Microplastics gush out of taps and flake off cookware. They sneak into eggs, meat, and vegetables. But there are ways to reduce them. You cannot see them, but they are there. Hundreds of tiny particles hide in your steak. As the meat sizzles in the pan, these fragments liquify. They sink deep into the fibers before cooling into solids on the plate. And steak is not alone. You eat microplastics every single day. These intruders are microplastics and nanoplastics, particles smaller than five millimeters or between one and 1,000 nanometers. The question is: how do they enter our food, and…
Author: Grace Johnson
Grace Johnson
Grace Johnson is a freelance journalist from the USA with over 15 years of experience reporting on Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. She earned her degree in Communication and Journalism from the University of Miami. Throughout her career, she has contributed to major outlets including The Miami Herald, CNN, and USA Today. Known for her clear and engaging reporting, Grace delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers informed on both national and global developments.
Thousands of people evacuated in the Philippines as super typhoon Ragasa made landfall in the northern region. Authorities described the storm as potentially catastrophic. Ragasa strikes northern Cagayan province Super typhoon Ragasa brought wind gusts of 230km/h (143mph) when it hit Panuitan Island in Cagayan province at 15:00 local time (08:00 GMT) on Monday. The Philippine weather agency said the storm would continue west toward southern China. Authorities warned of a high risk of life-threatening storm surges, with waves exceeding three meters (10ft). They also predicted widespread flooding, landslides, and severe damage to homes and infrastructure. Schools and government offices…
Animal welfare activists in India mourn the death of Shankar, a much-loved elephant they long sought to rehabilitate. Shankar, Delhi zoo’s only African elephant, refused food on Wednesday and collapsed by evening. Veterinarians tried to save him, but the 29-year-old male died within 40 minutes, officials said. For 24 years, Shankar endured a lonely existence, including at least 13 years in solitary confinement. The cause of death remains unknown. “Investigation regarding the cause of death has been ordered,” zoo director Sanjeet Kumar said. A Gift That Became a Tragedy Shankar arrived in India in 1998 as a diplomatic gift from…
A landmark global agreement designed to protect the world’s oceans and reverse marine damage will soon become international law. The High Seas Treaty reached its 60th ratification when Morocco approved it on Friday. The agreement will take effect in January. The deal, two decades in the making, will allow international waters to be designated as marine protected areas. Environmentalists called the milestone a “monumental achievement” and proof that countries can unite for environmental protection. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the agreement covers more than two-thirds of the ocean and sets binding rules to conserve marine biodiversity sustainably. Oceans under…
Scotland’s towns and cities need 2.5 million more trees to create “tree equality,” according to the Woodland Trust. The conservation charity has developed a ‘tree equity score’ for every neighbourhood to help rebalance urban canopy cover. Experts say trees improve mood, clean the air, and make areas more attractive, yet many deprived communities have very few. Mapping reveals areas with few trees The Woodland Trust has mapped over 40,000 hectares in Scotland that combine high social deprivation with low tree numbers. These areas, home to about 1.5 million people, will now be prioritised for planting. Greenock Waterfront, Helen Street in…
Lightning sparks chaos in Porto de Sanabria José Antonio Bruña, a honey producer, stands on a hillside near Porto de Sanabria, where he keeps his beehives. He points to a spot on the opposite mountain where lightning struck weeks earlier, igniting a wildfire with disastrous effects. “This August has been a nightmare for me and for local farmers,” he says. “I’m 47, and I’ve never seen a fire that fierce.” The fire consumed over 20,000 hectares of land and forced thousands of villagers to evacuate in north-western Spain, near the Portuguese border. It was one of many blazes that destroyed…
Fields of Struggle The wheat fields outside Seqalbia, near Hama, should be golden and heavy with grain. Instead, Maher Haddad’s 40 dunums (10 acres) remain dry and empty, yielding barely a third of their usual harvest. “This year was disastrous due to drought,” said the 46-year-old farmer, surveying the land that cost more to sow than it produced. His fields delivered only 190kg (418 lbs) of wheat per dunum, far below the 400–500kg he expects in a normal year. “We haven’t recovered what we spent on agriculture. We’ve lost money. I can’t finance next year and I can’t cover the…
The most remote inhabited island races to protect its seas – and its only source of income. Dawn on the fishing grounds At 05:00 local time, the clang of a hammer on an old oxygen cylinder wakes the island. It signals fishing day on Tristan da Cunha, a tiny speck in the South Atlantic with just over 200 residents. Beyond this UK Overseas Territory, the nearest inhabited settlement lies more than 2,400 km away. As the sound fades, dogs bark, engines roar, and rubber boots scrape across the ground. Fishermen head to Callshot Harbor, known locally as “the Beach,” to…
Flax once defined Northern Ireland through its thriving linen industry. Changing consumer habits in the mid-20th century caused its steep decline. Now, the plant is returning as a tool to restore soil health and decarbonise manufacturing. It may also offer smaller farms a chance to diversify as demand grows for sustainable fibres. Farmers rediscover an old crop Helen Keys and her husband, sculptor Charlie Mallon, started growing flax when they couldn’t source Irish linen bags for Charlie’s artwork. The crop had once been grown on Charlie’s family farm in County Tyrone. Helen quickly realised the plant’s wide potential. “There is…
The Belfast Hills Partnership (BHP) marked its 20th anniversary with nearly £1m in recovery funding.The support comes from the Nature Recovery Challenge and strengthens conservation work across Northern Ireland. Strong investment for projects across the region Two BHP projects join nine others in sharing more than £3.2m from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.The money will be distributed over three years.Northern Ireland struggles with biodiversity loss, as 12% of its species face extinction.Dr Lizzy Pinkerton from BHP called the award a “wonderful opportunity” to expand existing efforts.She highlighted the importance of relationships with communities, sectors, and landowners on…