Breaking Waves: Ocean News

03/26/2024 - 02:00
Asymptomatic cases may seem reassuring for the penguins, but scientists fear they could act as ‘Trojan horses’ for other species Adélie penguins in Antarctica are testing positive for bird flu without showing outward signs of disease, according to researchers who travelled around 13 remote breeding sites on an ice-breaking cruise ship. Since bird flu arrived in the region this year, there have been concerns about the virus reaching the Antarctic’s fragile penguin populations. In November last year, researchers warned in a pre-print research paper that if the virus caused mass mortality in these colonies, “it could signal one of the largest ecological disasters of modern times”. Continue reading...
03/25/2024 - 23:24
Bill to be introduced to parliament this week will incentivise carmakers to import cleaner vehicles Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast The Albanese government has watered down flagship new laws aimed at disincentivising the use of high-polluting cars and hastening the importation of cleaner vehicles amid pressure from the auto industry. On Tuesday the transport minister, Catherine King, and the energy minister, Chris Bowen, revealed the details of a compromise bill to be introduced to parliament this week, with the changes largely easing rules for popular large SUVs. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...
03/25/2024 - 21:25
Horse racing industry insiders said to be pushing for Sydney track to be moved to former brickpit in Olympic Park – a sanctuary for an unlikely urban survivor Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast Conservationists have expressed surprise at reported plans to move Sydney’s Rosehill racecourse to a historic brickpit at Olympic Park, which is home to a colony of endangered green and golden bell frogs. The plan has reportedly been devised by racing bosses, in response to the deal between the Australian Turf Club and the New South Wales government to redevelop the famous track into new housing, as well as two additional metro stations. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...
03/25/2024 - 16:24
When officials make tough calls on which areas to prioritize for conservation, biodiversity is often their top consideration. But there are several types of diversity, and not all of them overlap perfectly. In a new study, researchers analyzed 20-years' worth of U.S. Forest Service data and show that the simplest measure of diversity is the best predictor of healthy forest growth, providing a roadmap for quickly and efficiently protecting ecological resources.
03/25/2024 - 11:39
Government has repeatedly used figure to justify more fossil fuel developments despite climate crisis Are 200,000 jobs really supported by the oil and gas industry in the North Sea? Campaigners and MPs are questioning the longstanding government claim. Ministers have repeatedly used the 200,000 jobs figure as justification for pushing ahead with more fossil fuel developments despite the escalating climate crisis and widespread opposition from scientists and energy experts. Continue reading...
03/25/2024 - 11:09
Residents and marine officials in British Columbia hope a changing tide will save her orphaned calf A killer whale stranded off Canada’s west coast has died despite efforts to rescue her, but residents and marine officials hope a changing tide will save her orphaned calf. On Saturday, members of the Ehattisaht First Nation, a coastal community along the north-western reaches of Vancouver Island, spotted an orca trapped on a rocky outcropping. Continue reading...
03/25/2024 - 10:54
Predatory species, which poses huge danger to bee populations, spotted on 11 March, indicating winter stay Asian hornets may have become established in the UK after the earliest-ever sighting of the predatory insect was recorded by the government this month. This is a dangerous development for Britain’s bee population and could have a knock-on effect on agriculture that needs the pollinators, because once hornets are established it is almost impossible to eliminate them. Continue reading...
03/25/2024 - 10:42
Some plant species will 'win' and others will 'lose' as global warming forces them to move uphill, new research shows.
03/25/2024 - 08:00
Funding will go to recipients in more than 20 states in industrial sector, which is responsible for roughly 25% of US emissions The Biden administration announced a record $6bn in funding Monday to decarbonize US industry facilities including plants that make cement and concrete, iron and steel, and food production plants including ones which make mac and cheese, and ice cream. The industrial sector is responsible for roughly 25% of all the nation’s emissions, and has proven difficult to decarbonize due to its energy-intense, large-scale operations. Constellium in Ravenswood, West Virginia, is going to operate a first-of-its-kind zero-carbon aluminum casting plant and install low-emission furnaces that can use clean fuels such as hydrogen. The company produces aluminum for a range of products including cars and planes. Kraft Heinz will install heat pumps, electric heaters and electric boilers to decarbonize food production at 10 facilities, including in Holland, Michigan, where it makes mac and cheese. Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation in Middletown, Ohio, will retire one blast furnace, install two electric furnaces, and use hydrogen-based ironmaking technology. The project aims to eliminate 1m tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year from the largest supplier of steel to the US automotive industry. Heidelberg Materials US Inc will build a system that captures and stores carbon underground at its plant in Mitchell, Indiana. The project aims to capture at least 95% of the carbon dioxide released by the cement plant, which will prevent 2m tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year. Associated Press contributed to this report Continue reading...
03/25/2024 - 07:19
Japanese carmaker aims to take on Chinese rivals, launching 16 EVs in the next three years Business live – latest updates Nissan is planning to cut the costs of manufacturing electric vehicles by nearly a third by 2030, as it seeks to compete with Chinese rivals. It comes as the Japanese company, which sold 3.4m cars globally last year, aims to increase sales by an extra 1m by 2026. Continue reading...