Breaking Waves: Ocean News

US ports to use Covid-like tests to identify illegally trafficked seafood species

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:00:52 +0000

Devices similar to those used during pandemic to be deployed to help stamp out trade in threatened fish

Last year, a colleague of Diego Cardeñosa sent the international shark trade researcher a few pieces of shark fin taken from a bowl of soup in New York City. Using a PCR test similar to those used during the Covid-19 pandemic to test for the virus, Cardeñosa was able to identify the species behind the fin as sandbar shark, an endangered species found in tropical and warm-temperate waters.

New House Republican proposal seeks to exempt many toxic Pfas from review

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 11:00:52 +0000

Two lawmakers introduced a resolution to repeal a 2024 Biden rule that closed a ‘low volume exemption’ loophole

A new Republican plan would exempt many new toxic Pfas or “forever chemicals” from health and safety review, a move criticized by opponents because it would allow the dangerous man-made substances to be used and sold with little effective scrutiny.

Week in wildlife: a fish dinner and Galápagos wonders

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 08:23:15 +0000

The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world

Africa’s last glaciers: an expedition to map ice loss in the Rwenzori mountains – in pictures

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 06:00:45 +0000

The project in Uganda has captured the disastrous effects of the climate crisis on a vital source of water that is central to the lives and sacred beliefs of the local Bakonzo community

• Photographs by Project Pressure

Greece’s Aegean islands reel from ‘lake of mud’ flash floods before Easter rush

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:00:46 +0000

Authorities race to complete clean-up operation after devastation from gales and heaviest rainfall in 20 years

People on the Aegean islands, more used in April to the sight and scent of spring’s blossoms, have been left reeling from flash floods spurred by typhoon-strength gales, with authorities calling a state of emergency in some of Greece’s most popular destinations less than three weeks before Easter.

More than 1m cars sold in UK each year too big to fit typical parking space

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:00:44 +0000

Campaign network calls on government to prioritise smaller cars and introduce higher charges for SUV owners

More than 1m cars too big to fit in parking spaces are being sold in the UK each year, and numbers are growing, research has found.

A trend for cars bigger than the average urban parking space means new vehicles are outgrowing towns and cities.

Peta urges Gail’s Bakery to drop extra charge for plant milk

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:00:43 +0000

Animal rights charity argues surcharge of 40-60p discriminates against dairy-free customers

A leading animal rights charity has launched a campaign calling for Gail’s Bakery to drop its surcharge on plant-based milks, claiming it “unfairly discriminates” against customers with dairy intolerances or those trying to make more ethical choices.

Unanswered questions as EPA confirms debris balls on Sydney beaches likely came from sewage plants

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 02:01:05 +0000

NSW environment watchdog investigation finds debris that washed up on Sydney beaches in 2024 ‘consistent with a land-based sewage source’

Corpse flowers are threatened by spotty recordkeeping

admin — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:29:48 +0000

Plant biologists examined records for nearly 1,200 individual corpse flower plants from 111 institutions around the world. The data and records were severely lacking and not standardized. Without complete information, conservationists were unable to make informed decisions about breeding their plants. Out of the plants studied, 24% were clones and 27% were offspring from closely related individuals. Low genetic diversity could lead to further endangerment and even extinction.

‘Potentially historic’ flooding threat looms after almost 100 tornadoes hit US

admin — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:37:12 +0000

Rainfall near Memphis, Tennessee, is expected to exceed 12in over the next three days

A prolific tornado outbreak will give way to a rare and widespread flooding threat across the midwest and southern US this week, stressing the nation’s short-staffed weather forecasting and disaster response efforts.