Author: OMN AI

The world’s oceans have crossed a key planetary threshold for the first time, with rising acidity driven by fossil fuel burning threatening marine life, according to the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The 2025 Planetary Health Check shows ocean surface pH has dropped by 0.1 units since the industrial era, a 30-40% increase in acidity. This change disrupts ecosystems that rely on calcium carbonate, endangering coral reefs, Arctic marine life, oysters and molluscs, while indirectly affecting salmon, whales and other species higher up the food chain. Scientists warn this development risks weakening the oceans’ ability to absorb heat and…

Gorillas are powerful, intelligent, and majestic. Yet they face growing dangers in the wild. On World Gorilla Day, we examine threats to these great apes and highlight glimmers of hope from recent conservation efforts. Emerging Threats to Gorillas The Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) remains one of the 25 most endangered primates worldwide. Experts estimate only about 250 mature individuals survive in Nigeria and Cameroon. Hunters increasingly target these gorillas, pushing them closer to extinction. Investigations reveal a booming illegal trade in ape parts across Nigeria. Hunters who once faced community ostracism now profit from high demand. Ape body…

Trump’s UN Speech Revives Familiar Claim At the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2025, former President Donald Trump told delegates that “climate change is the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” The remark echoed earlier statements he has made over the years, including calling climate change a “hoax” in social media posts dating back to 2012. The comment drew immediate attention from both supporters and critics, reigniting debate over the credibility of climate science. Scientific Consensus Contradicts the Claim Authoritative assessments from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), NASA, and NOAA conclude that the Earth’s…

Florida received 163,459 applications for its first bear hunt in ten years, far exceeding available permits.The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will award 172 permits by lottery for the December hunt.Hunters may kill one bear per permit in regions with sufficient bear populations.Florida officials estimate the state hosts roughly 4,000 black bears. Conservationists Join Lottery to Save Bears Organizations such as the Sierra Club encouraged people to apply for permits and not use them.Chuck O’Neal of Speak Up Wekiva said this tactic will protect bears and influence hunting rules for decades.Environmentalists argue human encroachment, not bears, causes most conflicts with…

On a summer day off Manhattan, a juvenile humpback whale named NYC0318 breaks the surface to feed – a thrilling sight for tourists, but a growing concern for conservationists. Once a migratory highway, the New York Bight – stretching from southern New Jersey to eastern Long Island – has become a regular foraging ground for humpbacks, putting them directly in the path of cargo vessels, cruise ships, tankers, fishing boats and recreational craft. Since Gotham Whale began tracking them in 2012, the local humpback catalogue has grown from just five whales to 470, mostly juveniles drawn by surface schools of…

China has evacuated hundreds of thousands of people and closed schools and some businesses in at least ten cities. Authorities prepare for the strongest storm of the year to hit the southern coast. Hong Kong raises typhoon alert as storm approaches Hong Kong upgraded its typhoon warning to level eight, just two steps below the maximum, as Super Typhoon Ragasa nears. Residents stocked up on supplies and secured homes in anticipation. Supermarkets emptied of bread, vegetables, meat, and instant noodles as people prepared to shelter. Hong Kong International Airport warned of significant disruption to flights from Tuesday evening until Wednesday.…

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…

A trio of leopard sharks in New Caledonia has been recorded mating in a “threesome,” marking the first documented observation of the species’ mating behavior in the wild. Marine biologist Dr. Hugo Lassauce filmed the 110-second sequence, in which two males mated sequentially with one female before collapsing from exhaustion. Experts say the footage provides valuable insights for conservation, habitat protection, and research into genetic diversity and artificial insemination for the endangered species.

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…

The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) launched a campaign in Cyprus to expose large-scale illegal bird trapping in Maroni.The initiative, “Occupy Akas,” began September 21 with support from BBC presenters Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin.The campaign targets the “Akas farm,” a fenced valley where poaching reportedly continues unchecked. Criminal Network Exploits Protected Birds CABS General Secretary Alexander Heyd accused an organised criminal group of trapping up to 30,000 birds annually.Poachers use mist nets and electronic lures to capture the birds, many of which belong to protected species.CABS said the group earns an estimated €180,000 in untaxed black-market profits each year.Heyd…