It is an unfortunate fact of modern life that most species-related news is negative these days. We read about habitats disappearing, animals going extinct and other tragedies. When a positive story does come along it is therefore all the more inspiring.

A new species of mammal has been discovered in the mountains of Tanzania, scientists report. The bizarre-looking creature, dubbed Rhynochocyon udzungwensis, is a type of giant elephant shrew, or sengi. The cat-sized animal, which is reported in the Journal of Zoology, looks like a cross between a miniature antelope and a small anteater. It has a grey face, a long, flexible snout, a bulky, amber body, a jet-black rump and it stands on spindly legs. via BBC News

As with so many species being lost today this new mammal was discovered in Africa.  Hopefully such inspirational events can serve a positive purpose and remind people around the world that there are many species yet to be found, many of which could be lost forever if something isn’t done to protect their environments.

What is it about climate change that stirs everyone up so much? When innovative technology is applied to cars, houses or other everyday things everyone seems to celebrate progress. However, when articles come out about climate change the tone shifts and the skeptics come out in force. Ecoble invariably gets the most crass, spammy and downright incorrect comments on such articles. But why?

Is it just too big of a concept for people to grasp? Too complex to know for sure and therefore it elicits negativity? Or could it be that we are scared it could be true and eager to believe detractors who, possibly for personal profit, resist reacting to the potential threat post by global climate change? Even when alternative explanations, such as volcanoes, are presented to problems such as localized ice melting.

In the face of the complex and (of course) global nature of the problem, it is all too easy to throw up one’s hands and declare there’s no point worrying about it. But there is. Climate change could have a series and devastating impact one the world, affecting humans in every aspect of life from temperature to agricultural production. The debate just keeps heating up, too, as private individuals, companies and entire industries on both sides find they may have a lot to lose.

If you’re still a doubter after combing recent related news articles, look no further than this description of what may be the sixth mass extinction on Earth. Is it alarmest? Maybe. Are species becoming extinct at a more rapid rate than at any other point in human history? Absolutely. What does it mean? That’s up to you.

Wait so is it global warming, cooling or climate change? Good, bad or ugly? The questions, perspectives and believes about climate issues change almost as much as the proposed solutions or interventions. Some of these supposed answers to core climate questions are truly as bizarre as these weird alternative fuel sources and outlandish as this incredible man-made recycled island. Whatever your opinions on climate change these are, at the very least, entertaining and extremely odd.

A volcanic eruption is a bad thing … right? Well, according to some scientists: not necessarily. The theory goes something like this: a faked volcanic eruption (via rockets shot nearly into space) could disperse sulphur into the upper atmosphere and block incoming and outgoing radiation. Of course, this plan has its critics. Other scientists worry about potential drought and other unforeseen consequences of such a bold and brazen act of geoengineering. And how could the process be undone if needed?

The idea of wrapping entire glaciers with sheets seems a bit far fetched and fanciful yet some scientists have proposed we do just that to prevent their rapid melting. One company has even developed the means to do it: a material dubbed Ice Protector that, in giant swathes, would be used to surround and protect glaciers. In tests the material was able to deflect heat and keep in the cold. Still, at $12 million per square mile this clever idea might not really be an affordable one.

Who ever heard of genetically engineering trees to be more shiny? Well, in a world with square watermelons probably pretty much anything is possible. Such shiny trees are one proposes way to cut down heat absorption on Earth and deflect more of the sun’s rays back into space. A bit quirky? Sure. That much beyond what is already being done to modify our plants and food supply? Probably not.

We always hear that if everyone contributed to a project they can make a world of change. Well, according to scientists, one simple measure - painting all our roofs white - could do just that. Not that it is likely to happen, but scientists believe that if everyone in the world painted their roof white the global temperature would drop to the level it was at a hundred years ago. Again, though, this is just a way to buy time to find other solutions, but it is still something to ponder the next time you re-roof your house!

So, heat is the problem, right? What if we could block a significant part of the sun’s rays entirely? How about 55,000 orbital mirrors to take on that task? That move alone would reduce the increasing levels of carbon dioxide on Earth by half. Of course, these mirrors would each be over 50 square miles in size and they are beyond expensive. Still, just imagine what it would look like to see these new ’stars’ in space! If you’re not sure where you fall on the questions (let alone answers) on the climate change issue, you may want getting this guide to the politics and science of the climate change debate. And for more green stuff, check out this sweet green art and this unusually green vehicles.

So a lot of people question the mechanism, cause or even existence of what is now commonly called climate change. Sometimes they call out the words ‘global warming’ and then point out that there is cooling going on as well in the world. Well, details and titles aside you can’t argue with melting ice caps, can you? Nature may have its cycles but this is unquestionably unusual and incredibly significant to the global climate.

Ominous Arctic Melts Worry Experts: An already relentless melting of the Arctic greatly accelerated this summer, a warning sign that some scientists worry could mean global warming has passed an ominous tipping point. One even speculated that summer sea ice would be gone in five years.

Why Isn’t Antarctica Melting? Antarctic sea ice hasn’t shown the same obvious melting patterns in recent decades as the Arctic, fueling the global warming denialist crowd. Though the data isn’t as consistent as in the North, where the extent of sea ice this summer hit a stunning record low, southern sea ice has been expanding.

Trees are often a central topic when it comes to discussions of global warming or climate change, but what role do they really play and how important are they? Here are three different recent articles on trees that span the debate:

Fine for Burning Down Eden’s Forests: 11 Cents: When Madagascar drifted away from Africa some 165 million years ago, wildlife on the island spun off on its own unique evolutionary path, producing the world’s only lemurs, as well as dozens of amphibian and bird species found nowhere else on earth. That unique wildlife, which was only discovered by humans 2,000 years ago, has prompted many to refer to the island as an Eden-like remnant of the natural world as it was before human contact.

Trees Are Not The Answer To Climate Change: What was once seen as the solution to all our CO2 problems, the ability of trees to soak up anthropogenic carbon dioxide, has itself been hindered by global warming. A 20-year analysis of 30 sites in the frozen north has discovered that trees ability to take in CO2 is weakening. Whereas once it was assumed that just by planting more trees we could slow down the climate change tide. These results tell us unquestionably that we need to stop passing the buck, and stop creating CO2.

Trees absorbing less CO2 as world warms, study finds: The ability of forests to soak up man-made carbon dioxide is weakening, according to an analysis of two decades of data from more than 30 sites in the frozen north. The finding published today is crucial, because it means that more of the CO2 we release will end up affecting the climate in the atmosphere rather than being safely locked away in trees or soil.