Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Republicans who backed Trump’s anti-environment bill have accepted over $105m from big oil

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:00:33 +0000

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes billions of dollars in giveaways to fossil fuel companies and their executives

The Republican lawmakers who voted for Donald Trump’s anti-environment tax and spending bill have accepted more than $105m in political donations from the fossil fuel industry, a new analysis has found, raising concerns about their relationship with big oil.

Exposure to some common Pfas changes gene activity, new study finds

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 12:00:32 +0000

Findings help decipher mechanisms through which ‘forever chemicals’ cause disease, aiding in treating health problems

New research suggests exposure to some common Pfas or “forever chemical” compounds causes changes to gene activity, and those changes are linked to health problems including multiple cancers, neurological disorders and autoimmune disease.

Arctic glaciers face ‘terminal’ decline as microbes accelerate ice melt

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 10:14:35 +0000

Scientists in Svalbard in race to study polar microbes as global heating threatens fragile glacial ecosystems

“It felt really scary … like being in the middle of a burning city during a night raid.” Dr Arwyn Edwards is not describing urban warfare but a recent hot and foggy day on a Svalbard glacier, where record-breaking summer heat turned his workplace into a cascade of meltwater and falling rocks.

Plastic pollution talks fail as negotiators in Geneva reject draft treaties

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 06:55:28 +0000

NGOs say deadlock over legally binding deal to curb production and toxic chemicals is ‘blow to multilateralism’

Global talks to reach agreement on a treaty aimed at ending the growing scourge of plastic pollution have collapsed, with no deal agreed and no clear path forward.

Magic mushrooms: how scientists discovered fungi are the secret ingredient for restoring the world’s forests

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 05:00:24 +0000

Healthy fungal networks help trees and plants grow, making them key to successful reforestation. The only problem? Almost nothing is known about this subterranean ecology

Even in midsummer, the ancient hazelwoods on the Hebridean island of Seil are cool and quiet. Countless slanted stems of hazel support a thick canopy, which blots out the sun and blankets everything below in a sort of “fairytale darkness”, says Bethan Manley, a biologist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

Climate crisis harming world heritage painted houses in Burkina Faso, say residents

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 05:00:23 +0000

Tiébélé’s wavy-walled houses covered in geometric lines showing signs of disintegration amid erratic weather

A world heritage site that was once a famous tourist destination is suffering from signs of disintegration, as climate change affects weather patterns.

The wavy-walled houses covered with singular geometric lines of the Royal Court of Tiébélé in Burkina Faso, established in the 16th century, are recognisable all over the world. The paintings represent the thoughts, culture, and religion of the Kassena people, literally written on the walls.

Fixing Australia’s broken environmental laws must be the first step in improving productivity | Ken Henry

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:37:08 +0000

There is no chance of Australia becoming more economic resilient if we don’t have robust national laws that set clear environmental standards

One Big Idea is a new series on how to transform Australia’s economy ahead of Jim Chalmers’ economic roundtable
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Countries urged to ‘hold the line’ in Geneva plastics treaty negotiations

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:59:41 +0000

Talks continue amid warnings from environmental groups over being ‘sold out’ without meaningful or legally binding measures

Talks between nations to hammer out a plastics treaty to end plastic pollution continued behind closed doors in Geneva on Thursday, the final day of negotiations, as civil society groups urged countries to “hold the line” to secure a strong agreement.

Week in wildlife: A wild elephant, a playful dolphin and fighting zebras

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:55:39 +0000

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

Europe scorched by wildfires – pictures from space

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 16:59:39 +0000

Satellite imagery shows the impact on Europe after wildfires raged across the south of the continent

Wildfires claim third life in Spain as intense heat continues across Europe