Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Microplastics can block blood vessels in mice brains, researchers find

admin — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 11:00:55 +0000

Scientists observe decreased motor function in rodents exposed to microplastics

Microplastics can move through mice brains and block blood vessels, essentially mimicking blood clots that could potentially be fatal or otherwise disrupt brain function.

EV drivers spend extra £85m on VAT when using public chargers

admin — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 07:00:12 +0000

Industry says ‘pavement tax’ due to disparity in VAT rates is holding back transition away from fossil fuels

Electric vehicle drivers will spend an extra £85m on UK tax when using public car chargers this year because of a disparity in VAT rates that the industry has said is holding back the transition away from fossil fuels.

Shot, poisoned and beaten to death: why leopard killings are soaring in Pakistan

admin — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 07:00:12 +0000

A wave of incidents threatens the survival of the species in the country, say conservationists

Inside the Pakistan Museum of Natural History, in Islamabad, two taxidermists work on a leopard skin. They scrape away at the remaining flesh and sprinkle the underside with boric acid powder. It’s difficult to look away from the two holes where the leopard’s eyes should be.

It’s straight from the Trump playbook: Labour is tearing up the machinery of government | George Monbiot

admin — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 06:00:09 +0000

If Starmer and Reeves really want a greener, cleaner, wilder nation, then why attack vital state bodies that are already on their knees?

This might sound astonishing, but the UK government’s core programme now appears to be the same as Donald Trump’s: dismantling the administrative state. There’s less theatre, but the results could prove harder to contest. Absurd? Consider the evidence.

Trump signs order to bring back plastic straws claiming paper ones ‘explode’

admin — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 02:47:54 +0000

Order rolls back Biden policy to phase out federal purchases of single-use plastic as Trump calls it a ‘ridiculous situation’

On Monday, Donald Trump took aim at a “ridiculous situation” that directly affects his daily life: paper straws.

He signed an executive order that rolls back a Biden administration policy to phase out federal purchases of single-use plastics, including straws, from food service operations, events and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035.

Drax is the subsidy show that goes on and on | Nils Pratley

admin — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 18:33:30 +0000

Government cranks handle again for group owning Yorkshire power plant because cheaper generating capacity not in place

Farmers ‘very worried’ as US pesticide firms push to bar cancer diagnoses lawsuits

admin — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 17:00:53 +0000

Pesticide-backed proposed law that opponents call ‘Cancer Gag Act’ pits Iowa farm groups against each other

Pesticide company efforts to push through laws that could block litigation against them is igniting battles in several US farm states and pitting some farm groups against each other.

Laws have been introduced in at least eight states so far and drafts are circulating in more than 20 states, backed by a deluge of advertising supporting the measures.

UK used electric vehicle sales hit record last year as prices fell

admin — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:19:21 +0000

Secondhand market thrived as sales of new EVs also reached highest levels to date, SMMT trade body says

Business live – latest updates

A record number of used electric vehicles (EVs) were sold in the UK last year, as prices eased and the choice of cars widened, according to industry data.

US-funded ‘social network’ attacking pesticide critics shuts down after Guardian investigation

admin — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:00:33 +0000

v-Fluence halts operations after widespread backlash over private portal profiling environmental health advocates

A US company that was secretly profiling hundreds of food and environmental health advocates in a private web portal has said it has halted the operations in the face of widespread backlash, after its actions were revealed by the Guardian and other reporting partners.

K’gari at risk of being ‘destroyed’ by overtourism, world heritage advisory committee warns

admin — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 14:00:35 +0000

Exclusive: The new Queensland government reversed Labor’s decision to set limits on visitor numbers