Author: Grace Johnson

Devendra worked as a farmer in India and still remembers the moment of the bite. A snake sank its fangs into his leg while he picked mulberry leaves. He went to a hospital four days later when the pain became unbearable. The delay cost him his leg, he says in a short film by the Global Snakebite Taskforce. The initiative works to reduce deaths and injuries from snakebites. Devendra survived, but many others do not. The federal government reports around 50,000 snakebite deaths each year. That figure represents roughly half of global deaths. Other estimates suggest even higher numbers. Between…

Once feared as a symbol of bad luck, India’s endangered hargila stork now has devoted protectors. Thanks to local women, its population is slowly rebounding. Witnessing Devastation on the Brahmaputra On a sweltering January afternoon in 2007, biologist Purnima Devi Barman arrived in Dadara village along Assam’s Brahmaputra River. Surrounding her were emerald wetlands and tropical forests, yet all she saw was destruction. Villagers had cut down a towering kadamba tree, scattering leaves, twigs, and nesting material across the ground. Among the debris lay dead greater adjutant storks, some of Assam’s most distinctive and endangered birds. A few chicks survived,…

Unexpected resilience in the Arctic Scientists expected polar bears in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago to suffer from declining sea ice. Instead, researchers found the bears have become fatter and healthier since the early 1990s. Sea ice steadily decreased due to climate change, yet the animals defied predictions. Polar bears depend on sea ice to hunt seals, which provide high-fat meals crucial for energy and insulation. Fat reserves also help mothers produce rich milk for cubs. Researchers weighed and measured 770 adult polar bears in Svalbard between 1992 and 2019. They discovered a significant increase in body mass and overall health. Adapting…

Extreme temperatures disrupt matches Melbourne faced another day of scorching heat on Tuesday, pushing the Australian Open to its highest “heat stress” level.Thermometers recorded 42.7C, with forecasts suggesting temperatures could reach 45C.Organisers postponed the start of the wheelchair events, which feature British defending champions Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid, and Andy Lapthorne, until Wednesday.Outdoor junior matches moved forward to 09:00 local time (22:00 GMT) and finished before the peak temperatures arrived.Matches in Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena, including four singles quarter-finals and multiple doubles contests, took place under retractable roofs. Retractable roofs protect top players The Laver Arena roof…

The UK will join a large-scale offshore wind initiative in the North Sea alongside nine European nations, including Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands. The government says the project will strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets. Some new wind farms will connect multiple countries for the first time via undersea cables, called interconnectors. Supporters say this setup could lower energy prices across the region. However, critics warn that allowing operators to sell power to the highest bidder may raise electricity costs during tight supply periods. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will sign a declaration on Monday in…

Four decades of forest data show climate change quietly reshapes tree diversity across the Amazon and Andes. Some forests lose species, while others gain them. Shutterstock provided the image credit. A new study in Nature Ecology and Evolution documents major recent shifts in tropical tree diversity as global conditions change. Dr. Belen Fadrique from the University of Liverpool led the research. The team used 40 years of detailed tree records. Hundreds of botanists and ecologists collected these data in long-term forest plots. The records form one of the most comprehensive assessments of tree diversity change in Earth’s richest forests. Overall…

Shark researcher Chris Pepin-Neff calls the situation “extraordinary”: four shark bites occurred within just 48 hours. Three attacks happened along a 15-kilometre stretch of Australia’s east coast. On 18 January, a 12-year-old boy suffered critical injuries while swimming in Sydney Harbour and later died. The following day, an 11-year-old had his surfboard bitten at Dee Why beach. Hours later, a man faced a shark attack at nearby Manly and was hospitalised in critical condition. Then, on 20 January, a fourth surfer sustained a chest wound after a shark bit his board 300 kilometres up the coast. “This is the closest…

A powerful surge of Arctic air is set to sweep across large parts of the United States. Several regions could receive more than 12 inches of snow before the weekend ends. The National Weather Service warns that life-threatening cold air will move slowly eastward from Friday. The cold front will travel from the High Plains and the Rocky Mountains toward the East Coast. Snow and ice could affect around 160 million people across roughly 30 states. Meteorologists expect temperatures to plunge far below freezing in multiple areas. Snow showers already affect regions downwind of the Great Lakes. These lakes stretch…

A powerful surge of Arctic air will sweep across much of the United States in coming days. Forecasters warn the system will bring widespread snow and ice. Nearly 30 states may feel impacts, affecting close to 160 million people. Weather officials expect conditions to worsen as the cold air advances steadily eastward. The National Weather Service expects life-threatening cold to move from the High Plains and Rockies starting Friday. The agency says the Arctic air mass will spread slowly but relentlessly. Meteorologists expect temperatures to plunge far below freezing in several regions, increasing risks for exposed communities. Dangerous cold spreads…

Northern Ireland ranks among the most nature-depleted regions globally, and officials now push a new recovery strategy. The plan aims to support struggling plants and animals across the region. The government has published the strategy for public consultation and invites views from communities, experts, and organisations. Recent reports paint a stark picture of decline. One study warns that one in nine species faces extinction locally. Another assessment says nature endures unsustainable pressure across Northern Ireland. Conservation groups also highlight severe shortages of trees in many neighbourhoods. What the government is doing now The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs…