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Breaking Waves: Ocean News
07/22/2026 - 10:34
Figures come as large parts of southern Europe endure another record-breaking period of extreme temperatures
France recorded more than 5,700 excess deaths during its June heatwave, authorities have said, as swathes of southern Europe continue to endure another record-breaking period of extreme temperatures.
The French national health agency said on Wednesday that it had recorded 5,764 excess deaths between 17 June and 2 July, an excess mortality rate of 36%.
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07/22/2026 - 10:34
Up to 25 tonnes of nurdles, the raw material for plastic manufacturing, have spread further than initially feared
Approximately a billion tiny plastic nurdles have entered the River Tyne after a “devastating spill”, with the pellets thought to have spread much further than first thought.
Nurdles, which are usually 1mm-5mm in size, act as the raw material to manufacture most plastic products.
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07/22/2026 - 10:00
Research identifies 808,585 viral genomes belonging to what scientists estimate to be 362,802 different viruses
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More than a decade after the human microbiome was comprehensively mapped, scientists have now identified the vast communities of microbes that make up the Great Barrier Reef.
Analysing DNA from seawater samples of 48 reefs, researchers have mapped the microbiome of the Great Barrier Reef, documenting more than 360,000 distinct viruses as well as more than 500 new bacterial species not previously known to science.
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07/22/2026 - 09:06
Rescuers freed trapped residents as states such as Kentucky and West Virginia face catastrophic floods and damage
A band of extreme weather that ripped through states including Kentucky and West Virginia on Tuesday night sparked devastating tornadoes and record flash flooding that left dozens of people trapped in their houses and vehicles, and injured several others.
First responders in one West Virginia county were overwhelmed by the volume of calls as waters rose to unprecedented levels, with rescuers cutting through attic roofs to free those inside. Patrick Morrisey, the governor, placed all 55 counties under a state of emergency.
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07/22/2026 - 08:00
Researchers listening off the Caribbean island of Dominica found variations in the mammals’ audible clicks when marine traffic was close
Sperm whales produce a specific pattern of clicking noises when they hear the noise of boats, researchers have found. The pattern is so distinct that the scientists who identified it said they can now use it to predict when ships are nearby.
Researchers from Project Ceti (the Cetacean Translation Initiative), a non-profit research organisation working to decode sperm whale communication, spent four years tuning in on the calls of 15 sperm whales off the coast of Dominica.
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07/22/2026 - 07:58
Former chief executive Matthew Wright and three further ex employees named in criminal proceedings by Environment Agency
The former chief executive of Southern Water is being prosecuted for conspiracy to defraud along with three other former employees, over allegations they manipulated sewage wastewater testing results to avoid tens of millions of pounds in fines.
Matthew Wright is the first water industry boss to face a criminal charge over sewage discharges. He and three others are charged with conspiracy to defraud the Environment Agency and the water regulator, Ofwat, between 2012 and 2017 by creating artificial “no-flow” events at wastewater treatment works to influence compliance checks.
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07/22/2026 - 06:48
Whales flown to US aquariums after long-running saga in which Marineland had threatened to euthanise them
Six beluga whales have at last left Marineland, the embattled Canadian marine park in Niagara Falls that previously threatened to kill its own animals, and are arriving at US aquariums this week.
While the whales’ journey into the US marks the end of their long and controversial saga of captivity in Canada, advocates say the new conditions, though superior to Marineland, could bring continued challenges.
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07/22/2026 - 05:00
The US president has been complaining about Canada’s ‘filthy, polluted and unhealthy air’. Maybe he should put all that energy into tackling the climate crisis
Right, that’s it: we’ve got to do something about Canada. The country’s wildfires, which resulted in air quality alerts across more than 20 US states, ruined my weekend. On Friday the air in Philadelphia, where I live, was so unhealthy I couldn’t go outside without my eyes stinging. My kid’s preschool cancelled outdoor time, while the city suspended trash pickup and closed public pools.
You know who did not suspend their regularly scheduled programming because of a bit of toxic smoke? The plot monitoring committee at my allotment. Despite the apocalyptic conditions, they were still busy ensuring the gardening bylaws were strictly adhered to. I realised this on Saturday when I got an official violation for too many weeds. Yes, I’d got a bit carried away with “chaos gardening” (all the rage these days) and I’d meant to clean things up on Friday, until the smoke got in the way. So, thanks for that Canada.
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07/22/2026 - 01:00
Greenpeace petitions Dutch courts to order JBS to disclose how its aims are compatible with responsibilities to climate and human rights
The world’s biggest meat company, JBS, faces a landmark legal challenge to disclose how its $6bn (£4.5bn) global expansion plan is compatible with responsibilities to the climate, nature and human rights.
Courts in the Netherlands, where JBS is headquartered, will assess the petition filed by Greenpeace for information on whether the company is compliant with Dutch laws on “duty of care” as well as its own publicly stated commitments.
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