Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Nicola Jennings on drought-hit Britain – cartoon

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:27:24 +0000

France records more than 5,700 excess deaths during June heatwave

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:34:27 +0000

Figures come as large parts of southern Europe endure another record-breaking period of extreme temperatures

France recorded more than 5,700 excess deaths during its June heatwave, authorities have said, as swathes of southern Europe continue to endure another record-breaking period of extreme temperatures.

The French national health agency said on Wednesday that it had recorded 5,764 excess deaths ⁠between 17 June and 2 July, an excess mortality rate of 36%.

One billion plastic pellets spilled into River Tyne after two ships collide

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:34:24 +0000

Up to 25 tonnes of nurdles, the raw material for plastic manufacturing, have spread further than initially feared

Approximately a billion tiny plastic nurdles have entered the River Tyne after a “devastating spill”, with the pellets thought to have spread much further than first thought.

Nurdles, which are usually 1mm-5mm in size, act as the raw material to manufacture most plastic products.

Great Barrier Reef microbiome mapped as researchers discover 500 bacterial species previously unknown to science

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:00:18 +0000

Research identifies 808,585 viral genomes belonging to what scientists estimate to be 362,802 different viruses

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Tornadoes and record flooding leave parts of eastern US in crisis

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:06:50 +0000

Rescuers freed trapped residents as states such as Kentucky and West Virginia face catastrophic floods and damage

A band of extreme weather that ripped through states including Kentucky and West Virginia on Tuesday night sparked devastating tornadoes and record flash flooding that left dozens of people trapped in their houses and vehicles, and injured several others.

Sperm whales change ‘vowel’ sounds when boats are nearby, scientists discover

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:00:15 +0000

Researchers listening off the Caribbean island of Dominica found variations in the mammals’ audible clicks when marine traffic was close

Sperm whales produce a specific pattern of clicking noises when they hear the noise of boats, researchers have found. The pattern is so distinct that the scientists who identified it said they can now use it to predict when ships are nearby.

Ex-Southern Water boss to face trial over allegedly manipulating sewage testing

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 12:58:10 +0000

Former chief executive Matthew Wright and three further ex employees named in criminal proceedings by Environment Agency

The former chief executive of Southern Water is being prosecuted for conspiracy to defraud along with three other former employees, over allegations they manipulated sewage wastewater testing results to avoid tens of millions of pounds in fines.

Six beluga whales finally leave embattled Canadian marine park

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:48:32 +0000

Whales flown to US aquariums after long-running saga in which Marineland had threatened to euthanise them

Six beluga whales have at last left Marineland, the embattled Canadian marine park in Niagara Falls that previously threatened to kill its own animals, and are arriving at US aquariums this week.

The world is on fire, and who does Trump blame? The Canadians | Arwa Mahdawi

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:00:13 +0000

The US president has been complaining about Canada’s ‘filthy, polluted and unhealthy air’. Maybe he should put all that energy into tackling the climate crisis

World’s largest meat company faces legal challenge over green credentials of $6bn global expansion

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 06:00:09 +0000

Greenpeace petitions Dutch courts to order JBS to disclose how its aims are compatible with responsibilities to climate and human rights

The world’s biggest meat company, JBS, faces a landmark legal challenge to disclose how its $6bn (£4.5bn) global expansion plan is compatible with responsibilities to the climate, nature and human rights.

Courts in the Netherlands, where JBS is headquartered, will assess the petition filed by Greenpeace for information on whether the company is compliant with Dutch laws on “duty of care” as well as its own publicly stated commitments.