Scientist Susan Solomon has published a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences which suggests that even if carbon dioxide emissions were brought under control global warming would still continue.

"People have imagined that if we stopped emitting carbon dioxide that the climate would go back to normal in 100 years or 200 years. What we're showing here is that's not right. It's essentially an irreversible change that will last for more than a thousand years," Solomon says.

This is because the oceans are currently soaking up a lot of the planet's excess heat — and a lot of the carbon dioxide put into the air. The carbon dioxide and heat will eventually start coming out of the ocean. And that will take place for many hundreds of years.

Due to global warming, pythons may start finding northern states as desirable habitats.

"Burmese pythons — an invasive species in south Florida — could find comfortable climatic conditions in roughly a third of the United States according to new 'climate maps' developed by the USGS," the agencies reported. "Although other factors such as type of food available and suitable shelter also play a role, Burmese pythons and other giant constrictor snakes have shown themselves to be highly adaptable to new environments."

Multi-millionaire and space enthusiast Sir Richard Branson [wiki] is now offering $25 million to the first person who can come up with a way to clean the atmosphere of greenhouse gases. 

The prize will initially only be open for five years, with ideas assessed by a panel of judges including Branson, Gore and Tickell as well as U.S. climate scientist James Hansen, Briton James Lovelock and Australian environmentalist Tim Flannery.

The winner will have to come up with a way of removing one billion metric tons of carbon gases a year from the atmosphere for 10 years -- with $5 million of the prize being paid at the start and the remaining $20 million at the end.

If no winner is identified after five years the judges can decide to extend the period.