Breaking Waves: Ocean News

‘Astonishing journeys’: online tool tracking migratory animals highlights challenge of protecting them

admin — Thu, 08 May 2025 09:01:25 +0000

The University of Queensland system is intended to give policymakers idea of how species traverse the oceans and what it will take to save them

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Off the east coast of Florida, female loggerhead turtles swim more than 1,000km north, hugging the edge of the continental shelf to get to feeding grounds.

April storms that killed 24 in US made more severe by burning fossil fuels – study

admin — Thu, 08 May 2025 07:00:24 +0000

Study finds human-caused climate change made four-day rainfall across central Mississippi valley 40% more likely

The four-day historic storm that caused death and destruction across the central Mississippi valley in early April was made significantly more likely and more severe by burning fossil fuels, rapid analysis by a coalition of leading climate scientists has found.

Woodside staves off investor climate concerns at fiery AGM beset by protesters

admin — Thu, 08 May 2025 05:59:19 +0000

Fossil fuel company retains chosen board members, with former Shell executive Ann Pickard re-elected at meeting interrupted by whistle-blowing activists

Scorpions ‘taking over’ Brazilian cities with reported stings rising 250%

admin — Thu, 08 May 2025 04:00:22 +0000

Fast and unplanned growth of cities providing ideal conditions for the creatures to thrive, say researchers

Scorpions are “taking over” Brazilian cities, researchers have warned in a paper that said rapid urbanisation and climate breakdown were driving an increase in the number of people being stung.

Rare New Zealand snail filmed laying egg via its neck for first time

admin — Thu, 08 May 2025 02:53:02 +0000

Mount Augustus snail, among largest in world, can live for decades and eats slugs and earthworms

Get Guardian Australia environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as an email

A large rare carnivorous New Zealand snail has been filmed laying an egg from its neck for the first time, in a delightfully icky stroke of luck.

Trump reportedly eyes $26m in funding cuts for US national parks

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 23:07:40 +0000

New York Times reports Elon Musk’s Doge agency has created spreadsheet of federal grants earmarked for cuts

The Trump administration is reportedly eyeing dozens of grants across the National Park Service for termination, according to reporting from the New York Times, one of several moves destabilizing the US’s investment in public lands.

Smoke from climate-fueled fires in US contributed to 15,000 deaths in 15 years, study finds

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:10:43 +0000

Exposure to small particulate matter from fires contributes to thousands of annual deaths in US, according to study

Wildfires driven by the climate crisis contribute to as many as thousands of annual deaths and billions of dollars in economic costs from wildfire smoke in the United States, according to a new study.

Ill winds are blowing for Labour’s 2030 deadline for clean energy

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 18:08:29 +0000

Loss of the vast Hornsea 4 offshore wind project is bad news but it reveals a big flaw in setting a deadline

Danish firm shelves huge UK windfarm project over rising costs

Pioneering research reveals tree-mendous potential of inexpensive drones to help community forests flourish and unlock restoration funding

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 17:03:44 +0000

New research has shown how small, inexpensive drones combined with free, open source software can be used by community forest organizations to calculate and monitor the amount of carbon stored in their forests.

Fewer parasites in the Indian River lagoon signal big ecosystem problems

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 17:03:36 +0000

Parasites are crucial indicators of ecosystem health, and their absence can signal trouble. Once pristine, Florida's Indian River Lagoon (IRL) now faces pollution and algal blooms that have damaged essential habitats like seagrass beds. New research finds parasite levels in the IRL are significantly lower than in comparable ecosystems worldwide -- 11% lower overall and 17% lower for larval parasites requiring multiple hosts. This sharp decline suggests a disrupted food web likely caused by pollution and habitat degradation, and a less resilient and more vulnerable ecosystem.