Breaking Waves: Ocean News

10/18/2024 - 05:00
High blood concentrations of ‘forever chemical’ compound PFOS linked to problems falling asleep and waking up Some of the most common types of PFAS may cause sleep disorders in young adults, new research finds, and the study’s authors for the first time identified how the chemicals probably impact the brain to cause disruptions. The peer-reviewed University of Southern California (USC) study looked at PFAS levels in the blood of adults between 19 and 24 years old, and found those in the highest one-third slept an average of about 80 fewer minutes nightly than those in the lowest third. Continue reading...
10/18/2024 - 04:28
Exclusive: Data on number and nature of wildfires at odds with claims of landowner seeking to ban wild camping Wild camping is not a significant fire risk on Dartmoor, data shows, despite claims by a wealthy landowner who has been trying to ban the practice. The supreme court is deciding on a case brought by the hedge fund manager Alexander Darwall, who is seeking to remove the right to camp on Dartmoor without landowner permission. Continue reading...
10/18/2024 - 04:09
Hail swath estimated at 120 miles damages crops in western Victoria as winds break windows and rip tiles from roofs On Wednesday, the Australian state of Victoria was hit by thunderstorms. The town of Casterton was particularly badly affected, receiving 21mm of rain in just 30 minutes, followed by large hailstones. Vehicles and properties were severely damaged, with reports of broken windows and tiles blown off roofs due to strong winds. Continue reading...
10/18/2024 - 02:00
The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...
10/17/2024 - 23:00
Thinktank says government should set up arm’s-length company to buy Harland & Wolff site, which is in administration The UK government should set up an arm’s-length company to buy the Harland & Wolff naval shipyard in Belfast as part of a drive to repurpose arms manufacturing towards producing green infrastructure, according to a report. The study from the thinktank Common Wealth is launching what it describes as a “Lucas Plan for the 21st century” setting out how the UK’s military industrial capacity can be transformed into a supply pipeline for green energy, benefiting workers, communities and the environment. Continue reading...
10/17/2024 - 21:45
Scientists examining petroleum-based balls believed to have come from an oil spill off Sydney as Bondi beach reopens Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Scientists analysing the black debris that closed Sydney beaches this week believe the “tar balls” are likely from an oil spill but have not ruled out a link to a nearby sewage treatment plant. Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beaches reopened on Friday after they were closed along with several other eastern suburbs beaches when the mysterious dark spheres washed up on the sand. The balls were first spotted at Coogee beach on Tuesday afternoon. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...
10/17/2024 - 17:31
Survey of young people aged 16-25 from all US states shows concerns across political spectrum The overwhelming majority of young Americans worry about the climate crisis, and more than half say their concerns about the environment will affect where they decide to live and whether to have children, new research finds. The study comes just weeks after back-to-back hurricanes, Helene and Milton, pummeled the south-eastern US. Flooding from Helene caused more than 600 miles of destruction, from Florida’s west coast to the mountains of North Carolina, while Milton raked across the Florida peninsula less than two weeks later. Continue reading...
10/17/2024 - 10:11
Only baby formula, expressed milk and prescription medicines will be allowed with large bags also prohibited under new measures The National Gallery has announced a raft of increased security measures after protesters attacked paintings including Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, John Constable’s The Hay Wain and Diego Velázquez’s The Rokeby Venus. From Friday morning there will be a ban on bringing into the London gallery any liquids except for baby formula, expressed milk or prescription medicines. Continue reading...
10/17/2024 - 09:02
Campaigners call for tightening of measures around ‘wild’ pheasants which are not subject to rules to help control bird flu The most serious outbreak of bird flu this year has been found in a group of pheasants in England, sparking criticism of the loose restrictions around their rearing. Twenty of the non-native birds were found by the Animal and Plant Health Authority (Apha) to have been infected with the disease, which is decimating bird populations across the UK, in Worcestershire. All other reports from Apha show no more than five birds have been affected at any one location since January 2024. Continue reading...
10/17/2024 - 09:01
Spider eyes, butterfly wing scales, truffle spores and slime mould come under the spotlight in the 50th anniversary of the Nikon Small World photomicrography competition. The award celebrates photography through the light microscope, capturing the breathtaking beauty of a world hidden from the naked eye A year in focus: Walkley award photographic finalists 2024 – in pictures Continue reading...