Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Gray whales, once rare in San Francisco Bay, dying there at alarming rates

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:45:57 +0000

Researchers find increase in whale deaths in the Bay, largely because of collisions with vessels on busy shipping route

Gray whales have historically been a rare sight in the San Francisco Bay. They trek from the warm lagoons of Mexico’s Baja California over 10,000 miles north to the Arctic region to feast on shrimp-like animals during the summers, seldom stopping in the busy shipping corridor for prolonged periods.

Critical Atlantic current significantly more likely to collapse than thought

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:00:34 +0000

Scientists say finding is ‘very concerning’ as collapse would be catastrophic for Europe, Africa and the Americas

The critical Atlantic current system appears significantly more likely to collapse than previously thought after new research found that climate models predicting the biggest slowdown are the most realistic. Scientists called the new finding “very concerning” as a collapse would have catastrophic consequences for Europe, Africa and the Americas.

Over-the-counter pet flea treatments could be banned under new UK rules

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:34 +0000

Exclusive: ministers consider restricting pesticide-based treatments, which can get into waterways and harm wildlife

Pet owners across the UK could be banned from buying flea treatment for cats and dogs under new government rules.

Ministers have begun an eight-week consultation on letting only veterinary practitioners or pharmacists give out the potent, pesticide-based flea treatments, to ensure “correct usage”. At the moment, the flea and tick treatments can be bought from any pet shop.

How big oil is cashing in on Iran war - The Latest

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:37:15 +0000

The world’s top 100 oil and gas companies made more than $30m every hour in unearned profit in the first month of the US-Israeli war in Iran, according to exclusive analysis for the Guardian.

The conflict pushed the price of oil to an average of $100 a barrel in March, leading to estimated windfall war profits for the month of $23bn for the companies.

Lucy Hough speaks to Damian Carrington, the Guardian’s environment editor

Amazon enters agreements for nine Australian renewable projects to power datacentres

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:00:32 +0000

Tech company has signed on to nine deals as it aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040

Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

Ant smuggler sentenced to a year in jail by Kenyan court

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:07:33 +0000

More than 2,200 ants were found in Zhang Kequn’s luggage at Nairobi airport, with baggage destined for China

A Chinese national has been sentenced to a year in prison and fined by a Nairobi court for attempting to smuggle thousands of ants out of Kenya, a lucrative trade in east Africa that was exposed last year.

The insects are mostly destined for China, the US and Europe, where they become pets and can be worth about $100 each.

$30m an hour: big oil reaping huge war windfall from consumers, analysis finds

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:02:18 +0000

Exclusive: Climate action blockers including Saudi Arabia, Russia and major fossil fuel firms set to make extra $234bn by end of 2026

‘They want to keep denying us our rights’: workers in Vermont’s $5.4bn dairy industry fight for basic labor protections

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:00:26 +0000

Migrant labor fuels much of Vermont’s dairy industry, but workers are exempt from minimum wage rules, overtime protections and the right to unionize

Hilario’s work shift on a Vermont dairy farm began at 10.30pm when he lifted a red fleece blanket and rose from a makeshift bed next to the kitchen sink.

Sperm whales’ communication closely parallels human language, study finds

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:00:25 +0000

Analysis shows whales’ coda vocalizations are ‘highly complex’ and remarkably similar to our own

We may appear to have little in common with sperm whales – enormous, ocean-dwelling animals that last shared a common ancestor with humans more than 90 million years ago. But the whales’ vocalized communications are remarkably similar to our own, researchers have discovered.

More than half of Britain’s butterfly species in decline, monitoring scheme shows

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:01 +0000

Warmer weather has benefited some species in Britain, but others that rely on specific plants or habitats have struggled

“Insectageddon” has not occurred, but there has been a loss of butterfly diversity over the past half a century, according to the world’s largest insect monitoring scheme.

More than 44m butterfly sightings scientifically collected in Britain since 1976 show that of the 58 native species recorded, 33 species have declined and 25 have increased in number.