Some scientists want to stop naming new species after public figures, especially as it can threaten an animal's survival, but others say it can be a helpful conservation toolWhen Lady Gaga held a Q&A on Reddit for a 2014 album release, there was one question that took the botany world by storm: what's it like to have a genus of ferns named after you? Pretty cool," she responded, especially since it's an asexual fern."The 19 fern species of the Gaga genus are found from Bolivia to the south-west US, and were named after the singer partly for their G-A-G-A genetic sequence. All sexless, judgeless," she added. How I wish to be." Continue reading...

A team of scientists are trying to find the cause of what is becoming an increasingly common event - and the answer may be hidden deep in the whales' skullsA mass stranding last week that led to the deaths of 77 pilot whales on the Orkney island of Sanday was the largest ever recorded of the species on British shores. Initially, 12 of the animals at Tresness beach were still alive - but sadly did not survive.The event occurred almost exactly a year after the stranding of 55 pilot whales on Tolsta beach on the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides on 16 July 2023. All but one of those whales died. According to Dr Andrew Brownlow, director of the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) at Glasgow University, this may not be a coincidence. Continue reading...

A sustainable project aims to repurpose encroacher bush to create building blocks to solve Namibia's housing crisisPeople think the house would smell because the blocks are made of all-natural products, but it doesn't smell," says Kristine Haukongo. Sometimes, there is a small touch of wood, but otherwise it's completely odourless."Haukongo is the senior cultivator at the research group MycoHab and her job is pretty unusual. She grows oyster mushrooms on chopped-down invasive weeds before the waste is turned into large, solid brown slabs - mycoblocks - that will be used, it's hoped, to build Namibian homes. Continue reading...

Scientists say government's approach to emissions cutting is high risk' and reliant on immature technologies'New Zealand's ambitious plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050 is at risk of being derailed, as the government backslides on climate policies, new figures show.In 2019, the Labour government passed landmark climate legislation, committing the nation to reducing its carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 and meeting its commitments under the Paris climate accords. It requires future governments to detail how New Zealand will meet its greenhouse gas targets on the way to a carbon-neutral future. Continue reading...

Snakebites, the deadliest of neglected tropical diseases', often impact rural communities the most but a new study offers hope

Fourteen attorneys general petition federal emergency officials as millions in US under excessive heat advisoriesFourteen state attorneys general are urging the federal government to declare extreme heat and wildfire smoke major disasters. The petition comes as millions of people in the south and north-east face excessive heat advisories, and large swaths of the western US and Canada battle ongoing wildfires.The likelihood of high-severity extreme heat and wildfire smoke events is increasing due in part to climate change," wrote the Arizona attorney general, Kris Mayes, in a letter submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday. We urge Fema to update its regulations to prepare for this hotter, smokier future." Continue reading...

Three restaurant owners share their experiences feeding people - and leveraging their positions to tell humanizing storiesAs some of the most visible Palestinian establishments in American cultural life, Palestinian restaurants have found themselves thrust into the spotlight in a new way over the last nine months of Israel's bombardment of Gaza.Some have rejoiced at finally being able to list themselves on Google as Palestinian, as opposed to the more vague Middle Eastern or Mediterranean, and found a new customer base in the form of people looking to demonstrate their solidarity. Others have found themselves suddenly flooded with one-star reviews designed to tank their online rankings, been robbed, or even received death threats for putting their Palestinian identities on display. Continue reading...

Illuminated signs have increased nocturnal artificial light and are detrimental to the city's liveability and sustainability, a review has found

There are fewer than 400 of critically endangered species left and sighting gives glimmer of hope'A critically endangered North Atlantic right whale has been spotted off the coast of Ireland for the first time in more than a century.Holidaymaker Adrian Maguire, from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, glimpsed the large, dark body of the whale on the surface of the water while out fishing for mackerel. Continue reading...

Energy giant promised to turn 1m tonnes of plastic waste into oil each year, but now says goal is unfeasibleThe energy giant Shell has quietly backed away from a pledge to rapidly increase its use of advanced recycling", a practice oil and petrochemical producers have promoted as a solution to the plastics pollution crisis.Advanced" or chemical" recycling involves breaking down plastic polymers into tiny molecules that can be made into synthetic fuels or new plastics. The most common form, pyrolysis, does so using heat. Continue reading...

Anne Hidalgo fulfils pledge after cleanup operation makes water quality safe enough to host events at GamesIt has been the dream and promise of Paris mayors for decades and a nightmare for Olympic organisers: could the Seine be cleaned up enough to swim in and hold triathlon and other events?For the last 100 years and up until a few days ago, the answer seemed to be no. Continue reading...

Labour government recognises urgency of climate challenge' but presents measures as way to also cut cost of living

Natalie Anastasia Davies to create works inspired by the mysterious rock formations' at North Yorkshire siteBrimham Rocks in North Yorkshire has its first writer in residence, who has been recruited by the National Trust to create works inspired by the mysterious and awe-inspiring rock formations".Natalie Anastasia Davies, who is Yorkshire-born and of Grenadian descent, will in her new role explore themes of cultural identity and the climate crisis, as well as connection and memory. Continue reading...

Footage shows severe flooding across Toronto after the Canadian city was hit by three big storms in recent days. The Canadian rapper Drake shared a video on Instagram appearing to show parts of his home submerged in flood water. Authorities say the storm left 167,000 people without power and several flights were delayed or cancelled. At least 14 people were rescued Continue reading...

World's oldest known open caves now impossible to access, as only remaining road shuts down for repairs for 18 months

Campaigners are concerned at how the tourist treat could affect the species, and how it could become an event like whale watching or shark divingA tall, slim fin slashes the Mediterranean's surface for a split second and the bait fish is gone, provoking a few gasps and some nervous laughs from the 40 or so snorkellers lined up to enter the open-water pen.Most wear wetsuits and clutch masks and air tubes, a few are in swim shorts and goggles. Some have already had a beer or a glass of wine. The midday sun is out, The Trammps' Disco Inferno is playing from the catamaran's speakers and now people are climbing down a stepladder into a ring of netting that stretches 35 metres down into the sea near the Spanish port of L'Ametlla de Mar, about 80 miles from Barcelona. Continue reading...

A fox in the sun, fireflies and a brush fire, and trees blanketed with butterflies are among the striking images caught by winners of the California Academy of Sciences' annual contest. Now in its 11th year, it highlights biodiversity and the many threats our planet faces Continue reading...

Researchers from California Polytechnic State University have set up a webcam to observe a 'mega den' of as many as 2,000 rattlesnakes. Emily Taylor, the Cal Poly biology professor leading the Project RattleCam research, says the exact location in Colorado is being kept secret to keep snake lovers - or haters - away Continue reading...

Nashville and surrounding areas have been hit by severe storms and flooding, overwhelming city's infrastructureResidents in Nashville, Illinois, are evacuating their homes after emergency management officials warned the failure of the city's dam was imminent".Nashville, a small city in Illinois with a population of nearly 3,000 people, and surrounding areas have been hit with severe storms which have caused flooding, overwhelming the city's infrastructure. More than 5in of rain fell in the region within six hours on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Half of Americans live in states without rules restricting disconnections for unpaid or overdue bills, report findsMillions of low-income households are at risk of having their power disconnected this summer, exacerbating the risk of deadly heat as the climate crisis drives up temperatures.A new report by the Centre for Energy Poverty and Climate (EPC) and the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (Neada) found that almost half of Americans live in states without rules restricting disconnections for unpaid or overdue energy bills during potentially deadly heatwaves, forcing some low-income families to choose between cooling their homes and paying rent. Continue reading...

Government will also overhaul state laws after Guardian Australia uncovered serious problems with biodiversity offsets scheme

Authorities asked residents of small, rural community to leave, nearly a year after deadliest US wildfire struck in MauiFirefighters have contained a wind-swept wildfire that was threatening about 200 homes on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, nearly a year after an explosive blaze killed more than a hundred people on nearby Maui.Residents of about 200 homes in a small, rural community on Kauai were told to evacuate on Monday, as firefighters worked to stop the spread of a fire between Hanapepe and Kaumakani. Continue reading...

Award for Lawrence Gosden comes after criticism of business plan and attempts to increase bills by 73%

Company insists project should go ahead despite new government saying it had been unlawfully approvedThe company behind the first new coalmine in the UK for 30 years has argued in the high court on Tuesday that it would be a unique net zero" mine.West Cumbria Mining (WCM) continued to defend the legality of its mine, which will produce 60m tonnes of coking coal in its lifetime, in the court days after the government said its planning permission was unlawful because it had not taken into account downstream emissions from using the coal. Continue reading...

Vance's record shows pattern of prioritizing fossil fuel interests' over the climate crisis, environmentalist saysJD Vance's close ties to the fossil fuels industry and eagerness to please Donald Trump pose a major threat to Americans and the planet, environmental advocates have warned.The Republican nominee for vice-president, a wealthy venture capitalist who was elected to the US Senate in 2022, went from voicing concern about the climate crisis before running for political office to voting to roll back environmental protections and to repeal landmark climate legislation boosting renewables and electric vehicles. Continue reading...

New peak may be challenged as early as Tuesday evening as mid-winter bites in Melbourne

This blog is now closed.

From sea carrots' to the rubbery luga, Rodolfo Guzman is on a mission to transform seaweed's unique salty flavours into irresistible bitesRodolfo Guzman produces a carrot-shaped pod of algae from one of the packed shelves in his test kitchen in the Chilean capital, Santiago: Put it on your tongue for five seconds," he instructs. An explosion of salty flavour ensues.Imagine getting more kids to eat stuff like this!" he says, eagerly. Instead of processed snacks like Pringles, they could eat something healthy and delicious from the sea." Continue reading...

Scientists believe the world's rarest whale may have washed up on a New Zealand beach. Spade-toothed beaked whales have never been seen alive; beaked whales are believed to be exceptionally deep divers, spending their time far below the surface hunting squid and small fish. The specimen has been transported to cold storage and is awaiting examination. If confirmed to be a spade-tooth whale, it will be the first ever to be dissected by scientists. Continue reading...

Thirty-year-old airlifted from fishing vessel after coming into contact with venomous reptileA man is recovering after being bitten by a sea snake on a fishing vessel off the coast of the Northern Territory.The man, a fishing crew member in his 30s, was bitten on Monday morning while aboard the vessel in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, near the border of the NT and Western Australia.Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...

Conservationists link previous fishing trips to a population crash in stocks of extraordinary species

When I was in school, for a few weeks every year, caterpillars were the most exciting thing happening

Nearly 300,000 residents without electricity as governor gives company until end of month to address outagesPower outages persist in Houston, Texas, after Hurricane Beryl tore through the area last week leavings hundreds of thousands of residents without electricity in the middle of a brutal heatwave.Nearly 300,000 customers have now gone almost a week without electricity and air conditioning during excessive heat where temperatures are reaching 94F (34C). Continue reading...

The hikers were a father and daughter lost in Canyonlands and a woman who passed out at Snow Canyon state parkThree hikers died over the weekend in suspected heat-related cases at state and national parks in Utah, including a father and daughter who got lost on a strenuous hike in Canyonlands national park in triple-digit temperatures.The daughter, 23, and her father, 52, sent a 911 text alerting dispatchers that they were lost and had run out of water while hiking the 8.1-mile (13km) Syncline Loop, described by the National Park Service as the most challenging trail in the Island in the Sky district of the south-east Utah park. Continue reading...

Figure represents 64-66% of global output of tetrafluoromethane and hexafluoroethane, MIT study findsEmissions of two of the most potent greenhouse gases have substantially increased in China over the last decade, a study has found.Perfluorocarbons are used in the manufacturing processes for flat-panel TVs and semiconductors, or as by-products from aluminium smelting. They are far more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2, and can persist in the Earth's atmosphere for thousands of years, unlike CO2 which can persist for up to 200 years. Continue reading...

Winds blow particulates from drying lake into minority neighborhoods, exposing people to harmful particulatesToxic dust storms from the dried, exposed Great Salt Lake bed disproportionately poisons the air in Utah neighborhoods with higher levels of Hispanic and Pacific Islander populations, new research finds.The disparity between their average exposure and those of white populations will grow as the lake dries further. Continue reading...

Lending puts banks in complete violation' of commitments to Paris agreement, climate group says, even as overall funding to sector ebbs

Blazing temperatures force people to find new ways to keep their pets safe, cool and occupied: They sit, pee and go home'Heat-resistant bootees, frozen bananas and pet sunscreen - it takes a lot to keep dogs safe during a nationwide heatwave. As pet owners across the US try to keep cool themselves, they're changing dog-walking habits to accommodate boiling sidewalks or scorching parks, relying on indoor pet games to relish air conditioning, and embracing what has become a new normal for the dog days of summer, as extreme heat becomes an increasingly common reality.Julie Nashawaty, a professional dog walker who lives in Boston, says her various trips to take pups out around the city have become shorter, as the temperatures reached 90 to 100 degrees this week. These are really quick breaks, quick walks," she said. They sit in the shade under the tree, pee, and then it's straight back home, where sometimes I'll even put a cooling blanket on them." She also puts little boots on dogs' paws, so their bare feet don't have to touch blazing concrete. Continue reading...

Electric vehicle industry says spring data shows installations are keeping pace with rising battery salesThere are now almost 1m electric car chargers in the UK, according to data, a figure that the industry argues is proof that installations are keeping pace with increasing sales of battery vehicles.There were 930,000 UK chargers at the end of June, according to ChargeUK, a lobby group, but the majority of these have been installed in homes and business premises, with only about 65,000 public chargers available. Continue reading...

ICO calls on companies to be as transparent as possible with customers about waste release into rivers

Senior climate figures welcome move after Conservative government largely left the role to junior ministersEd Miliband is to take personal control of the UK's negotiations at vital international climate talks, in stark contrast to his Tory predecessors.The energy security and net zero secretary will attend Cop29, this year's UN climate summit, in Azerbaijan this November to head the UK's delegation and meet political leaders from around the world. Continue reading...

Bill praised for targeting corporate climate responsibility but lawyers say it could allow polluters to avoid public scrutiny for longer

Over 245 million Americans are expected to experience 90F temperatures early this week, with some as high as 105FA heatwave that impacted the US west coast over the past week is now moving east into the midwest and south-east, as millions of Americans have been under a heat alert at some point in the past week.Numerous near record-tying/breaking high temperatures are possible over the central High Plains and Southeast Sunday, and along much of the East Coast by Monday," reported the National Weather Service. Continue reading...

From Marine Tondelier to Melanie Vogel, they are whip-smart, articulate and unafraid to show emotion. It's astonishing to feel so inspired by politiciansI really like these angry green women," a French friend said recently, as the assembly elections approached. It's a funny phrase, redolent of She-Hulk, but I knew exactly what - and whom - she meant.It's impossible to overstate my crush on Marine Tondelier, the French Green party leader. Tondelier has been a revelation in the past few feverish, fretful weeks; she has cut through French politics like a hot knife through butter. Forensically, forcefully articulate and unafraid to show her emotions, she iscash", as the French say - frank, funny and down-to-earth. Continue reading...

Campaigners warn of same tragic events' as in River Wye if planners ignore pollution risks of intensive productionThe chicken industry is facing calls to halt the expansion of intensive production in the River Severn catchment, with campaigners warning that the river is at risk from the same pollution that has blighted the River Wye.An outcry over the ecological plight of the Wye has effectively halted the proliferation of intensive poultry units across the catchment. Campaigners say that the pollution threat is being transported from one catchment to the other". Continue reading...

Letter urges environment minister to investigate alleged breaches at Doongmabulla Springs

Ed Miliband sets new rules on solar panels and approves three giant solar farms as Labour seeks to end years of Tory inactionKeir Starmer's Labour government unveils plans for a rooftop revolution" today that will see millions more homes fitted with solar panels in order to bring down domestic energy bills and tackle the climate crisis.The energy secretary, Ed Miliband, also took the hugely controversial decision this weekend to approve three massive solar farms in the east of England that had been blocked by Tory ministers. Continue reading...

Johannes-Harm Hovinga has to take painkillers to complete 20-day artistic protest at Museum ArnhemEvery day for the last two weeks, Johannes-Harm Hovinga has sat at a raised table in Museum Arnhem, using a two-hole page puncher to systematically perforate the 7,705-page sixth assessment report produced by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).He has printed it out on coloured paper and the result is a vibrant heap piling up at the artist's feet. Continue reading...

Experts say devastating hurricane so early in season is big wake-up call' - and predict even more powerful stormsThe poignancy was unmistakable: prognosticators at Colorado State University amended their already miserable seasonal tropical cyclone forecast on Monday precisely as Hurricane Beryl was filling Houston's streets with floodwater and knocking out power to more than 2m homes and businesses.A likely harbinger of a hyperactive season" was how CSU researchers characterized Beryl, which set numerous records on the way to its Texas landfall, including the earliest category 5 hurricane, strongest ever June storm, and most powerful to strike the southern Windward Islands. Continue reading...

Southern Water says it wants to protect rare chalk streams, but campaigners say it could pollute the SolentA proposed 1.2bn scheme to recycle effluent from the sewage system and turn it in to drinking water has been criticised as a threat to the environment and a potential costly white elephant".Southern Water wants to treat effluent - wastewater from the sewage system - at a plant at Havant in Hampshire and pipe it into a nearby spring-fed reservoir to boost water supplies during droughts. The scheme would ensure less water is extracted from two rare chalk streams: the Rivers Test and Itchen. Continue reading...