Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Increase in vapes found on Britain’s coastline by beach clean volunteers

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:01:39 +0000

Marine Conservation Society calls for swift action as its litter surveys show some forms of plastic are on the rise

Volunteer beach cleaners are finding more vapes than ever before as plastic pollution chokes Britain’s coastline.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) on Wednesday launches its annual beach clean, which last year involved more than 15,000 volunteers who completed more than 1,200 litter surveys.

The Guardian view on plastic pollution: global action is desperately needed to deal with this scourge | Editorial

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 18:00:44 +0000

Delegates at UN treaty talks must not allow negotiations to be derailed again by fossil fuel interests

About 100 people missing as flash flood tears through town in northern India

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:19:39 +0000

Large-scale search and rescue operation under way after at least four people killed in Himalayan region

A torrent of mud from a flash flood has smashed into a town in India’s Himalayan region, tearing down a mountain valley before demolishing buildings and killing at least four people, with about 100 others missing.

Videos broadcast on Indian media showed a terrifying surge of muddy water sweeping away blocks of flats in the tourist region of Dharali in Uttarakhand state.

It’s winter and respiratory illnesses are everywhere. Will going out underdressed in cold weather make me sick? | Antiviral

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:00:31 +0000

To develop cold symptoms, you need to be infected by a virus. There’s a reason that happens more in winter – and the answer hangs indoors, in the air

Read more in the Antiviral series

It was inevitable that I would, as Oscar Wilde quipped, become like my mother. After decades of being told to “Put on more clothes! You’ll catch a cold!” I now, despite knowing better, insist the same for my daughter.

Great Barrier Reef suffers biggest annual drop in live coral since 1980s after devastating coral bleaching

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:00:29 +0000

Researchers warn reef may reach tipping point where coral cannot recover fast enough between major catastrophic events

Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching event in 2024 most widespread and severe on record - video

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:00:29 +0000

The Great Barrier Reef has seen the sharpest annual drop in the amount of live coral recorded by scientists in its northern and southern sections since monitoring started four decades ago, according to a report from the Australian Institute of Marine Science. The report is the first to comprehensively document the devastating impacts of the early 2024 mass coral bleaching event – the most widespread and severe event on record

Australian researchers discover two invasive weeds have the potential to be burned as biofuel

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:00:28 +0000

Brazilian nightshade and climbing asparagus can be made into biomass pellets, scientists say, presenting an opportunity for an alternative source of energy

Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

Three major chemical companies agree to pay $875m to New Jersey over Pfas claims

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 14:32:18 +0000

Settlement follows another one reached with Ohio in 2023 for similar claims related to ‘forever chemicals’

Chemours, DuPont and Corteva have agreed to pay $875m over 25 years to the state of New Jersey to settle environmental claims including pollution linked to Pfas, or “forever chemicals”, the companies said on Monday.

Rescuers in Norway resume search for journalist missing in wilderness

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 12:55:34 +0000

Bad weather hampers search for Alec Luhn after he set out for solo hike in remote Folgefonna national park

Rescuers in Norway have continued the search for an award-winning environmental journalist who has gone missing in bad weather during a solo hike in the remote Folgefonna national park, home to one of the country’s biggest glaciers.

First-of-a-kind US class-action lawsuit would force EPA to reinstate $3bn climate program

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 11:30:01 +0000

Coalition of non-profits, tribes and local governments sued EPA chief for halting climate justice grants

The Trump administration’s decision to abruptly terminate a $3bn program helping hundreds of communities prepare for climate disasters and environmental hazards is unconstitutional and should be overturned, a court will hear on Tuesday.