Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Texas tornado kills at least two people as wildfires still rage in parts of Georgia

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:03:12 +0000

Extreme weather likely to continue after devastating homes and endangering millions in US south and midwest

Panama’s ocean lifeline vanishes for the first time in 40 years

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:21:57 +0000

For decades, the Gulf of Panama has relied on strong seasonal winds to trigger upwelling, bringing cool, nutrient-packed water to the surface. But in 2025, this dependable event didn’t happen. Researchers point to unusually weak winds as the likely culprit, reducing ocean productivity and warming coastal waters. The surprise disruption highlights how vulnerable these critical systems may be to climate change.

Toxins plus climate harms likely cause of reduced fertility, study finds

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:00:15 +0000

Researchers find ‘alarming’ effect on fertility across global species from simultaneous exposures

Simultaneous exposure to toxic chemicals and climate change’s impacts likely generates an additive or synergistic effect that increases reproductive harm, and may contribute to the broad global drop in fertility, new peer-reviewed research finds.

UK departments at odds over energy demands of AI datacentres

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 07:00:08 +0000

Discrepancy in forecasts raises questions over government planning for net zero

One vision of the UK’s future involves a decarbonised economy powered by clean, renewable energy. Another involves making the UK an AI superpower.

The government departments responsible for these two visions do not appear to have agreed on their numbers.

Scientists believe birds’ skulls hold clues to inner lives of long-extinct dinosaurs

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 06:00:06 +0000

Early birds were like ‘T rex reincarnated’, says scientist who believes avian skulls offer insight into dinosaurs’ behaviour

T rex is often depicted as more brawn than brains, but now scientists are hoping to probe just what was going on inside its head, drawing on findings from another kind of dinosaur: birds.

Scientists have previously found some species of bird not only make and use tools, but are able to plan ahead and show basic forms of empathy – with laboratory tests suggesting emus can recognise other birds might have different experiences to themselves.

What counts as the woods? Judge axes Nova Scotia’s ban that defied ‘commonsense definitions’

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:47 +0000

The court sided with a Canadian hiker who deliberately challenged the order imposed to curb spread of wildfires

As wildfires raged across Nova Scotia last summer, the Canadian province made a simple plea to residents: stay away from the woods.

ICE planning facility for children and families on Pfas-contaminated site

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:00:45 +0000

High concentration of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in groundwater at former military facility in Louisiana

Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning a detention facility for children and their families on one the nation’s most Pfas-contaminated sites, which also serves as a hub for the president’s deportation program.

California’s wildlife bridge became a target for the right. Now it’s eyeing the finish line

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:00:44 +0000

Unhindered by critics who called the $114m project ‘a bridge to nowhere’, a gigantic throughway allowing animals to cross a busy freeway is close to completion

Atop a gigantic wildlife bridge in California this week, butterflies filled the air. A red-tailed hawk sailed above as a slight breeze ruffled the 6,000 native plants, including poppies and purple sage. You’d never guess that below the quiet expanse of rocks and plants, a 10-lane freeway ferries 400,000 cars each day.

Criminalisation of climate protesters in UK is counterproductive, research finds

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:00:41 +0000

Study of 1,300 campaigners finds arrests, fines and jail terms increase determination of activists to take direct action

The criminalisation of direct action climate protests in the UK is counterproductive and increases the determination of activists to undertake disruptive demonstrations, according to a study of 1,300 campaigners.

‘Cries of delight’ as Sumatran orangutan filmed using canopy bridge to cross road for first time

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:00:40 +0000

After a two-year wait, video of a young male crossing above a road gives hope that critically endangered species can survive habitat fragmentation

The critically endangered Sumatran orangutan has been filmed for the first time using a canopy bridge to cross a road.

In 2024, conservationists in the Pakpak Bharat district of North Sumatra in Indonesia built the bridge high over the Lagan-Pagindar road, which provides an essential route for local people but which became a barrier for animals.