Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/www.knowaste.com en Goblin shark with face ‘not even a mother would love’ seen alive in natural habitat for first time https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/goblin-shark-face-not-even-mother-would-love-seen-alive-natural-habitat-first-time <p>Elusive creatures have previously only been seen on fishing lines and experts know ‘virtually nothing about them’</p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>Rare and eccentric-looking goblin sharks have been seen alive in their deep ocean habitat for the first time ever.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/goblin-shark-face-not-even-mother-would-love-seen-alive-natural-habitat-first-time" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:35:24 +0000 admin 103574 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Week in wildlife: a squirrel with a splint, hungry hyenas and a great white shark https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/week-wildlife-squirrel-splint-hungry-hyenas-and-great-white-shark <p>This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2026/jun/12/week-in-wildlife-squirrel-hyenas-great-white-shark">Continue reading...</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:00:38 +0000 admin 103573 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Emergency hospital admissions fell after introduction of London’s T-charge and Ulez, study suggests https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/emergency-hospital-admissions-fell-after-introduction-london-s-t-charge-and-ulez-study <p>Imperial College scientists analysed health records before and after introduction of air pollution reduction zones</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/emergency-hospital-admissions-fell-after-introduction-london-s-t-charge-and-ulez-study" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:00:36 +0000 admin 103572 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Britain’s favourite butterfly revealed – and it’s a familiar backyard beauty https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/britain-s-favourite-butterfly-revealed-and-it-s-familiar-backyard-beauty <p>More than 20,000 votes cast in Butterfly Conservation’s poll of 60 native species to find nation’s favourite for first time</p> <p>The votes are in on Britain’s favourite butterfly, and it is one of the most ubiquitous yet spectacular backyard beauties that has flown to victory.</p> <p>With its lavender, yellow and maroon eye spots and luscious rusty red and black colouration, <a href="https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/peacock">the peacock butterfly</a> is both beautiful and commonplace, flying throughout spring, summer and autumn in all corners of the British Isles.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/britain-s-favourite-butterfly-revealed-and-it-s-familiar-backyard-beauty" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:00:36 +0000 admin 103570 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘The birds will fly away’: can Albania’s flamingo revolution keep its wetlands free from Trumps and tourists? https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/birds-will-fly-away-can-albania-s-flamingo-revolution-keep-its-wetlands-free-trumps-an <p>A luxury resort backed by the US president’s family may be built on a wildlife-rich nature reserve in one of Europe’s poorest nations</p> <p>If the real estate dreams of a billionaire political family come true, an island in one of Europe’s poorest countries will become a luxury hotel complex, sweeping up stretches of the wildlife-rich nature reserve that sits across the water.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/birds-will-fly-away-can-albania-s-flamingo-revolution-keep-its-wetlands-free-trumps-an" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:00:34 +0000 admin 103571 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Super El Niño’ is officially here, scientists say. What can we expect? https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/super-el-ni-o-officially-here-scientists-say-what-can-we-expect <p>Experts say climate pattern could supercharge extreme weather events and push temperatures to record highs</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/elnino">EL Niño</a> has officially arrived, US officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) said on Thursday, and scientists predict it <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/11/el-nino-forms-historic-strength">could be the strongest</a> of the century.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/super-el-ni-o-officially-here-scientists-say-what-can-we-expect" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:46:27 +0000 admin 103569 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Subterranean fungi networks more than 100 quadrillion km in length, study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/subterranean-fungi-networks-more-100-quadrillion-km-length-study-finds <p>First ever global mapping of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi shows scale of hyphal systems that sustain plant life</p> <p>Our planet’s soils contain enough of the subterranean fungi that sustain plant life and help regulate the climate to stretch from the Earth to the sun almost three-quarters of a billion times, a groundbreaking new study has found.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/subterranean-fungi-networks-more-100-quadrillion-km-length-study-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:00:22 +0000 admin 103568 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Scientists reveal surprising mechanism behind Venus flytrap’s rapid snap https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scientists-reveal-surprising-mechanism-behind-venus-flytrap-s-rapid-snap <p>Intricate tests show hair-trigger detection causes cells on outer surface of leaf to soften, prompting closure</p> <p>The Venus flytrap is one of nature’s most impressive predators, luring insects with the intoxicating scent of nectar before capturing them with a snap of its jaw-like leaves.</p> <p>Now, scientists have revealed the mechanism that allows the carnivorous plant to react with lightning speed, resolving a problem that stumped Charles Darwin and many researchers after him.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scientists-reveal-surprising-mechanism-behind-venus-flytrap-s-rapid-snap" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:00:22 +0000 admin 103567 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Bananas could vanish from US school meals. Here’s why https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/bananas-could-vanish-us-school-meals-here-s-why <p>New Farm Bill places caps on non-US foods; nutritionists say it restricts availability of healthy meals for kids</p> <p>School nutrition workers and advocates have “lots of concerns about bananas”, said Erin Ogden, policy associate for federal child nutrition programs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).</p> <p>Bananas are nutrient-dense foods that many children like. That makes them popular offerings in school cafeterias, since any healthy food that a kid will eat prevents waste and ensures that child isn’t eating either nothing or something less wholesome instead.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/bananas-could-vanish-us-school-meals-here-s-why" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:00:21 +0000 admin 103566 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org El Niño forms in Pacific as experts say it will likely turbocharge extreme weather https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/el-ni-o-forms-pacific-experts-say-it-will-likely-turbocharge-extreme-weather <p>Meteorologists in US predict it will be the strongest of century, while UN secretary-general calls it ‘urgent climate warning’</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/elnino">El Niño</a>, the climate phenomenon that supercharges weather around the world, has officially arrived and could intensify to historic levels in the fall, US officials said on Thursday.</p> <p>US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) forecasters confirmed the formation of El Niño in the warmer than usual Pacific Ocean near the equator, which affects global weather patterns.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/el-ni-o-forms-pacific-experts-say-it-will-likely-turbocharge-extreme-weather" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:50:55 +0000 admin 103565 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org