Scientists have released a new report showing that in 2025, the world's oceans heated up more than ever. The oceans have set new records for heating eight years in a row. The scientists say this is a clear sign that the planet is warming because of human actions. The effects will last for hundreds of years.
Published in “Environment”
Strong storms and heavy rains have caused terrible flooding in several countries in southern Asia, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. In all, over 1,100 people have died, and millions have been forced to leave their homes.
Hayli Gubbi, a volcano in northern Ethiopia, erupted on Sunday, sending a huge cloud of smoke and ash into the air. The volcano had not erupted in recent history, and the ash cloud has spread into nearby countries, causing some flight delays.
The COP30 climate talks in Belém, Brazil ended last Saturday with a deal that left many people disappointed. The meeting, organized by the United Nations, was marked by strong disagreements between countries. The talks resulted in a deal, but without any new agreements on fossil fuels.
By exploring deep under the Southern Ocean, researchers have discovered 30 unusual species that are new to science. The species include a sponge that eats animals, worms that eat bones, and several news sea stars and sea worms.
Human history is sometimes recorded in unexpected ways. Scientists studying the ancient nests of bearded vultures in Spain have found over 200 human-made items built into the nests. One surprising item was a complete sandal woven from grass and small sticks. The sandal turned out to be over 650 years old.
On Monday, the important international climate meeting COP30 began in Belém, Brazil. The United States is skipping the meeting, but leaders from almost 200 other countries from around the world are working hard to try to reach agreements needed to tackle the climate crisis.
The Natural History Museum in London holds a yearly contest for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year. This year, the contest had a record 60,636 entries from around the world. Here are some of this year’s best pictures, and the stories behind them.
A water company in England has removed a massive "fatberg" which was blocking pipes in a London sewer. The fatberg was a hardened mess of grease, oil, wet wipes, and other items that had been put down toilets and sinks instead of into trash cans.
Since 2014, the Katmai National Park in Alaska has held "Fat Bear Week". It's a week-long online contest between selected bears in the park, with viewers voting over the internet for the bear which appears to have gained the most weight. This year, the winner was a massive bear called "Chunk".
A town in Finland has begun using the world's largest "sand battery" to help provide heat. The unusual method of storing energy allows the town to create heat when electricity prices are cheap, and store it for long periods of time. The heat can then be used whenever it's needed.