!

“15-minute neighborhoods,” are one idea for improving our cities.

15-minute neighborhoods

These neighborhoods would be designed so short 15-minute walks or bike rides would link where people live, work, and play.

Fresh thinking that could transform how our cities work!

Reduced car use would result in quieter streets and less pollution.

Residents' lifestyles would become healthier and more active.

And a stronger sense of community would improve people's sense of wellbeing!

And finally…

The Canary Islands are a group of islands located off the northwest coast of Africa.

Canary Islands

Known for their beaches and rugged landscapes, the islands were formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago.

The islands still have active volcanoes, and in mid-September a volcano erupted on the island of La Palma, sending a plume of ash and gas 6,000 meters into the sky.

The eruption is the most powerful to occur on the island since 1971.

Thousands of nearby residents have been forced to evacuate their homes, and islanders have been advised to wear facemasks to avoid breathing in volcanic ash.

Lava has destroyed hundreds of homes and ruined large areas of farmland.

Camera crews have filmed the giant river of lava flowing from the volcano towards the sea.

On reaching the ocean, the lava has cooled down and hardened to create a new area of rocky land.

Volcanologists believe the eruption could continue for several months, an ongoing phenomenon that highlights how the islands continue to be shaped by the destructive power of volcanos!

That’s all for this week, we’ll see you next time!