Breaking Waves: Ocean News

More valuable than gold: New Zealand feather becomes most expensive in the world

admin — Tue, 21 May 2024 04:47:04 +0000

The well-preserved huia bird feather was expected to fetch up to NZD$3,000 but ended up selling for more than NZD$46,000

A rare and highly prized feather from the extinct New Zealand huia bird has sold for NZD$46,521 (US$28,365), making it by far the world’s most expensive feather ever sold at auction.

The hammer price far exceeded initial estimates of between $2,000-$3,000, and blew the previous record-holder’s price out of the water. Until Monday’s sale, the previous record sale was another huia feather that sold in 2010 for $8,400.

Migratory freshwater fish populations ‘down by more than 80% since 1970’

admin — Tue, 21 May 2024 04:00:29 +0000

‘Catastrophic’ global decline due to dams, mining, diverting water and pollution threatens humans and ecosystems, study warns

Migratory fish populations have crashed by more than 80% since 1970, new findings show.

Populations are declining in all regions of the world, but it is happening fastest in South America and the Caribbean, where abundance of these species has dropped by 91% over the past 50 years.

Closing Australia’s biggest coal-fired power station would leave NSW exposed to risk of blackouts – Aemo

admin — Tue, 21 May 2024 00:40:28 +0000

States must roll out batteries, solar and wind energy more quickly to ease risk of blackouts, market operator says

Where is the German cockroach actually from? We tested its DNA to trace its true origins

admin — Tue, 21 May 2024 00:38:24 +0000

It’s likely the urban pest first emerged from its native lands about 1,200 years ago. As global trade accelerated, the hitchhikers made their way more rapidly around the world

Rare and ‘unusual’ deep-sea anglerfish washes up on Oregon beach for first time ever

admin — Mon, 20 May 2024 19:11:02 +0000

Species, with only a few dozen seen by humans since first discovered, usually lives in darkness up to 3,300ft below sea level

Oregon beachgoers stumbled across a rare find over the weekend, after a deep-sea anglerfish washed up from the ocean depths.

More than third of Amazon rainforest struggling to recover from drought, study finds

admin — Mon, 20 May 2024 19:00:17 +0000

‘Critical slowing down’ of recovery raises concern over forest’s resilience to ecosystem collapse

More than a third of the Amazon rainforest is struggling to recover from drought, according to a new study that warns of a “critical slowing down” of this globally important ecosystem.

The signs of weakening resilience raise concerns that the world’s greatest tropical forest – and biggest terrestrial carbon sink – is degrading towards a point of no return.

Cloudy waters causes African fish to develop bigger eyes

admin — Mon, 20 May 2024 16:27:23 +0000

Variations in water quality can impact the development of the visual system of one species of African fish, suggests a new study.

Eagles shifting flight paths to avoid Ukraine conflict, scientists find

admin — Mon, 20 May 2024 15:48:13 +0000

Vulnerable birds deviating from migratory routes by up to 155 miles, which could affect breeding

Eagles that have migratory routes through Ukraine have shifted their flight paths to avoid areas affected by the conflict, researchers have found.

GPS data has revealed that greater spotted eagles not only made large detours after the invasion began, but also curtailed pitstops to rest and refuel, or avoided making them altogether.

Labour MP Dawn Butler withdraws from Hay festival in sponsorship row

admin — Mon, 20 May 2024 15:20:44 +0000

Butler is among several writers refusing to appear at the literary festival over sponsor Baillie Gifford’s alleged involvement in ‘technology and arms in Israel’

Labour MP Dawn Butler and author Grace Blakeley are among those who have withdrawn from scheduled appearances at Hay festival over its sponsorship by investment management firm Baillie Gifford.

Microplastics found in every human testicle in study

admin — Mon, 20 May 2024 14:34:49 +0000

Scientists say discovery may be linked to decades-long decline in sperm counts in men around the world

Microplastics have been found in human testicles, with researchers saying the discovery might be linked to declining sperm counts in men.

The scientists tested 23 human testes, as well as 47 testes from pet dogs. They found microplastic pollution in every sample.