Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves en A manatee: Imagine eating lettuce under water | Helen Sullivan https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/manatee-imagine-eating-lettuce-under-water-helen-sullivan <p>Manatees don’t have incisors or canines, only ‘cheek teeth’. No hair, only whiskers. Algae growing on their backs. Everything is gentle</p> <p>A manatee looks like every animal I have ever tried to make with play-dough: roll a big piece into a sausage, flatten a bit on either side with your forefingers, and a bit at the end with your thumb. Hey presto. A manatee also happens to be the grey of all Play-Dough colours mixed together.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/manatee-imagine-eating-lettuce-under-water-helen-sullivan" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:00:48 +0000 admin 98817 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘No idea what he’s talking about’: Dutton’s nuclear plan could raise – not cut – electricity bills, experts warn https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/no-idea-what-he-s-talking-about-dutton-s-nuclear-plan-could-raise-not-cut-electricity- <p>Opposition leader claims a 44% cost reduction compared with Labor’s plan would be passed onto Australian household bills, but not everyone agrees</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/no-idea-what-he-s-talking-about-dutton-s-nuclear-plan-could-raise-not-cut-electricity-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:00:48 +0000 admin 98816 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Why are gen Zs deserting garden centres? Maybe they’re more into planting than shopping | Claire Ratinon https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/why-are-gen-zs-deserting-garden-centres-maybe-they-re-more-planting-shopping-claire-ra <p>They can be joyful and important social spaces, but a new generation of customers runs a mile from the shelves of plastic and chemicals</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/why-are-gen-zs-deserting-garden-centres-maybe-they-re-more-planting-shopping-claire-ra" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 13:09:31 +0000 admin 98815 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Study finds microplastic contamination in 99% of seafood samples https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/study-finds-microplastic-contamination-99-seafood-samples <p>The peer-reviewed study detected microplastics in 180 of 182 samples comprising five types of fish and pink shrimp</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jan/24/sign-up-for-the-detox-your-kitchen-newsletter-your-guide-to-avoiding-chemicals-in-your-food">Sign up for the detox your kitchen newsletter</a></li> </ul> <p>Microplastics contamination is widespread in seafood sampled in a recent study, adding to growing evidence of the dangerous substances’ ubiquity in the nation’s food system, and a growing threat to human health.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/study-finds-microplastic-contamination-99-seafood-samples" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 12:00:42 +0000 admin 98814 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org How Trump is targeting wind and solar energy – and delighting big oil https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/how-trump-targeting-wind-and-solar-energy-and-delighting-big-oil <p>Critics say Trump is using every presidential power possible against clean power in sharp turn after Biden investments created jobs</p> <p>For several years, Republicans accused Joe Biden of waging a “war on energy” even as the Untied States drilled <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/24/fossil-fuel-liquified-natural-gas-louisiana">more oil and gas than at any time in its history</a>. Now, a more tangible assault is gathering pace under Donald Trump – aimed squarely at wind, solar and other cleaner forms of power.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/how-trump-targeting-wind-and-solar-energy-and-delighting-big-oil" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 11:00:39 +0000 admin 98812 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org I always needed background noise in my life. Then I turned off my phone and embraced the silence | Krissi Driver https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/i-always-needed-background-noise-my-life-then-i-turned-my-phone-and-embraced-silence-k <p>The cacophony around me seemed to drown out my daily worries until a writing retreat showed me there was a better way </p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/i-always-needed-background-noise-my-life-then-i-turned-my-phone-and-embraced-silence-k" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 10:00:38 +0000 admin 98813 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Environmental groups in UK ‘still very white – especially at the top’ https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/environmental-groups-uk-still-very-white-especially-top <p>Greenpeace co-director responds to report finding fewer than one in 20 working in sector identifies as non-white</p> <p>Environmental organisations “are still very white, especially at the top”, the co-director of Greenpeace has said as research showed little to no improvement in the ethnic diversity of their workforces.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/environmental-groups-uk-still-very-white-especially-top" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 06:00:32 +0000 admin 98810 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Residents capture footage of severe floods in north Queensland – video https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/residents-capture-footage-severe-floods-north-queensland-video <p>Authorities say there is 'more significant rain to come' in north Queensland, amid warnings to residents not to return to flooded homes. Dams and river catchments from Mackay to Cairns remain swollen from a week of heavy rain, which has dumped more than 1.2 metres at some locations. More than 400 people – mostly in Townsville, Ingham and Cardwell – are in evacuation shelters after being advised on Sunday to flee</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/residents-capture-footage-severe-floods-north-queensland-video" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 05:24:18 +0000 admin 98811 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org A flooded quarry, a mysterious millionaire and the dream of a new Atlantis https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/flooded-quarry-mysterious-millionaire-and-dream-new-atlantis <p>An innovative mission on the Welsh border, funded by an anonymous private investor, has begun work to create a ‘permanent human settlement’ under the sea</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/flooded-quarry-mysterious-millionaire-and-dream-new-atlantis" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 05:00:31 +0000 admin 98809 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org The great abandonment: what happens to the natural world when people disappear? – podcast https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/great-abandonment-what-happens-natural-world-when-people-disappear-podcast <p>Across the globe, vast swathes of land are being left to be reclaimed by nature. To see what could be coming, look to Bulgaria. By Tess McClure. Read by Sara Lynam</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/feb/03/the-great-abandonment-what-happens-to-the-natural-world-when-people-disappear-podcast">Continue reading...</a></p> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 05:00:30 +0000 admin 98808 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org