Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Masses of toxic litter pours from Rhine into North Sea each year, research finds

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:00:11 +0000

Citizen scientists help in University of Bonn study showing river carries up to 4,700 tonnes of ‘macrolitter’ annually

Thousands of tonnes of litter is pouring into the North Sea via the Rhine every year, poisoning the waters with heavy metals, microplastics and other chemicals, research has found.

This litter can be detrimental to the environment and human health: tyres, for example, contain zinc and other heavy metals that can be toxic to ecosystems in high concentrations.

US national parks staff say new $100 fee for non-residents risks ‘alienating visitors for decades’

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:30:07 +0000

Advocates suing to reverse administration’s surcharge system that has led to passport checks and angry visitors

A new $100 fee for foreign tourists entering US national parks has triggered chaos and frustrating waits, with staff reporting long entry lines as citizenship checks are made and irate visitors regularly ditching plans to patronize some of America’s most cherished landscapes.

Dense, sticky and heavy: why Venezuela’s oil is valuable to Trump – video explainer

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:00:40 +0000

The Venezuelan oil industry is ‘a total bust’ according to Donald Trump, something he has promised to ‘fix’ after attacking Caracas and seizing the country’s leader. But with analysts estimating it could take up to 14 years and billions to fix, what is in it for the US president? Jillian Ambrose, the Guardian’s energy correspondent, explains why Venezuela’s dense, sticky oil is so valuable to Trump

If geoengineering is ever deployed in a climate emergency, transparency is key | Ines Camilloni

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:00:05 +0000

We must not let geoengineering be shaped behind closed doors. Climate justice demands an inclusive approach

Household burning of plastic waste in developing world is hidden health threat, study shows

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:01:04 +0000

The practice is ‘much more widespread’ than previously realised, researchers say, with serious environmental impact

The household burning of plastic for heating and cooking is widespread in developing countries, suggests a global study that raises concerns about its health and environmental impacts.

The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, surveyed more than 1,000 respondents across 26 countries.

Tunbridge Wells residents without water again as supplier blames cold weather

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:16:29 +0000

South East Water says 6,500 households have no water due to burst mains, a month after drinking water outage

Residents of Tunbridge Wells have been left without water again, just a month after a major outage.

South East Water said 6,500 households have no water at all, while thousands more have “intermittent supplies”.

Germany’s dying forests are losing their ability to absorb CO2. Can a new way of planting save them?

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:00:03 +0000

Vast swathes of the country’s trees have been killed off by droughts and infestations, in a trend sweeping across Europe. A shift towards more biodiverse cultivation could offer answers

Even the intense green of late spring cannot mask the dead trees in the Harz mountains. Standing upright across the gentle peaks in northern Germany, thousands of skeletal trunks mark the remnants of a once great spruce forest.

Germany’s dying forests are losing their ability to absorb CO2. Can a new way of planting save them?

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:00:03 +0000

Vast swathes of the country’s trees have been killed off by droughts and infestations, in a trend sweeping across Europe. A shift towards more biodiverse cultivation could offer answers

Shifting offshore sandbanks pose unique navigation hazard

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 06:00:04 +0000

Sandbanks can shift position during winter storms, but sonar mapping means charts can now be updated immediately

Supermarkets could help UK shoppers eat more sustainable local fish – study

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 06:00:03 +0000

Shift from ‘big 5’ imports to British fish such as sprats and sardines would help diets and the planet, say researchers

Supermarkets could help to support British consumers to move away from their reliance on mainly imported seafood – the “big 5” of cod, haddock, tuna, salmon and prawns – to more sustainable, nutritious and locally caught fish such as sardines and anchovies, researchers say.