Exclusive A vast area of the Bellingshausen Sea should be covered by sea ice by now, with one expert calling the loss of ice ‘depressing’
Antarctica’s west coast is missing an area of winter sea ice the size of France, sparking concerns for threatened penguins other marine life and global sea levels.
One expert said the loss of ice in the Bellingshausen Sea was “depressing” and the failure of ice to form could have intensified a heatwave over the continent’s peninsula last week that saw daytime temperatures peak at 15.4C which is more than 20C above average.
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© Photograph: Alex Ingle/Schmidt Ocean Institute
© Photograph: Alex Ingle/Schmidt Ocean Institute
© Photograph: Alex Ingle/Schmidt Ocean Institute
With matches in 16 cities across the US, Mexico and Canada, players and fans face an array of weather-related challenges
With the 2026 World Cup now under way, all 48 teams face a common opposition: summer weather across North America. Matches will be played in 16 cities, from southern Mexico to Canada, with a range of weather risks possible at each venue.
Thunderstorms disrupted play before the tournament had even begun. England’s warm-up against Costa Rica in Orlando was delayed by about an hour after storms brought lightning and heavy rain that waterlogged the pitch. Safety regulations at US venues mean play is suspended when lightning is recorded within roughly 8 miles of a stadium, not resuming until 30 minutes after the last strike.
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© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Imperial College scientists analysed health records before and after introduction of air pollution reduction zones
Low emission and clean air zones attract controversy whenever they are proposed, but there is growing evidence that they work in improving air quality. The Bradford zone was followed by a reduction of about 25% in GP visits for heart and breathing problems and survey data shows that the central London zone was followed by a reduction in the likelihood of a person taking sick leave.
Now analysis of health records has found emergency admissions to hospital reduced after the introduction of the T-charge and ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) in central London.
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© Photograph: Marcin Rogozinski/Alamy
© Photograph: Marcin Rogozinski/Alamy
© Photograph: Marcin Rogozinski/Alamy
More than 20,000 votes cast in Butterfly Conservation’s poll of 60 native species to find nation’s favourite for first time
The votes are in on Britain’s favourite butterfly, and it is one of the most ubiquitous yet spectacular backyard beauties that has flown to victory.
With its lavender, yellow and maroon eye spots and luscious rusty red and black colouration, the peacock butterfly is both beautiful and commonplace, flying throughout spring, summer and autumn in all corners of the British Isles.
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© Photograph: Mark Seal/Butterfly Conservation/PA
© Photograph: Mark Seal/Butterfly Conservation/PA
© Photograph: Mark Seal/Butterfly Conservation/PA
A luxury resort backed by the US president’s family may be built on a wildlife-rich nature reserve in one of Europe’s poorest nations
If the real estate dreams of a billionaire political family come true, an island in one of Europe’s poorest countries will become a luxury hotel complex, sweeping up stretches of the wildlife-rich nature reserve that sits across the water.
No public consultation has taken place, but there are signs the idea is on the way to becoming reality. Albania has been rocked by nearly two weeks of fierce protests after fences and heavy machinery came to a sensitive wetland and preparatory work began on the tourism vision of Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner.
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© Photograph: Fedja Grulovic/Reuters
© Photograph: Fedja Grulovic/Reuters
© Photograph: Fedja Grulovic/Reuters
Long-awaited course to examine human effects on natural world and explore everyday ways to aid biodiversity
School pupils will learn how to plant a wildflower-friendly garden, according to long-awaited plans announced on Thursday for a natural history GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Campaigners have for more than a decade called for the study of biodiversity loss and global heating to be introduced as a dedicated subject in classrooms across the country, but despite a curriculum being previously drawn up, its launch has faced repeated delays.
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© Photograph: enviromantic/Getty Images
© Photograph: enviromantic/Getty Images
© Photograph: enviromantic/Getty Images
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