Environment
China carefully assembling a deep-sea mining strategy
In a world hungry for crucial resources, China may not be poised to start deep-sea mining but it is planting seeds for such operations in a meticulously planned economic and geopolitical strategy. The world's oceans, both international waters and those under national jurisdiction, are rich in minerals and metals, like… Read
Emperor penguin populations declining faster than expected
Emperor penguin populations in Antarctica have shrunk by almost a quarter as global warming transforms their icy habitat, according to new research that warned the losses were far worse than previously imagined. Scientists monitoring the world's largest penguin species used satellites to assess sixteen colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell… Read
Nations call for strong plastics treaty as difficult talks loom
More than 90 countries called on Tuesday for a global treaty to restrict plastic production, ahead of another round of hard-fought negotiations on the pact. The talks collapsed in late 2024 with nations unable to agree on how to stop millions of tons of plastic waste from entering the environment… Read
Cutting off rhinos' horns is a contentious last resort to stop poaching. A new study found it works
Cutting off the horns of sedated rhinos with a chainsaw has been viewed by wildlife conservationists in Africa for more than 30 years as a necessary evil to save the iconic endangered species from poaching. They hoped the drastic action was working, but evidence was scarce. Now, a study published… Read
Coral frozen in time throws lifeline for Great Barrier Reef
Rows of tanks filled with liquid nitrogen sit in temperature-controlled chambers at Sydney's Taronga zoo, cradling parts of the Great Barrier Reef's diverse and magnificent corals frozen in time. The world's largest store of cryogenically frozen coral is a frosty Noah's Ark for an ecosystem that scientists warn could be… Read
Scientists long ago envisioned the end of climate cooperation
They warned it could happen: a world of surging nationalism, stalling economic development and the unravelling of decades of international cooperation on climate change and other global challenges. Long before Donald Trump lurched away from diplomatic norms and the international rules-based order, scientists mapped out different potential futures to understand… Read
In Canada lake, robot learns to mine without disrupting marine life
Three robotic arms extended under the water in a Canadian lake, delicately selecting pebbles from the bed, before storing them back inside the machine. The exercise was part of a series of tests the robot was undergoing before planned deployment in the ocean, where its operators hope the machine can… Read
World coming up short on promised marine sanctuaries
A global target of having 30 percent of the oceans become protected areas by 2030 is looking more fragile than ever, with little progress and the United States backing away, conservationists say. "With less than 10 percent of the ocean designated as MPAs (marine protected areas) and only 2.7 percent… Read
In a hotter future, what comes after coral reefs die?
The fate of coral reefs has been written with a degree of certainty rare in climate science: at 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming, most are expected to die. This is not a far-off scenario. Scientists predict that the rise of 1.5 Celsius will be reached within a decade and… Read
Climate action could save half of world's vanishing glaciers, says study
More than three-quarters of the world's glaciers are set to vanish if climate change continues unchecked, a major new study warns, fueling sea-level rise and jeopardizing water supplies for billions. Published in Science, the international analysis provides the clearest picture yet of long-term glacier loss, revealing that every fraction of… Read
