Breaking Waves: Ocean News

President declares energy emergency, reiterates Paris withdrawal plan and overturns emissions standards Donald Trump inauguration – live updates Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency on the first day of his new presidency, as part of a barrage of pro-fossil fuel actions and efforts to “unleash” already booming US energy production that included also rolling back restrictions in drilling in Alaska and undoing a pause on gas exports. The emergency declaration, which made good on a campaign-trail promise but could be open to legal challenge, would allow his administration to fast-track permits for new fossil fuel infrastructure. Trump sworn in as 47th president – follow live inauguration updates Factchecking Trump’s speech A who’s who of far-right leaders in Washington Migrant groups at US-Mexico border await mass deportations ‘Doge’ violates federal transparency rules, lawsuit claims Continue reading...

These ibises have a special skill called ‘remote touch’, which they use to find their worm, grub and snail prey through vibrations Hadedas are iridescent grey-brown ibises – jack russell-sized birds with long, curved bills and very small heads – found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They have a special skill called “remote touch”, which they use to find their worm, grub and snail prey. At the tip of their bills is an organ that, when they stick it into the soil, can sense the vibrations of their food nearby. Continue reading...

Altadena’s Village Playgarden education center served diverse families with outdoor classrooms, small farm and animals – till it was destroyed by flames In Altadena, it had become the hot ticket among the preschool set. But when Geoff and Kikanza Ramsey-Ray first bought the two-acre property at the edge of town in 2008, it was a shambles. The home was a rental for over 30 years and the grounds were woefully neglected. Yet the couple saw promise. Nestled against Angeles Crest national forest, with a mountain view and on a road with few other homes, the place felt protected and perfect for their vision: an early education center called Village Playgarden. Continue reading...

Even average use of nitrogen fertilisers cut flower numbers fivefold and halved pollinating insects Using high levels of common fertilisers on grassland halves pollinator numbers and drastically reduces the number of flowers, research from the world’s longest-running ecological experiment has found. Increasing the amount of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus doused on agricultural grassland reduced flower numbers fivefold and halved the number of pollinating insects, according to the paper by the University of Sussex and Rothamsted Research. Continue reading...