Bats hibernating in basements, cellars mapped at 79 sites around Estonia
Residential cellars, basements and attics serve as crucial hibernation sites for bats, formally referred to as hibernacula. To collect data on both hibernation sites and bat populations, Estonian residents were asked to report on any bats in their homes, resulting in more than 175 bats being counted at 79 sites across the country.
Heat records broken in Estonia as temperatures hit 25 degrees
Several new temperature records were set in Estonia on Wednesday (April 10), the Environmental Board (Keskonnaamet) said.
Ministry and EKI heed justice chancellor in dictionary reform dispute
The Ministry of Education and Research and the Institute of the Estonian Language (EKI) have reached an agreement regarding the new version of the Dictionary of Standard Estonian (ÕS) in line with recommendations from Estonia's chancellor of justice, according to which the new ÕS will be similar to previous versions.
Justice chancellor: ÕS has to be restrictive norm, not reflect actual language use
Estonia pressing on with its nature restoration program despite EU law stalling
The Council of the European Union at the last minute, declined to affirm the European Union's nature restoration law. Estonia aims to fulfill similar objectives regardless of the regulation's fate, the Ministry of Climate says.
environment
Estonia planning to restore 25,000 hectares of marshland by 2050
By 2050, Estonia plans to restore at least 25,000 hectares of drained peatlands. Officials claim that the total cost of the work has not been calculated, but together with the European Union (EU), more than €40 million have already been spent on peatland restoration over the past couple of decades.
climate
Opinion journey general principles to make it to the climate law
General principles of how to shape climate policy sounded at the Arvamusrännak (Opinion Journey) series of events will be reflected in Estonia's planned climate law, event coordinator Silver Sillak said.
wildlife
Pärnu sets birdwatching record number of species
The Estonian ornithological society (Eesti ornitoloogiaühing) on Sunday held an urban birdwatching day, aimed at determining the most bird-rich town in Estonia.
biology
TalTech chemists find green solution to neutralize Novichok-like nerve agents
Researchers at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) have collaborated on a study that has successfully used sustainable chemistry to create a series of molecules that neutralize the effects of potent nerve agents such as Novichok and VX.
matter and energy
JET reactor's end-of-life record promising
The European JET nuclear fusion lab achieved a sustained and controlled fusion energy record. Future fusion devices were tested in conditions similar to future power plants. Indrek Jõgi, an associate professor and plasma physicist at Tartu University, said that while there are other (start-up) fusion companies in the UK and the US, experiments suggest that the European method is most effective.
tech
AI forcing Estonian universities to rethink study organization
Universities are facing an unprecedented situation where students can rely on digital tools to solve even the most difficult assignments. Educational institutions are looking into ways of altering the organization of studies, while it requires more creativity and flexibility from academic staff.
society
Study: Without teacher guidance, Estonian students place blind faith in Wikipedia
Estonian schoolchildren use Wikipedia for school assignments and to find information quickly, a study by University of Tartu researchers finds. Girls and 12th-graders are relatively more prone to using the resource. Students' general attitude toward Wikipedia is determined by their teachers' awareness of the site's possibilities and risks.
humans in the past
Parallel worlds and mixed economies in 3rd millennium BC Estonia and Latvia
Tartu University archaeologists studied the northeast Baltic transition from hunter-gatherer to farming society. For over millennia, the native foraging population and the eastern newcomers who domesticated animals, coexisted without assimilating to one another's way of life, the study finds.
history bites
Tartu peace talks postponed due to excessive consumption of liquor
The Tartu peace talks were held both in private meetings and in the sauna. Historian Ants Siim told "Ringvaade" that the signing, originally scheduled for February 1, had to be postponed due to excessive alcohol consumption.