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Chris D Thomas

Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, University of York
Chris and his research group are interested in understanding how humans have transformed the biological world, and how humans might protect the world’s remaining biodiversity. His research and scientific publications fall into three main areas:

Why and how species respond to climate change:
Chris was the first to estimate how climate change might endanger biodiversity at a global scale. His research group has provided evidence that species move their geographic distributions as the climate changes (YouTube interview), and they are currently evaluating distribution changes and evolution in species that are responding to climate change.

Why some species decline and disappear, but others are successful:
Chris is interested in how climate change, land use change (habitat fragmentation), the arrival of non-native species (invasions) and persecution (hunting) alter the distributions of species, aiming to quantify gains in diversity as well as losses. Chris carries out research on the ecological and evolutionary rules that underpin gains in biological diversity; a radio interview with Chris Thomas describes some of the biodiversity gains that have taken place in the Anthropocene.

Conservation strategies for a dynamic world:
Chris has had strong influence on the development of policy and practical conservation strategies in the areas of climate change and habitat fragmentation. Conservation has historically attempted to reduce or halt biological change, but this approach is not viable during a period of rapid environmental change. Chris and his group develop conservation strategies (including the benefits of connected landscapes, and moving species where required) that will enable species to survive climate change, biological invasions, and other environmental challenges.

New food technologies could release 80% of the world's farmland back to nature

Dec 08, 2022 10:56 am UTC| Technology

Heres the basic problem for conservation at a global level: food production, biodiversity and carbon storage in ecosystems are competing for the same land. As humans demand more food, so more forests and other natural...

Economy

Nigerians throw naira notes around to show love: but it could land you in jail

The legal implication of physically damaging the naira, Nigerias currency, came into focus recently with the prosecution of at least two celebrities by the countrys Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Nigeria has a...

The US is one of the least trade-oriented countries in the world – despite laying the groundwork for today’s globalized system

Given the spate of news about international trade lately, Americans might be surprised to learn that the U.S. isnt very dependent on it. Indeed, looking at trade as a percentage of gross domestic product a metric...

Beyond the spin, beyond the handouts, here’s how to get a handle on what’s really happening on budget night

Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, TV or news websites on budget night. The quickest way to find out what...

Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility

Ivan Vladislavić is Johannesburgs literary linkman. He tells us, in the first pages of his new book, The Near North, that before cities were lit, first by gaslight and later electricity, people of means paid torchbearers...

Economist Chris Richardson on an ‘ugly’ inflation result and the coming budget

With Jim Chalmerss third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief beyond the tax cuts although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As this weeks consumer price...

Politics

Sudan’s civil war is rooted in its historical favouritism of Arab and Islamic identity

The current civil war in Sudan goes beyond a simple power struggle between two generals. It reflects a deep-rooted crisis within the countrys governing structure thats been present since it gained independence from the...

South Africa’s youth are a generation lost under democracy – study

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa recently painted a rosy picture in which the countrys youth democracys children had enormous opportunities for advancement, all thanks to successive post-apartheid governments led...

Sadiq Khan on track for third term as London mayor – but nearly half of Londoners dissatisfied with performance

Polls have consistently shown that the incumbent mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, appears to be on track to win a third term in office at the upcoming mayoral elections on May 2. One poll we commissioned as part of our...

The politics stopping the UK from opening a youth mobility scheme with Europe

Earlier this week, it seemed possible that young people in the UK might soon be able to travel freely to work and live in Europe again. The European Commission laid out proposals to open mobility to millions of 18- to...

Biden administration tells employers to stop shackling workers with ‘noncompete agreements’

Most American workers are hired at will: Employers owe their employees nothing in the relationship except earned wages, and employees are at liberty to quit at their option. As the rule is generally stated, either party...

Science

IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects

About a trillion tiny particles called neutrinos pass through you every second. Created during the Big Bang, these relic neutrinos exist throughout the entire universe, but they cant harm you. In fact, only one of them is...

The Mars Sample Return mission has a shaky future, and NASA is calling on private companies for backup

A critical NASA mission in the search for life beyond Earth, Mars Sample Return, is in trouble. Its budget has ballooned from US$5 billion to over $11 billion, and the sample return date may slip from the end of this...

Dark matter: our new experiment aims to turn the ghostly substance into actual light

A ghost is haunting our universe. This has been known in astronomy and cosmology for decades. Observations suggest that about 85% of all the matter in the universe is mysterious and invisible. These two qualities are...

A Nasa rover has reached a promising place to search for fossilised life on Mars

While we go about our daily lives on Earth, a nuclear-powered robot the size of a small car is trundling around Mars looking for fossils. Unlike its predecessor Curiosity, Nasas Perseverance rover is explicitly intended to...

The rising flood of space junk is a risk to us on Earth – and governments are on the hook

A piece of space junk recently crashed through the roof and floor of a mans home in Florida. Nasa later confirmed that the object had come from unwanted hardware released from the international space station. The 700g,...

Technology

Huawei's Mate 70 Series to Run on Kirin 9100 Chip: AnTuTu Scores Equal Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

Rumors swirl around Huaweis upcoming Mate 70 flagship series, hinting at a groundbreaking inclusion: the Kirin 9100 chipset. Initial performance figures suggest the chip matches Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, setting the...

Kraken's Bold Move: Expanding into Germany with DLT Finance Partnership

Cryptocurrency giant Kraken makes waves with its strategic decision to launch operations in Germany, a pivotal move in its broader European expansion plan. Teaming up with DLT Finance, a regulated financial institution,...

Macron's France Targets Fourfold Increase in EV Sales by 2027; Welcomes BYD Factory Plans

France has announced plans to quadruple EV sales by 2027. The agreement, enhancing Frances position against global competitors, aligns with a state visit from China, spotlighting potential collaborations with major...

Shiba Inu Insider Urges Focus on SHIB and BTC Amid Market Rally

In a recent wake-up call, Lucie of the Shiba Inu team urged the cryptocurrency community to closely monitor Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Bitcoin (BTC) as both tokens exhibit strong price recoveries. This comes amid growing...

Is China Opening Doors to Bitcoin ETFs? Investor's Comment Sparks Debate

Following the recent launch of Bitcoin ETFs in Hong Kong, speculation is mounting over potential access for mainland Chinese investors. Richard Byworth, a prominent Bitcoin investor, suggested that these ETFs could soon be...