42 h. ago Buoyant, the size of a lentil and almost impossible to recover: how nurdles are polluting the oceans

Millions of the tiny plastic pellets are being washed up on the coast of Kerala in India in the latest in a series of global spills, as plastic treaty talks continue in GenevaWhen a Liberian-flagged container ship, the MSC Elsa 3, capsized and sank 13 miles off the coast of Kerala, in India, on 25 May, a state-wide disaster was quickly declared. A long oil slick from the 184-metre vessel, which was carrying hazardous cargo, was partially tackled by aircraft-borne dispersants, while a salvage operation sealed tanks to prevent leaks.But almost three months later, a more insidious and persistent environmental catastrophe is continuing along the ecologically fragile coast of the Arabian Sea. Among the 643 containers onboard were 71,500 sacks of tiny plastic pellets known as nurdles. By July, only 7,920 were reportedly recovered. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago A huge stick insect has been discovered in Australia. Here’s why that’s important | Gwen Pearson

Yes, they can be hard to spot – but this find highlights how little we know about creatures crucial to our ecosystemGwen Pearson is adjunct professor at Michigan State University Department of EntomologyScientists recently announced they had found an enormous new stick insect in Australia. At 41cm in length and weighing 44g, the main question I heard was: “Why didn’t scientists notice something that big before now?”The short answer is: it’s a stick. Stick insects spent over 100m years perfecting their cosplay as leaves, branches and moss. They are diabolically difficult to spot, even with fairly acute human vision. If you disturb a stick insect, its usual response is to fall to the ground and lay still. So now you are looking for a stick lying on the ground among all the other sticks.Gwen Pearson is adjunct faculty at Michigan State University Department of Entomology. She received the Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor for her work in education and science communication Contin...

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5 d. ago ‘Who needs the scorching Med?’ Readers’ tips for cooler European coastal holidays

From the deserted Danish Riviera to the unspoilt beaches of Poland, our readers share their favourite, more chilled European coastlines• Tell us about your favourite rail holiday – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucherSpend some time on Rügen, Germany’s largest island, on its Baltic coast. White sandy beaches and darker history await. Visit Lauterbach, by the sea. From there, catch the coastal ferry to the tiny fishing village of Baabe, a near three-mile (5km) walk/cycle through rolling countryside and catch the “Raging Roland” steam train back again. Not far away, you can walk the cliffs that inspired Caspar David Friedrich. For a very different day, visit Prora and its massive beachside concrete apartment blocks, originally planned as a Nazi holiday complex, before becoming a Soviet army barracks, and now a part ruin, part reunification commercial and residential redevelopment.Richard Continue reading...

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6 d. ago Only those with sharp vision can spot the 5 dogs hidden among the cats

Can you help out your feline friends by finding all the mischievous dogs hiding within their purrfect party?

Politics

8 d. ago You'll need 20/20 vision to spot hidden dogs among sea of cats

Discover whether you have perfect, 20/20 vision and meticulous attention to detail by finding all five dogs that hiding in plain sight amongst the array of furry kittens

Politics

3 w. ago You need super vision to spot moth hiding on tree bark in 10 seconds

Only those with sharp eyesight will be able to spot the moth hiding on the tree bark in less than 10 seconds – as the insects are absolute masters of camouflage

Politics

3 w. ago Scots dog owners urged to check for common danger in grass and it's not ticks

This hidden hazard can seriously injure your dog and it grows throughout July, August and September.

Politics

4 w. ago Urgent warning to dog owners of hidden hazard in Scottish lochs this summer

Dogs who come into contact with the substance risk bouts of vomiting, diarrhoea and even seizures

Events

4 w. ago Anyone who owns a dog told to watch out for 'hidden hazard' that's 'growing'

The warm weather followed by heavy rain has created the perfect environment for the bacteria to thrive

Politics