Caroline O'Doherty

Journalism prize established in memory of hit-and-run victim Joe Drennan University of Limerick and The Irish Times announce award for third-level students across Ireland

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

An Taisce seeks judicial review of nitrates action programme Water protection plan has repeatedly failed to safeguard waterways from farm pollution, group says

An Taisce seeks judicial review of nitrates action programme - new challenge launched to latest version of the programme

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Grief, anger and lack of trust expressed in community meetings on Nature Restoration Plan Plan must have clear and enforceable targets, says advisory committee

A step towards Ireland's first Nature Restoration Plan - communities have their say on what must be done
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

After the deluge: How two months of rain affected motorists, flyers, sports clubs and cows ‘It’s been the worst experience we have had weather-wise in the last 30-odd years’

The rains have stopped (for now) but the costs of two months of downpours and a storm continue to mount in many different ways
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Joining Cern brings Ireland into cutting edge research on the universe Almost by accident, the organisation’s work created the world wide web

.... and Cormac O'Raifeartaigh explains why membership of CERN @cern.bsky.social is good for Irish science
www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...

Surprisingly unsmelly and financially sweet: Why 2026 could be biomethane’s big year Ireland has a large agricultural sector where most farmers and food processors want to do the right thing, so it’s a no-brainer

... while @kosull.bsky.social looks at what's happening with biomethane......
www.irishtimes.com/environment/... .....

Costa Rica gets back to nature after decades of deforestation Paying farmers to swap cattle for conservation has helped sway the balance in biodiversity’s favour

In Science & Climate in @irishtimes.com, @thinkorswim.bsky.social finds la pura vida in Costa Rica.....
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Smokeless fuels cause health risks as previously unknown pollutants found Study led by Irish scientists shows low-smoke fuels at least double emissions of toxic ultrafine particles

Low smoke doesn't mean low risk - research into smokeless and low-smoke fuels led by @ovadnevaite.bsky.social at @uniofgalway.bsky.social
www.irishtimes.com/health/2026/...

Evolution’s gift of fierce, wise and generous grandmothers Menopause allows for post-reproductive productivity in a select few mammals

.... and @ybuckley.bsky.social with guest contributor Sam Harrison reveal why, despite the ordeal it can be, menopause serves animals well in the rare cases where it occurs
www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...

Nuclear energy is a distant prospect – wind and solar are here now Sceptics don’t outright deny climate change but dismiss solutions as unrealistic

..... @sadhbhoneill.bsky.social says banking on future tech solutions to climate change is a distraction from action now and......
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Women farmers for climate: ‘We are passionate about soil health, animal care, biodiversity’ A recent event, Rooted in Strength: Women, Climate and Food Justice, celebrated women farmers

In the current Science & Climate in @irishtimes.com, Sylvia Thompson meets women who want to nurture nature and nutrition as they farm while......
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

The Irish roads and bridges most at-risk from intensifying extreme weather Transport Infrastructure Ireland analysis shows climate change threatens national routes, from motorways to rural ‘lifeline’ roads

From buying temporary bridge kits for replacing washed away crossings to fending off rockfalls, bog shifts and sea level rise - transport chiefs warn of need to prepare roads network for climate change
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Quarry sues environmental activist who lodged planning objections against it Company owner claims defamation and wants An Garda Siochána to hand over activist’s complaints

Concerns raised by UN rapporteur @michelforst.bsky.social with Government and Gardai about this case
www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/co...

Home buyouts should be option for victims of repeat floods, Minister says James Browne outlined how State intervention could be most cost-effective solution for homeowners and communities

Home buyouts should be option for victims of repeat floods, Minister says

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

Country’s largest wastewater plant finally working as intended after €550m improvements Ringsend plant now has headroom for Dublin’s growth but extra capacity will soon be used up

Country’s largest wastewater plant finally working as intended after €550m improvements

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Voucher scheme to encourage repair of consumer goods to be piloted next year Circular economy strategy aims to cut waste and increase reuse and recycling

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Feminist climate justice offers antidote to petro-masculinity Jennie Stephens: Feminist climate justice principles are courageously demonstrated by Mary Robinson

.....and @jenniecstephens.bsky.social tackles the bullying blend of democracy obliterating climate denial some academics are calling petromasculinity
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

From perches to petaflops: The evolution of rational measurement Precision is crucial in a technical world

.....while @thatsmaths.bsky.social tracks the evolution of accurate measurement including attempts to decimalise time....
www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...

Mission improbable: Dubliner’s spyware innovation helps save California’s nut farmers Prof Eamonn Keogh’s movie-inspired sensor can help identify major nut pest through its wing beats

In the current Science & Climate section of @irishtimes.com,
Anthony King talks to Eamonn Keogh about marrying computer science and movie magic to develop pest control for California's valuable almond crops.....
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Flood risk: Why did regulator have to ask minister to block zoning for housing 30 times since 2019? Cases show tensions between advisers and councillors over building on land that is at risk of flooding

Flood risk: Why did regulator have to ask minister to block zoning for housing 30 times since 2019?

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/hous...

Government failing to consider how key policies are damaging climate, says UN expert Plans for LNG, Dublin Airport passenger cap and data-centre expansion ‘need scrutiny’

Government failing to consider how key policies are damaging climate, says UN expert

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Inside the Dublin data centres consuming an unknown amount of energy Software giant Microsoft’s electricity demands remain a source of contention, in particular when it comes to powering AI

Inside the Dublin data centres consuming an unknown amount of energy

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Experts express ‘extreme concern’ over delay to climate action plan Minister says plan is coming, but academics say there is no justification for holdup

Experts express ‘extreme concern’ over delay to climate action plan

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Councillors tried to zone 288 flood-prone sites for development in past six years Planning regulator intervened 93 times to stop zoning on sites in nine counties, with more interventions still under way

Telling councillors they must not try to put housing on flood plains is a "frequent theme" in communications from the planning regulator
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

What are the flood relief schemes in my area? Here’s how to check Fewer than one fifth of schemes given priority in 2016 have reached the construction stage

What stage the priority schemes are at and the (tentative) target completion dates
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Why are flood defences taking so long to build? Don’t blame the pearl mussel Just 10 of 54 projects prioritised for development in 2018 are under construction

Judicial reviews & environmental concerns are blamed for delaying flood works but they account for hold-ups in a tiny fraction of projects
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Most ‘priority’ flood defences have still not entered planning after eight years Thirty-one of 54 big projects deemed priority works in 2018 remain on the drawing board

Where is Ireland at with flood defences and what's holding them up?
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Rivers must be monitored continuously to prevent ‘repeat of Blackwater fish kill’ Valuable time lost in raising alert on the incident, notes review by European Union scientists

EU report on Munster Blackwater fish kill calls for 24-hr monitoring of rivers over 100km long, more coordinated crisis response, trained public 'water wardens' & tighter industrial pollution licences
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

A supportive built environment can help build a breastfeeding culture PhD student Andyno Akpanukoh is using a citizen science approach to determine whether aspects like physical spaces and facilities help or hinder mothers to breastfeed

....and in Research Lives @claireoconnell.bsky.social meets a PhD candidate asking mums how workplaces, cafes, hospitals & other settings help or hinder breastfeeding
www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...

Can machines think or are they just fooling us? The growth of AI poses practical and moral questions

....while Stuart Mathieson explores how intelligent AI really is....
www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...