Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Gardeners urged to collaborate to help moths and hover flies thrive in cities

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 05:00:48 +0000

Researchers found moths and hover flies are more negatively affected by urbanisation than bees

Gardeners have been urged to work with their neighbours to support moths and hover flies after research found them to be particularly sensitive to urban landscapes.

While bees get most of the attention when it comes to supporting pollinators in our cities, researchers found that their less glamorous – but no less important – counterparts from other orders are even more acutely affected by urbanisation.

Two ‘misleading’ heat pump adverts banned by UK watchdog

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 05:00:47 +0000

ASA says online ads from Aira and EDF Energy omitted key facts about eligibility for government grants

Two more “misleading” adverts promoting heat pumps have been banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog.

A week after the Advertising Standards Authority banned an Octopus Energy ad that claimed consumers could have a heat pump installed for as little as £500, it has taken action against adverts from the home heating supplier Aira and from EDF Energy.

Southern Water applies for permission to draw water from rare chalk stream

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 05:00:46 +0000

Environment secretary urged to stop drought order that could damage the ecology of River Test in Hampshire

Southern Water has applied for a drought order that would allow it to draw larger quantities of water than usual from an internationally prized chalk stream and rare salmon habitat.

The environment secretary, Steve Reed, has been urged to intervene and stop the water company from “significantly and potentially permanently damaging the river and the ecology within”.

Chemical pollution a threat comparable to climate change, scientists warn

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 04:00:46 +0000

More than 100 million ‘novel entity’ chemicals are in circulation, with health impact not widely recognised

Chemical pollution is “a threat to the thriving of humans and nature of a similar order as climate change” but decades behind global heating in terms of public awareness and action, a report has warned.

Best of 2025 … so far: the great abandonment: what happens to the natural world when people disappear? – podcast

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 04:00:46 +0000

Every Wednesday and Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2025, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it.

This week, from February: across the globe, vast swathes of land are being left to be reclaimed by nature. To see what could be coming, look to Bulgaria.

By Tess McClure. Read by Sara Lynam

Labor was in a climate crouch. It now has the chance to stand up to News Corp and put the national interest first | Clear Air

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 02:00:42 +0000

Australia’s political landscape is barely recognisable from four years ago. Will Labor abandon its risk-averse past and take an aggressive stance on emissions?

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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.