Nutrient-stealing plant discovered by Malaysian botanists
Reading Time: < 1 minuteA DISTINCTIVE PLANT, which steals nutrients from underground fungi, has been published as a new species in the open-access journal Phytokeys by botanists from the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) in collaboration with local naturalists and stakeholders. Discovered in the tropical rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia, Thismia malayana belongs to a group of plants known as […]
JCF launches nationwide sustainable development education programme
Reading Time: 2 minutesJCF launches nationwide sustainable development education programme The Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF) has launched a teacher professional development programme to advance Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Malaysia. This initiative was unveiled during the opening ceremony of the “ESD for 2030 Regional Meeting on Transforming the Futures of Education” at Sunway University. JCF, recognized as […]
Dr Jane Gew champions environmental sustainability
Reading Time: 2 minutesDr Jane Gew Lai Ti, an Associate Professor at Sunway University, stands as a beacon of environmental stewardship and sustainability. Her unwavering dedication to mitigating plastic pollution and promoting eco-friendly practices stems from a transformative anecdote she shared, reflecting a profound shift in her personal and professional ethos. In 2018, Dr Gew embarked on a […]
Malaysian primate infants in peril after plantation visits
Reading Time: 2 minutesA STUDY reveals a link between the infant mortality rate among wild southern pig-tailed macaques and their visits to oil palm plantations to scavenge for food. According to the study published in Current Biology, frequent visits to oil palm plantations are leading to a sharp increase in mortality rates among infant southern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca […]
Global study: More than half of branded plastic pollution linked to 56 companies
Reading Time: 2 minutesA NEW STUDY published in Science Advances found more than half of branded plastic pollution found in the environment was linked to 56 companies. CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, co-authored the paper along with 12 other international organisations, providing the first-ever quantification of products from global plastic producers in the environment through audit events. Researchers […]
Celebrating International Biodiversity Day with thoughts on sustainable development
Reading Time: 2 minutesAS the global community is called to re-examine our relationship with the natural world, one thing is certain: despite all our technological advances, we are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for our water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter, and energy, just to name a few. This involves respecting, protecting, and repairing our biological […]
Insects key to survival of migratory birds
Reading Time: 2 minutesTHE World Migratory Bird Day campaign in 2024 will focus on the importance of insects for migratory birds, and highlight concerns related to decreasing populations of insects. Insects are essential sources of energy for many migratory bird species, not only during the breeding seasons but also during their extensive journeys, and greatly affect the timing, […]
Survival of our ecosystems depends on the survival of bees
Reading Time: 2 minutesBEES and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities. Pollination is, however, a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems. Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the […]
From fungi to feast – Sustainable protein solution from Mycoprotein
Reading Time: 2 minutesFrom Fungi to Feast: A Sustainable Protein Solution Ultimeat and Nimbus Restaurant jointly launched Ultimeat Mycoprotein, marking the first of its kind in Malaysia. This groundbreaking launch aims to promote sustainable food systems and combat climate change by producing alternative sources of protein. Ultimeat, established in 1988, has evolved its focus towards innovating plant-based meat […]
Climate change, jellyfish blooms and their impact on people and environment
Reading Time: 3 minutesIN MARCH 2024, some beaches in Sabah experienced a massive invasion of jellyfish swarms. These jellyfish are called “tomato jellyfish” (Crambione sp.) and there were so many of them that the beach looked like a giant bowl of tomato soup. This came on the heels of multiple reports of sting cases from the Portuguese Man […]