Author: Andrew Rogers

Scientists say the planet is approaching a potential point of no return, where global heating could trigger irreversible climate tipping points. Continued warming may set off cascading feedback loops that push Earth into a far hotter and less stable state known as “hothouse Earth”. Researchers warn that even a 2–3C rise would severely disrupt society, while a hothouse scenario could bring far more extreme and lasting consequences. The assessment, published in One Earth, reviewed evidence on 16 major tipping elements, including the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, the Amazon rainforest and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Some systems, such as…

A gray wolf has entered Los Angeles county for the first time in more than 100 years, wildlife officials confirmed. The three-year-old female, known as BEY03F, crossed into the county early on 7 February, marking the southernmost verified gray wolf sighting in modern times. BEY03F was born in Plumas county and belongs to the Beyem Seyo pack. She has travelled nearly the full length of the Sierra Nevada, likely searching for a mate. Officials tracked her movements using a GPS collar fitted in 2025. She has since moved north again, possibly deterred by Interstate 5, where vehicle strikes pose a…

Corteva will stop producing Enlist Duo, a herbicide criticised as a “toxic cocktail” for combining glyphosate with 2,4-D, a component of Agent Orange. Environmental groups say both chemicals are linked to cancer and ecological harm. The decision follows more than a decade of lawsuits and public pressure challenging the product’s approval in the US. Enlist Duo has been used on millions of acres of corn, soybeans and cotton, despite both ingredients being banned or restricted in many countries. The Environmental Protection Agency first approved the herbicide in 2014, then reapproved it in 2022 after a federal court overturned an earlier…

UK employers are installing beehives at offices to improve wellbeing and build community. Companies across the country now host hives on rooftops, courtyards, and car parks. They present beekeeping as a way to reduce stress and reconnect staff with nature. Recruitment firm Green Folk sends employees to beekeeping workshops and plans to bring hives back to its offices. Co-founder Chris Payne says the experience promotes reflection, teamwork, and purpose. Beekeeping providers report rising demand as firms seek new mental health benefits. Emma Buckley, chief executive of Buckley’s Bees, works with dozens of UK and international clients. She says employees quickly…

The greater Bermuda snail has recovered after a decade of conservation work.Scientists once believed the species extinct in Bermuda.In 2014, researchers found a small surviving population in Hamilton. Conservationists launched an international rescue effort soon after.Chester Zoo bred thousands of snails in special pods.Since 2019, teams have released more than 100,000 snails into protected habitats. The species suffered from habitat loss, climate change, and invasive predators.Biosecurity measures now protect the snails from wolf snails and flatworms. Surveys show stable populations in six locations.Researchers will publish the findings in Oryx. Scientists say the snail’s return supports wider ecosystem recovery.

England’s red squirrel population stands on a knife edge as grey squirrels continue to spread. Once numbering millions, only about 38,900 reds remain in England, mostly in isolated northern areas and the Isle of Wight. Grey squirrels outcompete reds for food and carry squirrelpox, which kills reds but leaves greys unharmed. Habitat loss has worsened the decline, as reds depend on ancient woodland. The government has launched a new action plan to expand woodland and reduce grey squirrel numbers. Nature minister Mary Creagh said the plan aims to protect endangered reds while managing greys. Proposed measures include fertility control vaccines,…

A global study shows pesticide toxicity increased for most wildlife groups between 2013 and 2019.Insects suffered the largest rise, with applied toxicity increasing by 42.9%.Soil organisms followed, facing a 30.8% increase in harm. Only aquatic plants and land vertebrates showed reduced risk.Researchers used total applied toxicity to compare impacts across species. Toxicity declined in Europe and China after policy changes.It rose sharply in Africa, India, the US, Brazil, and Russia. Chile remains the only country on track to meet UN reduction targets.Experts warn pesticides still damage ecosystems and threaten biodiversity.

Researchers say up to half of coarse sediments on some UK urban beaches may be human-made.A study of beaches along the Firth of Forth found brick, concrete, glass, and industrial waste mixed with natural material.Scientists from the University of Glasgow surveyed six Scottish coastal sites.Climate-driven storms and historic waste dumping increased erosion and debris movement.Across sites, 22% of coarse sediments were classed as anthropogenic.Researchers propose a new category called “anthropogenic sand and gravel” beaches.

Scientists returned green and golden bell frogs to the ACT after decades of local extinction.Researchers released 25 immunised frogs at Canberra wetlands, starting 15 planned reintroductions.The species vanished locally by 1981 after chytrid fungus devastated amphibians worldwide.Teams from University of Canberra built frog “spas” and heated “saunas” to block infection.Warm refuges exploit the fungus’s intolerance to temperatures above 25C.Salty satellite ponds further suppress disease while remaining safe for frogs.Researchers aim to establish 200 frogs per site and restore a self-sustaining population.

Volunteers and the public are racing to contain a suspected bird flu outbreak among swans in the Thames Valley.Since October, Animal and Plant Health Agency recorded 324 confirmed cases, with numbers rising in early 2026.Charity Swan Support reported dozens more dead swans in Berkshire, raising fears of wider spread.Many birds showed severe symptoms, prompting strong suspicion of H5N1 bird flu.Volunteers removed carcasses to limit transmission while awaiting test confirmation from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.Authorities urged the public not to touch sick or dead birds and to wash hands thoroughly.