Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en Queensland urged to use TikTok and ‘trusted influencers’ to combat misinformation during natural disasters https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/queensland-urged-use-tiktok-and-trusted-influencers-combat-misinformation-during-natur <p>A reliance on politicians and lack of government content on TikTok during recent cyclones allowed misinformation to flourish, academic says</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/aug/24/australia-news-live-pro-palestine-marches-expected-to-attract-huge-turnout-after-declaration-of-famine-in-gaza-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/queensland-urged-use-tiktok-and-trusted-influencers-combat-misinformation-during-natur" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sun, 24 Aug 2025 00:00:15 +0000 admin 101052 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org New England states vow to fight Trump administration order to halt work on offshore wind farm that’s nearly complete https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/new-england-states-vow-fight-trump-administration-order-halt-work-offshore-wind-farm-s <p>Rhode Island and Connecticut officials say project, slated to power 350,000 homes, is essential to their climate goals</p> <p>The Democratic governors of Rhode Island and Connecticut promised on Saturday to fight a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/trump-administration">Trump administration</a> order halting work on a nearly complete wind farm off their coasts that was expected to be operational next year.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/new-england-states-vow-fight-trump-administration-order-halt-work-offshore-wind-farm-s" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 23 Aug 2025 22:46:06 +0000 admin 101051 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Australia’s amount of plastic waste surges as recycling rates fail to improve https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/australia-s-amount-plastic-waste-surges-recycling-rates-fail-improve <p>Australians produced 3.2m tonnes of plastic waste in 2023-24, up from 3m tonnes the previous year</p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>Plastics recycling rates in Australia have flatlined as the amount of waste continues to grow, the latest government data reveals.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/australia-s-amount-plastic-waste-surges-recycling-rates-fail-improve" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 23 Aug 2025 20:00:11 +0000 admin 101050 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Alaska was lucky to avoid disaster after a landslide and tsunami. What about next time? https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/alaska-was-lucky-avoid-disaster-after-landslide-and-tsunami-what-about-next-time <p>The close call in Tracy Arm 50 miles south of Juneau on 10 August is the latest sign that as glaciers melt, risks may rise</p> <p>The landslide that triggered a powerful tsunami in Alaska’s Inside Passage early on 10 August was a close call, say scientists, tour operators and agency officials, with the risk of such events apparently increasing as glaciers retreat because of climate change.</p> <p>“It’s a historic event,” said scientist Dennis Staley from the US Geological Survey of the slide, which occurred in the Tracy Arm fjord 50 miles (80km) south of Juneau.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/alaska-was-lucky-avoid-disaster-after-landslide-and-tsunami-what-about-next-time" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 23 Aug 2025 15:00:05 +0000 admin 101049 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘We want builders on site, not filling in forms’: Albanese government cuts red tape in bid to boost home building https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/we-want-builders-site-not-filling-forms-albanese-government-cuts-red-tape-bid-boost-ho <p>Pausing changes to Construction Code, establishment of ‘strike team’ within environment department and use of AI in planning among reforms</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/aug/24/australia-news-live-pro-palestine-marches-expected-to-attract-huge-turnout-after-declaration-of-famine-in-gaza-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/we-want-builders-site-not-filling-forms-albanese-government-cuts-red-tape-bid-boost-ho" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 23 Aug 2025 12:30:01 +0000 admin 101048 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Alarming levels of Pfas in blood of those living near US air force base, study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/alarming-levels-pfas-blood-those-living-near-us-air-force-base-study-finds <p>Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ were found at a level 10 times higher than people who did not work in contaminated zone</p> <p>New research shows alarming levels of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/pfas">Pfas</a> in the blood of people living or working near a US air force base responsible for polluting drinking water with high levels of the dangerous “forever chemicals”, a new <a href="https://www.env.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-08-12-NMED-NM-PBT-Project-Report-Final-2.pdf">state regulatory report</a> has found.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/alarming-levels-pfas-blood-those-living-near-us-air-force-base-study-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 23 Aug 2025 12:00:01 +0000 admin 101046 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Do heatwaves, wildfires and travel costs signal the end of the holiday abroad? https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/do-heatwaves-wildfires-and-travel-costs-signal-end-holiday-abroad <p>Leading researcher forecasts ‘beginning of the age of non-tourism’ despite industry returning to pre-pandemic highs</p> <p>It was a prediction nobody wanted to hear. On the main stage of the world’s biggest tourism fair, Stefan Gössling, a leading researcher in sustainable transport, had just calmly announced the looming death of the holiday industry.</p> <p>“We have already entered the beginning of the age of non-tourism,” said Gössling, to an uneasy audience of travel agencies, car rental companies, cruise operators and hoteliers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/do-heatwaves-wildfires-and-travel-costs-signal-end-holiday-abroad" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 23 Aug 2025 11:00:05 +0000 admin 101047 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Madeline Horwath on how to block out bad news – cartoon https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/madeline-horwath-how-block-out-bad-news-cartoon <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2025/aug/23/madeline-horwath-block-out-bad-news-cartoon">Continue reading...</a></p> Sat, 23 Aug 2025 10:00:05 +0000 admin 101045 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Most of Earth’s species came from explosive bursts of evolution https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/most-earth-s-species-came-explosive-bursts-evolution <p>A new study reveals that the majority of Earth’s species stem from a few evolutionary explosions, where new traits or habitats sparked rapid diversification. From flowers to birds, these bursts explain most of the planet’s biodiversity.</p> Sat, 23 Aug 2025 09:33:02 +0000 admin 101044 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org August rain records smashed across NSW as thunderstorms and more rain loom in final week https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/august-rain-records-smashed-across-nsw-thunderstorms-and-more-rain-loom-final-week <p>More than 20 places across New South Wales have already surpassed their highest August rain on record</p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>More than 20 places across New South Wales have already surpassed their highest August rain on record, with more than a week left of the month to go.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/august-rain-records-smashed-across-nsw-thunderstorms-and-more-rain-loom-final-week" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 23 Aug 2025 02:49:10 +0000 admin 101043 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org