Physical sciences

Air pollution due to smoke from fireplaces in Athens was significantly higher over the festive period, especially from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. 

Despite unseasonably high temperatures, many fireplaces in the capital were used, sounding the alarm as to what could happen in the event of a harsh winter. 

Light pollution is growing rapidly and in some places the number of stars visible to the naked eye in the night sky is being reduced by more than half in less than 20 years, according to a study released on Jan. 19.

Shipping companies are still waiting for "real green" fuel solutions as part of decarbonization efforts to clean up the industry, a leading industry official said.

Shipping, which transports around 90% of world trade and accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions, is under growing pressure from environmentalists to deliver more concrete action, including a carbon levy.

Plunging wholesale gas prices have sparked speculation of an end to Europe's energy crisis, but consumers' electricity and gas bills remain sky high, fueling runaway inflation.

European benchmark Dutch TTF gas price has shed 18 percent since the start of this year as unusually warm winter weather depresses demand and encourages stockpiling.

The absolute records for high temperatures for January were improved yesterday in five stations of the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology in the country, reports the NIMH.

In Pleven yesterday the temperature reached 21.7 degrees Celsius, and the old temperature record was 21.2 degrees and was from January 2002.

Scientists said on Jan. 16 they have used a laser beam to guide lightning for the first time, hoping the technique will help protect against deadly bolts and one day maybe even trigger them.

Lightning strikes between 40-120 times a second worldwide, killing more than 4,000 people and causing billions of dollars worth of damage every year.

Bulgaria is looking to revive a trans-Balkan oil pipeline project to secure non-Russian crude oil supplies for its only oil refinery on the Black Sea, controlled by Russia's Lukoil, President Rumen Radev said on Tuesday.

A negative coronavirus PCR or rapid test will be required of all air passengers traveling from China until January 31, Greece's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced in a notice to airmen (notam) on Monday.

Changes come about in different ways. Gradually, over the long term. Or suddenly, with "events, dear boy, events," whose proportions we sometimes define as "historic." Or changes happen through the regular back and forth of real life, or by oscillations, sometimes in multi-decade cycles. Changes occur visibly or imperceptibly, sometimes going in opposite directions.

Bulgaria's Parliament on Thursday decided to demand that country's government renegotiate the energy part of an EU-funded post-pandemic recovery plan, to save the country's coal-fired power plants from closure.