Breaking Waves: Ocean News

US pollution measurement practices raise questions about reliability of data

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 12:00:42 +0000

Guardian analysis heightens concerns on whether the air around many large factories is, or will be, safe to breathe

A Guardian analysis has raised fresh questions over the way regulators and corporations measure the air quality impact of planned factories that risk emitting dangerous levels of pollution.

‘It can’t withstand the heat’: fears ‘stable’ Patagonia glacier in irreversible decline

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 12:00:42 +0000

Scientists say Perito Moreno, which for decades defied trend of glacial retreat, now rapidly losing mass

One of the few stable glaciers in a warming world, Perito Moreno, in Santa Cruz province, Argentina, is now undergoing a possibly irreversible retreat, scientists say.

Over the past seven years, it has lost 1.92 sq km (0.74 sq miles) of ice cover and its thickness is decreasing by up to 8 metres (26 ft) a year.

Heat health alerts and hosepipe bans across England as third heatwave takes hold

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:47:53 +0000

UKHSA warning came into effect at noon on Friday as temperatures predicted to reach 33C over weekend

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across parts of England and hosepipe bans imposed in various locations as the third heatwave of the summer takes hold.

The heat health warning announced by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) came into effect at noon on Friday and covers the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, east of England and London until 9am on Monday.

Trump administration yanks $15m in research into Pfas on US farms: ‘not just stupid, it’s evil’

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:00:16 +0000

Pfas-laden pesticides and sewage sludge used as fertilizer move into crops and nearby water sources

The Trump administration has killed nearly $15m in research into Pfas contamination of US farmland, bringing to a close studies that public health advocates say are essential for understanding a worrying source of widespread food contamination.

Step up restoration of ancient woodland before it is lost, Forestry England urged

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 10:24:04 +0000

Campaigners say just 5.8% of irreplaceable habitat at publicly owned sites has been fully restored in 10 years

Forestry England needs to urgently step up its ancient woodland restoration before the irreplaceable habitat is lost for ever, campaigners have said.

Findings by the campaign group Wild Card suggest that in the 10 most recently assessed years Forestry England, which is in charge of the country’s woodlands, has fully restored just 5.8% (2,484 hectares/6,138 acres) of publicly owned plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS).

Toxic Pfas above proposed safety limits in almost all English waters tested

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:00:53 +0000

Exclusive: 110 of 117 bodies of water tested by Environment Agency would fail standards, with levels in fish 322 times the planned limit

Nearly all rivers, lakes and ponds in England tested for a range of Pfas, known as “forever chemicals”, exceed proposed new safety limits and 85% contain levels at least five times higher, analysis of official data reveals.

Out of 117 water bodies tested by the Environment Agency for multiple types of Pfas, 110 would fail the safety standard, according to analysis by Wildlife and Countryside Link and the Rivers Trust.

Week in wildlife: a flying vole, a Wimbledon wagtail and some lovebugs

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:00:52 +0000

The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world

Detection of fire ants in Queensland 800km from closest infestation sparks fury over gaps in eradication funding

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 08:45:59 +0000

Businesses and industry urged to stay alert after invasive species discovered at coalmine in Moranbah, about 150km inland from Mackay

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It’s 12ft tall, covered in feathers and has been extinct for 600 years – can the giant moa bird really be resurrected?

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 04:00:06 +0000

Colossal Bioscience is adding the extinct animal to its revival wishlist, joining the woolly mammoth, dodo and thylacine. But scepticism is growing

Standing more than three metres (10ft) high, the giant moa is the tallest bird known to have walked on Earth. For thousands of years, the wingless herbivore patrolled New Zealand, feasting on trees and shrubs, until the arrival of humans. Today, records of the enormous animal survive only in Māori oral histories, as well as thousands of discoveries of bone, mummified flesh and the odd feather.

Welcome to Prime Day, when thousands of product thumbnails blur together to form a giant pile of garbage | Anna Spargo-Ryan

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 00:17:50 +0000

I love a sale – but scrolling the list of Amazon’s deals is overwhelming to the point of delirium

I’m a simple girl. My idea of fun is an annual event in which people are crushed in pursuit of half-price Christmas decorations. But those days have passed. Welcome to the era of the always-on sale.