JUAREZ, MEXICO (AFP) — A female hippopotamus born two weeks ago, two white tiger puppies and a llama calf are the new inhabitants of the Mexican zoo at Ciudad Juarez (north). https://youtu.be/XzMcZbhcwzo
Environment
Scientists discover resilient ‘heart’ of Great Barrier Reef
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is in peril from climate change and widespread bleaching, but scientists said Tuesday a small portion may be resilient enough to keep much of the rest alive. About three percent of the World Heritage site — home to the planet’s largest collection of coral reefs with 3,800 in all — has so far emerged relatively unscathed from a host of threats, from warming waters to pollution […]
Fur flies as cheetah races electric Formula E car
WESTERN CAPE, South Africa (Reuters) — The cheetah is renowned for being the world’s fastest mammal but is also one of its most endangered species. Recently the organizers of the environmentally-friendly Formula E racing series set up a race between one of their cars and a tame cheetah to highlight the impact of climate change on the African predator. With an acceleration of 0-100 kph (62 mph) in three seconds the African predator is about […]
Large iceberg breaks free from glacier in southern Chile
MAGALLANES, Chile (Reuters) — A large iceberg broke off from the Grey glacier in southern Chile, authorities said on Tuesday (November 28), adding that the cause of the rupture was unclear. Chile’s CONAF forestry service shared photos on social media of the enormous block of blue-white ice, which measured 350 meters (1,148 feet) long by 380 meters (1,247 feet) wide, as it floated free in waters of a glacial lagoon near the southern tip of […]
Indonesia: the world’s volcanic hotspot
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia, where more than 40,000 people have been evacuated over fears of an imminent volcanic eruption at Mount Agung on Bali, is the world’s most volcanic area. The Southeast Asian archipelago of more than 17,000 islands and islets — and nearly 130 active volcanoes — is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a vast zone of geological instability where the collision of tectonic plates causes frequent quakes and major volcanic […]
Colorful lakeside scenery brings photographers to southwest China lake
CCTV — Colorful plants and flocks of migratory birds gathering at the Hanfeng Lake in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality have made the scenic place a favorable spot for photographers. Tree leaves that have turned into a sea of various colors along with lowering temperatures have helped form some picturesque scenery at the lake. Moreover, nearly 2,000 migratory birds that have arrived at the lake for wintering have added even more vigor to the site. The […]
Edible glass made from seaweed to curb plastic plague
JAKARTA and MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia (Reuters) — Jakarta food and beverages retailer Ong Tek Tjan sells ice cream in cups his customers can eat afterwards, instead of throwing them away. The cups are made from seaweed and taste like jelly, in flavors from peppermint to green tea. Indonesian start-up Evoware, which makes the cups, as well as other containers, from farmed seaweed free of chemicals, is relying on its biodegradable alternative to plastic […]
Brazil exports murder-tainted illegal logging: Greenpeace
by Sebastian Smith Agence France Presse RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Endangered Amazon hardwood trafficked by a Brazilian exporter allegedly behind the massacre of nine farmers this year is being sold unimpeded around the world, according to environmental pressure group Greenpeace. The group said Tuesday that the purchase of products by importers from as far apart as Japan and the United States illustrates lack of control over a logging industry ravaging the world’s greatest […]
Energy-saving LEDs boost light pollution worldwide
by Kerry Sheridan Agence France Presse MIAMI, United States (AFP) — They were supposed to bring about an energy revolution — but the popularity of LED lights is driving an increase in light pollution worldwide, with dire consequences for human and animal health, researchers said Wednesday. The study in the journal Science Advances is based on satellite data showing that the Earth’s night is getting brighter, and artificially lit outdoor surfaces grew at a pace […]
Dazzling display of Northern Lights light up Alaska skies
ALASKA, United States (Reuters) — The skies over Anchorage, Alaska were lit up by the soft green glow of the Northern Lights early Tuesday morning (November 21). The time lapse was captured by a local weather camera, NBC reported. The striking aurora display was seen in various parts of the state, giving residents a spectacular light show in the early hours of the morning. The Northern Lights are a result of collisions between electrically charged […]
Spain, Portugal struggle with extreme drought
by Adrien Vicente Agence France-Presse MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain and Portugal are grappling with a devastating drought which has left rivers nearly dry, sparked deadly wildfires and devastated crops — and experts warn that prolonged dry spells will become more frequent. Nearly all of Portugal has suffered extreme drought conditions during the last six months, which has not happened since 2005. A majority of Spain has also received considerably less rain than it normally would. “It’s […]
World’s largest whales are mostly ‘right-handed’: study
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Blue whales, the world’s largest animals, usually favor their right side when they lunge to catch food — a preference similar to right-handedness in people, researchers said Monday. But on certain occasions while moving upward in shallow water, these righties will almost always shift to their left to keep a good eye on their favored prey — tiny crustaceans known as krill. The reason for this situation-specific choice is likely […]
