#Michelle McKeown

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#Michelle McKeown

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Dr Michelle McKeown: "A thin scattering of leaves is nature’s own mulch, retaining moisture and feeding the soil as it breaks down. But leave them in thick, soggy mats and they’ll smother grass, foster mould, and block sunlight from early bulbs like snowdrops and crocuses. In other words, moderation really is the secret to a happy garden."</p>

outdoors

Rake expectations: should we be picking up leaves at all?

Leaves aren't litter — they’re the forest’s own recycling system, a slow-release nutrient pack designed to feed soil life and shelter small creatures through the colder months. When they decompose, they release essential nutrients, improve soil structure, and even help lock away a little carbon

<p>Dr Michelle McKeown: "In 2004, BP (formerly British Petroleum) amplified the term through a glossy marketing campaign centred around an online 'carbon footprint calculator'. Suddenly, climate responsibility had a personal, almost confessional dimension. You, dear consumer, were being asked, how guilty are you? It was a masterstroke of corporate sleight of hand."</p>

outdoors

Rethinking carbon footprints

<p>Dr Michelle McKeown: "The new wave of nature apps is more than handy, they’re feeding serious science while giving your inner David Attenborough a tech upgrade."</p>

outdoors

Tap, snap, explore: Seven science-backed apps to bring nature closer

Could paludiculture be Ireland’s next big idea?

outdoors

Could paludiculture be Ireland’s next big idea?

Man must decide his way forward to success or failure

outdoors

Ireland’s climate targets: the clock is ticking and the bill is mounting

Foraging in Ireland: A feast or fatal mistake?

outdoors

Foraging in Ireland: A feast or fatal mistake?

Mating Ned Devine? The New Zealand snail turned global celebrity

Mating Ned Devine? The New Zealand snail turned global celebrity

"Most snail shells spiral clockwise, but Ned’s curves the other way — an unusual genetic quirk found in roughly one in around 40,000 snails."

Mon, 01 Sep, 2025

Aerial

Drowning nations: Kiribati and the South Pacific’s fight for survival

If we fail to meet our own 2030 climate targets, if we continue to expand high-emission sectors, then our solidarity with Kiribati is nothing more than rhetoric. Every delayed decision in Dublin, every postponed policy on transport, every row over methane cuts, translates into sea-level rise in Tarawa

Fri, 29 Aug, 2025

Rotorua, New Zealand

What’s the story, twiggy glory... stick insects in Ireland

There are more than 3,000 species of stick and leaf insects globally — and at least one has taken up residence in the south of Ireland

Fri, 22 Aug, 2025

Depletion of ozone layer, Ozone hole, illustration

Back in the ozone: How we plugged the hole in the sky

If we could do it once, we can do it again, whether it’s climate change, biodiversity loss, or the plastic in our oceans. We once had a hole in the sky — now we have a blueprint for how to mend the planet. And that, in anyone’s book, is a good news story

Fri, 15 Aug, 2025

Losing ground: Coastal erosion in Ireland and what we can do about it

Losing ground: Coastal erosion in Ireland and what we can do about it

Entire sections of coast are disappearing into the sea. And while erosion is a natural process, it’s now accelerating due to human activity and climate change. The question we face is no longer if we should act, but how

Fri, 08 Aug, 2025

Woman hands applying sunscreen, with the beach in the background

Sun, sea and a slippery slope: What your sunscreen isn’t telling you

Oxybenzone, in particular, is toxic to juvenile corals even at concentrations as low as 62 parts per trillion. This is the equivalent to a single drop in six and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) in a forest in England, UK

Can Ireland’s ash trees stage a comeback against deadly dieback?

Ash trees are the backbone of our ecosystems, supporting more than 40 species of insects, lichens, and fungi that keep our woodlands teeming with life. Their decline ripples through the food chain, threatening birds and other wildlife — but there might be hope of a recovery

Fri, 25 Jul, 2025

Ulster bonfires

The environmental cost of Northern Ireland’s bonfires

In the face of climate change and public health challenges, questions are being raised, not just about what these bonfires stand for, but what they’re doing to the environment we all share

Fri, 18 Jul, 2025

Bioluminescent Shore

Michelle McKeown: Shedding light on the wild world of bioluminescence

The glow in Lough Hyne comes courtesy of dinoflagellates (tiny, single-celled plankton) floating near the surface of the water. When disturbed, they emit a flash of light, usually bluish green, in a rapid chemical reaction involving the molecules luciferin and luciferase

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

Michelle McKeown: Can we feed the world and save it too?

Michelle McKeown: Can we feed the world and save it too?

Rather than choosing organic everywhere or intensification somewhere, many scientists now advocate for a sustainable intensification approach: combining ecological practices with modern science and technology

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Michelle McKeown: Why are Ireland’s clouds so thick? And did they influence our skin?

Michelle McKeown: Why are Ireland’s clouds so thick? And did they influence our skin?

This isn’t just idle weather chat. There’s serious science behind Ireland’s famously gloomy skies, and compelling evidence that they’ve shaped not just our landscape, but our biology...

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

Cleaning up after the crowds

The sound of sustainability: Why many concerts and festivals aren't as 'green' as they claim

As climate awareness grows, more festivals are touting their green credentials. But are these efforts real progress, or just a fresh coat of eco-paint?

Fri, 06 Jun, 2025

Showing some samples of the different phases of the life cycle of cadaveric fauna collected at crime scenes

A silent witness to crime: The natural world's role in solving murder cases

Whether through river currents, insect life cycles, the invisible grains of pollen or algae, or the lingering traces of DNA, nature is always quietly recording. And with the right tools, forensic scientists can translate that record into evidence

Fri, 30 May, 2025

How do some blockbuster disaster movies stack up against real science?

How do some blockbuster disaster movies stack up against real science?

The end of the world on the silver screen: science vs Hollywood

Fri, 23 May, 2025

CZECH-ENVIROMENT-DROUGHT

'If you see me, weep': What Ireland's dry spell can learn from history's dry past

When to enjoy a sunny spell and when to worry about prolonged drought...

Fri, 16 May, 2025

Fake grass installation team

How can we save pollinators in Ireland before it's too late?

Protecting pollinators isn’t just about saving bees; it’s about safeguarding the systems that grow our food and give life to our landscapes

Fri, 09 May, 2025

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Understated glamour: Ireland’s flowers know how to work it

From cow parsley to blackthorn, hawthorn to wild cherry, it’s as if most plants in Ireland got the same memo: White is in

Fri, 02 May, 2025

Testing the water of a reservoir for the content of microbes .

What’s really in our water? We can't manage what we can't measure

A nice cool glass of forever chemicals, painkillers, antibiotics, antihistamines, and synthetic hormones... testing for pharmaceuticals, PFAS, DOC, or emerging contaminants should be part of routine water monitoring — not an occasional research project

Fri, 25 Apr, 2025

Teenage girl at home in the morning

Shapeshifters, cyst makers, brain-takers: The secret world of amoebae

Some cell-shocking facts about these microscopic organisms — they may lack bones, bravado, or branding, but they are among the most adaptable, fascinating, and weirdly wonderful creatures on the planet

Fri, 18 Apr, 2025

Teenage girl with allergy blowing nose

Peak sneezin’ season — are more of us than ever affected by hay fever?

Ireland’s high overlap between asthma and hay fever hints at a sizeable population affected, even if precise numbers are elusive

Fri, 11 Apr, 2025

Close-up image of Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) perched on seaside black, hard plastic dumpster refuse bin, scavenging fish an

Why seagulls steal your chips — and some tips on how to try save your al-fresco snacks

Well, gulls just wanna have fun (and some carbs)

Mon, 07 Apr, 2025

Beaver at sea observing nature

Meet the planet’s most effective engineers (no planning permission required)

From the tiniest worms to charismatic beavers, the ability of nature’s engineers to modify landscapes, regulate water flows, and enhance biodiversity provides invaluable lessons for humans as we grapple with climate change and habitat destruction

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

Soak it up! How Ireland’s cities can embrace the sponge revolution

Soak it up! How Ireland’s cities can embrace the sponge revolution

'Sponge cities' promote urban resilience to climate change and we badly need initiatives like these in areas vulnerable to flooding

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

Blue Headed Wrasse ore Bluehead Wrasse, thalassoma bifasciatum

Some like it fluid: The animal kingdom's wildest sex changes

So, what’s the deal with animals swapping sexes? Why do they do it and what can we learn from it? Let’s take a closer look at some of nature’s most interesting identity changes...

Fri, 21 Mar, 2025

Rob Roy Glacier in New Zealand

Nature strives for balance: A rare glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak environmental outlook

How climate change is creating new peatlands in a New Zealand mountain

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Group of crows on the roof of a building

Why are crows so noisy in early spring?

Some scientists even believe crows have regional dialects, meaning the ones in Dublin might sound slightly different from their Cork cousins

Fri, 07 Mar, 2025

Pipistrelle Bat

Do bats hold the secrets to fighting future pandemics?

Bats’ status as the only truly flying mammals might mean they also have another ‘superpower’ — invincibility to most viruses

Fri, 21 Feb, 2025

African bush elephant mating in Tarangire National Park

Pheromones or love in the air? Attraction in the animal kingdom

While body odour and even tears may influence behaviour, love is far more complex than a whiff of sweat or a drops of tears

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Red paper cutout car on stacks of gold coins on green background. Illustration of the concept of increasing car prices, surging

Why sustainability in Ireland demands more than goodwill

In the race against climate change, an approach that leaves behind those who can’t afford the starting fee is bound to fail, not only ethically but practically

Fri, 07 Feb, 2025

Machu Picchu illuminated by the warm sunset light. Wide angle view from the terraces above with scenic sky and sun burst. Dreaml

A new chapter in Inca archaeology as underground tunnels discovered beneath Cusco’s historic district

Underground tunnels, which have been long rumoured in local legends, have been discovered

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

waiting

Carbon pawprint of pets: Are our dogs and cats secret climate culprits?

From the food they eat to dog waste on the ground, our pets can end up adding to global pollution — but there are ways to give our dogs and cats a happy, healthy life while also treading more lightly on the planet. Here's how...

Fri, 24 Jan, 2025

Record hot 2024 was first year to break 1.5C warming threshold

Our planet's fever has broken 1.5°C — it's a global climate wakeup call

The temporary breach of the 1.5°C threshold serves as a warning rather than a point of no return. It highlights the need for immediate and decisive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the transition to sustainable energy systems

Fri, 17 Jan, 2025

Michelle McKeown: Why Ireland’s surf is just swell in the cold

Michelle McKeown: Why Ireland’s surf is just swell in the cold

Winter is prime time for surfing off Ireland's coasts — and here's why...

Fri, 10 Jan, 2025

Drone or quadcopter with camera 3d scanning land. Drone fly over landscape and make geological mapping of the field. Landforms d

The role of artificial intelligence in research

Science, at its core, is about illuminating the ever-expanding boundaries of understanding, and AI is becoming an indispensable part of that journey

Fri, 03 Jan, 2025

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, keep dreaming

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, keep dreaming

There's always next year...

Tue, 24 Dec, 2024

Plastic or pine: Which Christmas tree is the greenest choice?

Plastic or pine: Which Christmas tree is the greenest choice?

Real trees sequester carbon while they're growing, and they can be chipped and composted afterwards. You need to reuse artificial trees for at least 10 to 20 years to offset their production emissions

Fri, 20 Dec, 2024

Cost about CO2 reduction - concept with CO2 text against woodland and european euro banknote

The Carbon Credit Conundrum: A green solution or a licence to pollute?

On paper, the idea is simple and elegant. Polluters pay, green projects receive funding, and emissions are reduced overall...

Fri, 13 Dec, 2024

Pine marten rare species in natural habitat (Martes martes)

Native allies: Pine martens helping Ireland’s red squirrels fight back

A study conducted by researchers at NUI Galway and the University of Aberdeen found that red squirrels increase their numbers significantly within five years of pine marten population recovery

Fri, 06 Dec, 2024

Ireland’s renewable revolution: from turbines to transition

Ireland’s renewable revolution: from turbines to transition

To achieve a sustainable energy future, Ireland must move beyond incremental changes and embrace bold, systemic transformation

Thu, 05 Dec, 2024

Christmas bauble with wedding and engagement rings in red satin

Lab-grown diamonds versus mined diamonds. Which is better for the planet?

Diamond mining is an environmentally disruptive process. However, where a lab-grown diamond is produced, and the energy sources used, plays a crucial role in determining its sustainability

Fri, 22 Nov, 2024

Would a visit to Páirc Quaternary be better than Jurassic Park?

Would a visit to Páirc Quaternary be better than Jurassic Park?

De-extinction scientists have turned their attention to species from more 'recent' times — notably the Quaternary Period, which includes creatures such as woolly mammoths and the Tasmanian tiger

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Flour in a bag on the table and spikelets

From pests to plates: Can insects play a role in diversifying our diets?

Insect protein is stepping into the spotlight as a nutrient-rich, environmentally friendly option to traditional meats

Fri, 01 Nov, 2024

Carving a greener path in addressing pumpkin waste in Ireland

Carving a greener path in addressing pumpkin waste in Ireland

The jack-o-lantern practice originated with the story of Stingy Jack, a character in Irish mythology who tricked the Devil and was condemned to roam the earth with only a carved-out turnip to light his way

Fri, 25 Oct, 2024

Malaria drug research

Tiny threats: could mosquitoes bring big problems to Ireland?

The Culex pipiens mosquito, which transmits West Nile Virus, is already present here. So far, Ireland has remained free of local West Nile Virus transmission, but with climate change creating warmer, wetter conditions, there’s a potential future public health risk for Ireland

Fri, 18 Oct, 2024