Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Resurrected pools, remnants of last ice age, attract wildlife in Norfolk

admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 05:00:03 +0000

Seeds can germinate having been buried in sediments of ‘ghost ponds’ for thousands of years

Ghosts of the ice age are being resurrected in Norfolk. When the ice sheets retreated at the end of the last ice age, mounds of ice called pingos remained underground until they thawed and the soil slumped, leaving behind shallow hollows that filled with water.

These turned into swampy wetland habitats rich in plants and wildlife and Breckland, in Norfolk, became pocked with hundreds of these pingo pools, although many of them were later filled in for farmland and became lost.

Wildflowers could be absorbing toxic metals that pass on to bees, study finds

admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 05:00:02 +0000

Scientists call for urban areas to be tested for contaminants and potentially cleaned before wildflowers are planted

Wildflowers could be absorbing toxic metals from soil in urban areas and passing toxins on to pollinators, a study has found.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that common plants including white clover and bindweed, which are vital forage for pollinators in cities, can accumulate arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead from contaminated soils.

Water companies’ pollution incidents in England increased by 30% in 2024

admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 04:00:02 +0000

The sector, which had been set a target to reduce spillages by 40%, needs ‘radical reform’, campaigners say

Water companies have missed their targets to reduce pollution with 2,487 incidents recorded in 2024 – twice the limit set by the Environment Agency.

Data revealed under freedom of information law shows the companies were collectively set an Environment Agency target of a 40% reduction in pollution incidents, but instead recorded a 30% increase.

Weedkiller maker moves to settle suit over Parkinson’s disease claims

admin — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 17:47:11 +0000

Syngenta has been besieged by lawsuits from people claiming its product caused the neurological condition

Besieged by thousands of lawsuits alleging that its paraquat weedkiller causes Parkinson’s disease, its manufacturer, Syngenta, has entered into an agreement aimed at settling large swaths of those claims.

Felling of ancient London oak tree by Toby Carvery owner reported to police

admin — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 16:19:49 +0000

Whitewebbs Park oak cut down by contractors working for firm that runs nearby restaurant

The sudden felling of one of the oldest and largest oak trees in London has been carried out by the company that owns a nearby Toby Carvery, as campaigners renewed calls for better protection for such nationally significant trees.

The oak in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield, was up to 500 years old, with a trunk that was more than six metres in circumference. It was listed on the Woodland Trust inventory of ancient trees, but was not the subject of a tree preservation order.

Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan could lead to major electricity shortages, analysis says

admin — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:00:49 +0000

Coalition’s proposal overestimates the reliability of Australia’s ageing coal generators, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis says

Coalition MP Colin Boyce told climate science deniers blackouts a ‘big political opportunity’

admin — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:00:49 +0000

Boyce tells Climate and Energy Realists Queensland that opposition to renewables is growing and fellow MPs should adopt a ‘do nothing strategy’

Swapping out red meat and creamy pasta sauce could significantly cut household emissions, Australian research finds

admin — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:00:44 +0000

Researchers looked at more than 25,000 everyday items available at supermarkets like Aldi, Coles, Woolworths, Harris Farm and IGA

Green groups sue Trump administration over climate webpage removals

admin — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:58:47 +0000

The White House has pulled federal webpages tracking climate and environmental justice data

Green groups have sued the Trump administration over the removal of government webpages containing federal climate and environmental justice data that they described as “tantamount to theft”.

‘Shock to the system’: farmers hit by Trump’s tariffs and cuts say they need another bailout

admin — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 12:00:41 +0000

With extreme weather and Trump’s looming trade war, US farmers are reeling and resigned to needing more cash help

Farmers across the United States say they could face financial ruin – unless there is a huge taxpayer-funded bailout to compensate for losses generated by Donald Trump’s sweeping cuts and chaotic tariffs.

Small- and medium-sized farms were already struggling amid worsening climate shocks and volatile commodities markets, on top of being squeezed by large corporations that dominate the supply chain.