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Why some forests in Mexico glow green after sunset, and the tiny fungi behind the eerie light
Deep inside the cloud forests of Mexico, certain patches of bark and rotting wood begin to glow a faint, ghostly green once darkness sets in. The source is not the trees themselves but tiny mushrooms growing on them, fungi capable of producing their own light through a chemical reaction inside their cells.
Why Romania’s ‘walking forests’ seem to move without anyone noticing
Across parts of Romania, particularly in the Buzau region and the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, locals have long spoken of walking forests, clusters of trees that seem to shift their position year after year, leaning further downhill or subtly rearranging themselves over time. The movement is far too slow to see happening in real time, but stretched across several seasons, entire groves visibly tilt in the same direction, almost as if the trees themselves had decided to relocate.
This toad exists only in Canada, and scientists have finally found out why
Scientists have discovered a genetically unique western toad population exclusively in Canada, a finding that could be more distinctively Canadian than native wildlife. This rare group, found in the Rockies, highlights the importance of conserving unique genetic diversity. The research reveals deeper genetic divisions within the species, emphasizing that even common animals can harbor irreplaceable natural heritage.
Scientists transform waste bottles into battery-grade graphite for electric vehicles
That empty plastic water bottle sitting in your recycling bin might have a second life ahead of it, one that involves powering an electric vehicle, a smartphone or even a renewable energy storage system. Researchers at Penn State University have developed a new method to convert waste PET plastic, the same material used in most disposable drink bottles, into highly ordered synthetic graphite, a critical material used inside the anode of every lithium-ion battery.
Sydney records hottest June since 1859 as expert warns new high a ‘signature’ of global warming
Bureau of Meteorology says city’s mean temperature reached 16.1C, surpassing the previous record of 15.7C set in 1991Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSydney has officially experienced its hottest June since records began, following a winter month of spring-like warmth.While early weather data suggested the month was merely among the warmest, the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed on Friday that June 2026 broke the all-time mean temperature record at Observatory Hill, where...
NASA launches robotic mission to save space telescope
NASA launched a robotic mission on Friday to try to prevent one of its aging telescopes from burning up in the atmosphere, a complicated operation expected to last several months.
'Hotter and hotter and hotter' - Europe's new climate in seven charts
'Hotter and hotter and hotter' - Europe's new climate in seven chartsImage source, Tino Romano / EPAImage caption, Outdoor workers can be particularly vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat, such as that seen in the UK and Europe last monthByMark Poynting, Climate reporter, Becky Dale, Senior data journalist, BBC Verify, Erwan Rivault, Senior data designer and Jess Carr, Data designerPublished2 minutes agoWe might only be a few days into July, but two record-breaking summer heatwaves have alr...
WMO warns of rapid El Nino development during July-September
El Nino's rapid development is set to intensify global extreme weather, including heatwaves and droughts, impacting the Indian subcontinent. India already faces a significant rainfall deficit, with June recording a 40% shortfall, severely affecting kharif crop sowing and reducing overall acreage by 23%. This poses a serious challenge for agriculture, especially in rain-fed regions.
4,000-year-old wooden monument may have been built to extend summer
A fascinating new study unveils that Seahenge, an ancient wooden monument on the Norfolk coast, may have been constructed to mitigate harsh cold weather conditions. Archaeologist David Nance posits that this timber circle, together with a related structure, was created as a ritualistic endeavor to prolong summer and restore warmth. This innovative theory interweaves climate evidence with mythology, reshaping our understanding of this prehistoric site beyond mere burial grounds.
Scientists find butterflies that live nearly a year and barely age
Recent research reveals that tropical butterflies known as Heliconius exhibit remarkable longevity, surviving nearly a year with little deterioration, unlike their transient relatives. This species showcases preserved strength and body mass, indicative of a slower aging process. Their unique pollen-rich diet aids in this phenomenon, alongside intrinsic biological factors. This discovery may serve as a groundbreaking reference for exploring the principles of healthy aging and longevity in nature.
Strong El Niño on the way? UN warns of extreme weather risk from July-September
World Meteorological Organisation (WHO), in a press release on Friday, warned that El Niño has officially developed in the tropical Pacific and is expected to strengthen rapidly over the next few months.
M6.4 earthquake strikes off Japan's Miyakojima Island
A magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck waters northwest of Miyakojima Island in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture on Friday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).The temblor occurred at 1:05 p.m. local time at a shallow depth. No tsunami warning was issued, the JMA said.
El Nino set to be strong, UN warns
El Nino is expected to intensify between July and September, fueling the likelihood of extreme weather conditions, the United Nations
Dolphins increasingly rely on trawlers for food in overfished Adriatic, say scientists
In one area 76% of fishing boats were followed, with baby dolphins learning the technique from their parentsBottlenose dolphins in the Adriatic are increasingly following trawlers to scavenge for food, with baby dolphins learning the technique from their parents, a study has found.“These days the easiest way to find [bottlenose dolphins] is to look for trawlers,” said Giovanni Bearzi, a co-author of the study and the president of Dolphin Biology and Conservation in Italy. “Many of them are follo...
Earthquake of magnitude 6.2 strikes Indonesia's Halmahera
A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck Indonesia's Halmahera region on Friday morning, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).
'Milestone': Scientists claim to build synthetic cell, raising concerns in step toward artificial life
Scientists at the University of Minnesota say they have built the most life-like synthetic cell yet, creating a laboratory-made system assembled entirely from nonliving components that can grow, replicate its genetic material, divide and even pass beneficial traits to future generations.The researchers describe the work as a major step toward building artificial life, but said the synthetic cells cannot survive outside carefully controlled laboratory conditions and require externally supplied nu...
Defra breached law when it let farmers use bee-killing pesticide, watchdog says
Office for Environmental Protection finds failures by department when it granted emergency authorisation in 2023 and 2024The UK government breached environmental law on several occasions when granting farmers permission to use a bee-killing pesticide, a watchdog has found.In 2023 and 2024, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in the then Conservative government granted emergency authorisation to allow farmers to use a banned neonicotinoid pesticide on sugar beet crops....
Why clouds do not fall from the sky despite weighing a million tonnes
Look up at a cloud and it seems like nothing at all, just a soft white puff drifting by. But an average cloud weighs close to a million pounds, which is about the same as two fully loaded Boeing 747 planes hanging in the sky.
Understanding Ebola’s wildlife origins is crucial to preventing next big outbreak
If we don’t know the source, not only do humans remain at risk but wildlife can suffer needlessly via retaliationWhile virologists and public health departments were palpitating over the news of an Andes virus infectious disease outbreak on a cruise ship (13 cases, three deaths), in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the Bundibugyo virus, the root of the current Ebola outbreak (currently more than 1,250 cases and at least 362 deaths), was smouldering under the radar.Bundibugyo virus is a horri...
How submarines launch ballistic missiles without blowing themselves up
Submarine-launched ballistic missiles utilize an innovative 'cold launch' method, setting a new global standard for safety. This technique propels missiles via high-pressure gas, preventing the ignition of rocket engines inside the submarine. Originating from Cold War developments, it enables launches from underwater, significantly bolstering nuclear deterrence and the safety of vessels and crews. Modern SLBMs, like India's K-4, integrate this essential technology.