Researchers use drones to study whale health by analyzing their breath in the Arctic. Collecting whale breath with drones Scientists flew drones equipped with specialized instruments through the exhaled droplets, or “blows,” of humpback, fin, and sperm whales. They captured the tiny droplets whales release when surfacing to breathe through their blowholes. The technique allowed them to detect a highly infectious virus linked to mass strandings of whales and dolphins worldwide. Professor Terry Dawson of King’s College London called the method a “game-changer” for monitoring whale health. “It allows us to study pathogens in live whales without stress or harm,”…
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.
Italian brown bears living close to villages have changed their behaviour through long contact with humans. A new genetic study shows these bears have become smaller and less aggressive over time. Researchers link these changes directly to centuries of coexistence with people. The findings arrive as communities across Italy and Europe face growing bear populations after successful conservation efforts. Scientists published the research in Molecular Biology and Evolution. They focused on the Apennine brown bear, a rare population living only in central Italy. This group remains small and geographically isolated. Researchers say its long separation from other bears shaped its…
Britain searches for sustainable heat sources, and farmers are discovering a resource hiding in plain sight: cow manure. Cow waste can produce biomethane, a renewable gas already powering central heating in about a million homes. Campaign group Green Gas Taskforce says the potential could rise to 15 million homes. One Somerset dairy farmer calls cow manure “nature’s crude oil,” highlighting its power to generate energy. But how does cow waste turn into gas, and could it really heat millions of homes? Turning Cow Muck into Gas Somerset dairy farmer Richard Clothier works with manure daily. In his Bruton cattle shed,…
On the outskirts of Figueruelas, a lone, massive wind turbine turns slowly, casting long shadows over the town. It symbolizes the region’s reliance on renewable electricity. Aragón, in north-eastern Spain, hosts many of the country’s wind and solar farms, shaping the area as a hub for green energy. Recently, Figueruelas gained further prominence with the announcement of a massive electric vehicle battery factory. Chinese company CATL and the Netherlands-based Stellantis are investing a combined €4 billion. Yao Jing, China’s ambassador in Spain, called it “one of the biggest Chinese investments Europe has ever seen.” Luis Bertol Moreno, the town’s mayor,…
Delhi and its surrounding areas face a health emergency as a dense toxic haze engulfs the city. Authorities have shifted schools to online classes and banned construction to limit exposure to hazardous air. Visibility drops, flights and trains delayed On Monday morning, the haze severely reduced visibility, causing delays for both flights and trains. The city’s air quality index (AQI), measuring PM2.5 and other harmful pollutants, exceeded safe limits by more than 30 times, according to health guidelines. Prolonged exposure at this level poses serious risks, especially for children and the elderly. A recurring winter crisis Toxic air has become…
Authorities have seized almost 30,000 live animals during a global crackdown on wildlife trafficking. Investigators identified more than 1,000 suspects through a coordinated international operation. The action targeted illegal trade in wild fauna and flora across multiple continents. Officials described the criminal networks as highly organised and well resourced. After months of preparation, law enforcement agencies from 134 countries shared intelligence and operational data. Police, border forces, and wildlife authorities worked together to disrupt trafficking routes. Investigators focused on networks that exploit regulatory gaps and global transport systems. The operation, known as Operation Thunder, ran from 15 September to 15…
New research suggests polar bears could be changing their DNA to adapt to rising temperatures. Scientists at the University of East Anglia found that some genes linked to heat-stress, ageing, and metabolism behave differently in bears living in southeastern Greenland. These changes indicate the animals might adjust to warmer conditions over time. Genetic clues offer hope for polar bears Lead researcher Dr Alice Godden, from UEA’s School of Biological Sciences, said the discoveries provide hope for polar bears. She explained the findings might serve as a vital “genetic blueprint” to guide conservation efforts. Despite these signs of adaptation, she stressed…
An unusual silence now haunts the forests of north Sumatra in Indonesia, alarming wildlife experts and conservationists. In the mountainous Batang Toru forests, teams had always seen and heard the Tapanuli orangutans, the world’s rarest ape. Since Cyclone Senyar struck Sumatra on 25 November, conservation workers report the critically endangered primates have not been spotted. Their absence raises fears that floods and landslides swept them away, though some hope the animals fled to safer locations. A recently discovered carcass, believed to be an orangutan, intensifies concerns. Fewer than 800 Tapanuli orangutans remain, and any loss could gravely threaten the species’…
Endangered species, including tiger body parts, shark fins and pangolin scales, are being offered for sale on Facebook, an investigation has revealed. One Chinese user posted videos showing a tiger in a cage for sale alongside pictures of tiger bones and teeth. Another posted images of two live tiger cubs in a box. A separate photo displayed a tiger head and bones piled on scales. A seller claimed he could ship his products to the UK. He offered a 10cm-long tiger tooth for 2,000 Chinese yuan (about £213) and tiger bones for 3,600 yuan per kilo (about £380). Another seller…
Hidden peaks beneath the waves Under the rolling ocean surface rise vast chains of subsea mountains that teem with sharks. Ocean currents rush over these extinct volcanoes and shape a dramatic underwater world. These seamounts rise sharply from the seafloor and reach heights of more than 1,000m. Some hold deep craters or jagged ridges. Others form broad plateaus. A few even push above the surface and create islands. Borderlands rich with life Seamounts act as borderlands where reef species meet open-ocean life. Every level of the food chain thrives there, from tiny plankton eaters to powerful predators. Each seamount hosts…