3 d. ago ‘The forgotten forest’: how smashing 5.6m urchins saved a California kelp paradise

Pollution, warm oceans and hungry urchins devastated Pacific kelp. Now, thanks to divers with hammers, one of the world’s most successful rehabilitation projects has helped it reboundOn an overcast Tuesday in July, divers Mitch Johnson and Sean Taylor shimmy into their wetsuits on the back of the R/V Xenarcha, a 28ft boat floating off the coast of Rancho Palos Verdes, south of Los Angeles. Behind them, the clear waters of the Pacific are dotted with a forest of army-green strands, waving like mermaid hair underwater.We are here to survey the giant Pacific kelp, a species that once thrived in these ice cold waters. But over the past two decades, a combination of warm ocean temperatures, pollution, overfishing and the proliferation of hungry sea urchins that devour the kelp has led to a 80% decline in the forest along the southern California coast. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Labour loses 200,000 members under Keir Starmer after Corbyn

Figures published today showed Labour's membership has continued to decline from its peak under former leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Politics

2 w. ago Donald Trump shows 'classic signs' of horror disease as expert warns 'it will get worse'

A leading psychologist has suggested that there could be two signs that President Donald Trump is experiencing cognitive decline, as concerns for the 79-year-old's mental ability continue

Events

3 w. ago Trump reportedly considers reclassifying marijuana as less dangerous drug

President told people at a fundraiser last month he was considering changing marijuana’s Schedule I classificationDonald Trump is considering reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.At a $1m-a-plate fundraiser at his New Jersey golf club earlier this month, Trump told attendees he was interested in making such a change, the people, who declined to be named, told the newspaper. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Human connection to nature has declined 60% in 200 years, study finds

Prof Miles Richardson says people risk ‘extinction of experience’ in the natural world without new policiesPeople’s connection to nature has declined by more than 60% since 1800, almost exactly mirroring the disappearance of nature words such as river, moss and blossom from books, according to a study.Computer modelling predicts that levels of nature connectedness will continue to decline unless there are far-reaching policy and societal changes – with introducing children to nature at a young age and radically greening urban environments the most effective interventions. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Why shoppers are shunning the high street as UK footfall continues to decline

Retailers had hoped for a ‘summer boost’ but this has not materialised

Politics

4 w. ago Houseplant clinic: why is my mistletoe cactus turning brown?

Don’t be overly cautious when watering Rhipsalis – to thrive it needs regular hydration and good drainage What’s the problem? My mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis) thrived for more than five years, but recently started to brown, with strands falling off. I repotted it into a slightly larger pot with no drainage holes and a layer of gravel at the bottom, but it continues to decline despite weekly watering. How can I save my plant?Diagnosis Your mistletoe cactus probably isn’t getting sufficient hydration. Cautious watering can lead to soil that is superficially damp but remains dry at a deeper level. This often manifests as browning stems, shrivelling and segments dropping off as the plant becomes stressed due to a lack of moisture at the roots. Continue reading...

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