Breaking Waves: Ocean News

University spinout to launch water quality app for UK and US waters

admin — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:00:22 +0000

Molendotech will collate data from daily tests that detect E coli and other bacteria amid reports of swimmers falling ill

A UK university spinout behind a rapid bacterial water testing kit is planning to launch live water quality maps, as scores of beachgoers report falling ill after swimming.

Molendotech, a spinout from the University of Plymouth, sells a portable test that detects E coli and other bacteria in water and delivers results on the spot, without waiting for days to get laboratory results.

King Charles and Prince William face £10m energy upgrade bill for estates

admin — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:00:21 +0000

New rules could affect nine in 10 rental properties in duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster and at Sandringham

King Charles and Prince William could be forced to spend up to £10m upgrading hundreds of rental properties on their private estates to meet planned energy-efficiency rules.

The government has announced that landlords will need to ensure their properties have energy performance certificate (EPC) ratings of C or higher by 2030 – up from the current requirement of an E.

Gorging on bearcam: the livestream of big beasts eating that draws millions

admin — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 06:00:18 +0000

Ahead of Fat Bear Week, avid fans are glued to the spectacle of brown bears devouring salmon at Brooks Falls in Alaska

One of this summer’s biggest onscreen hits has had big beasts, great escapes and choppy waters, but it’s not Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey – it’s a livestream of Alaskan brown bears catching salmon.

At least five people dead in Indiana amid worst flooding in over 30 years, officials say

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 23:56:33 +0000

National Weather Service reports that more than 11in of rain fell over a two-day period in some areas

At least five people are dead after devastating floods that swept through Indiana this week, officials said, as storms continued to batter the state on Saturday and first responders used boats to rescue more people from rising waters in neighborhoods along the White River in Indianapolis.

The mayor of Indianapolis, Joe Hogsett, and other state officials implored residents in areas at risk of flooding to heed any evacuation warnings at a news conference.

Royal estates rent out homes that fail to meet legal energy efficiency standards

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 16:00:01 +0000

Exclusive: More than 100 homes on King Charles and Prince William’s inherited estates have EPC ratings of F or G

• ‘It’s archaic’: the struggle to heat poorly insulated homes let by royal estates

More than 100 homes on the inherited royal estates of King Charles and Prince William fail to meet the legal minimum energy standards for landlords, the Guardian can reveal.

UK’s biggest EV battery gigafactory shelves expansion as Jaguar Land Rover talks stall

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:00:54 +0000

Chinese-owned AESC has pushed back plans in sign of slowing transition from petrol and diesel to electric cars

Andy Burnham moves to cut new EV sales targets

The UK’s biggest gigafactory has shelved plans to expand production in Sunderland because of stalled talks on a deal to supply electric car batteries to Jaguar Land Rover.

Natalya Lobanova on the positives to be gained from the UK’s latest heatwave – cartoon

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 10:00:54 +0000

First Australian death of little penguin with H5 bird flu confirmed on Phillip Island

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 07:01:50 +0000

Authorities confirm first Australian death of species found with virus near where it attracts crowds to a ‘penguin parade’

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It’s the SUV tyranny: where have all the normal family cars gone? | Coco Khan

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 07:00:50 +0000

They rule the roads and, in their wake, even old-style saloons have been supersized. It’s an illusion of consumer choice

Recently, while traipsing from showroom to showroom in search of a used car for my growing clan, the iconic line from Christopher Nolan’s seminal Batman movie The Dark Knight came to mind: “You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” And by villain, of course, I mean an SUV driver.

Burnham announces £65m for drought-hit farmers after Labour pressure

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 21:30:38 +0000

PM steps up climate response with measures including better water access and support for building farm reservoirs

Farmers must not carry the risks of the climate crisis alone, Andy Burnham has said, as he announced £65m of funding to help them manage the devastating drought.