Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Evacuations near Athens as Greece becomes focus of Europe’s wildfire crisis

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:52:53 +0000

High winds spread flames through Attica while blazes stabilise in France and Spain but risk of flare-ups remains high

Europe’s wildfire crisis fractured along starkly different fronts on Sunday: gale-force winds drove flames deeper into the Athens region and forced fresh evacuations, France guarded a still-burning scar four times the size of Paris against renewed spread, and Spain’s major fires finally stopped advancing.

‘There’s no nurdle fairy’: thousands mobilise to clean up plastic spillage in north-east England

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:00:23 +0000

Volunteers painstakingly gather plastic pellets washing up on beaches after ship collision on 19 July

“You’ve got a local community that really cares about the coastline,” said Alice Laverty, reflecting on the huge army of volunteers who had taken to crisis-hit beaches in north-east England with passion and only the most basic tools. “They’ve all got a dustpan, a brush, a bucket, a kitchen sieve.”

Struggling to get through summer? Treat yourself like a beloved dog – and six other survival tips | Emma Beddington

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:00:22 +0000

August usually sends me into an anxious funk, but I think I’ve worked out how to handle 2026’s terrifying heat and apocalyptic images

‘I have an understanding housemate’: the student who makes videos of fungus on faeces

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 08:00:15 +0000

Alfred Drummond-Herdman’s extraordinary timelapses have been viewed by millions – and led him to identify new species

Alfred Drummond-Herdman is possibly the only person in the UK who is sent animal faeces in the post out of goodwill. His bedroom in Edinburgh is full of the stuff: clothes have been removed from his wardrobe and cupboards, replaced with terrariums and plastic containers housing sections of cowpats, grouse droppings and rabbit pellets.

“I have a very understanding housemate,” he says.

‘We cannot magic up more water’: the supply problems putting housing targets in England at risk

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 06:00:14 +0000

Council leaders say crumbling infrastructure and lack of water are jeopardising government’s plans for new homes

The government’s housebuilding agenda is hitting the stark reality of a lack of water and crumbling infrastructure across the east and south-east of England.

A call to action to support and safeguard ocean defenders

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 04:00:00 +0000

npj Ocean Sustainability, Published online: 02 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44183-026-00233-x

A call to action to support and safeguard ocean defenders

Heatwave scorching western US ups risk of hazardous fire conditions

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 23:39:52 +0000

In Oregon and Washington, low humidity and powerful winds have put officials on alert for wildfire spread

A heatwave scorching the western US region has elevated the risk of hazardous fire conditions particularly in parts of Oregon and Washington, where low humidity and powerful winds have put officials on alert for wildfire spread.

The National Weather Service has forecast blistering temperatures through early next week that could climb from 110F to 120F across the south-west. In the Pacific north-west, highs reaching into the 90s are expected in the days to come.

The case for a blatantly discriminatory Australian voting system

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 20:00:03 +0000

Older Australians are overrepresented in every sphere of life, from politics to the economy and media … and they’re living longer. It’s time we stack the deck in favour of young people. Here’s how

As someone nearing 60, I can confidently say my generation, and older generations, have been very good at tilting the policy playing field in our favour. Our political and economic system is very good at prioritising the views of older people. So maybe it’s time to tilt the electoral system back in the other direction, in favour of younger voters.

Tiny aerosol particles could supercharge tropical storm clouds

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:47:07 +0000

Scientists discovered unusually high water-vapor supersaturation inside deep tropical clouds, creating conditions in which tiny aerosol particles could intensify storm updrafts. The finding suggests earlier studies may have missed the effect because they were looking in the wrong types of clouds.

Democrats’ ‘climate hushing’ prompts activists to turn up the volume

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:00:53 +0000

Nationwide actions seek to counter view that talking about climate crisis distracts from affordability messaging