The first Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report, released in March, warned that approximately 60 percent of the ecosystem supporting life on Earth was being degraded or used unsustainably and that the consequences of degradation could grow significantly worse in the next half century.

CNN: Growing deserts 'a global problem'

And with sea levels due to rise in the next century by half a metre in some places, maintenance can only get costlier.

ECONOMIST: Letting the waves rule Britannia

The Royal Commission urged a 60% cut over the next half century in the UK's emissions of CO2, believed by many scientists to be the chief human contributor to global warming.

BBC: Wind turbines

The shopping experience that has been largely unchanged for more than the last half century will be radically transformed in the next few years.

FORBES: Mobile: The Biggest Change To Hit Retailing In 50 Years

However, two drops in each of the next two overs allowed Bathiya Perera to reach his half-century and add 29 for the last wicket with Nandika Ranjith .

BBC: SPORT | Cricket | Sri v Eng | Butcher bounces back

Michael Hussey and James Hopes put on 50 for the sixth wicket before the former was yorked, four runs short of his half century, by Southee, who also claimed Mitchell Johnson in his next over to record his career-best return.

BBC: New Zealand earn consolation win over Australia

In theory, a solar shade could provide any amount of cooling, but the researchers estimate that it would have to have an area of 4.1m square kilometres (half the size of Brazil) to offset half the warming expected over the next century, assuming no cuts in carbon-dioxide emissions occur.

ECONOMIST: Geo-engineering

For more than half a century, the mostly ceremonial title has indicated who is next in line to the throne after the crown prince.

BBC: Middle East

Over the next half century or so, the purified insulins obtained from pig or cow pancreases were constantly improved in purity and formulated in ways that refined their performance.

FORBES: When Genetic Engineering Came Of Age