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  An environmental initiative in Brazil is using human hair to create floating barriers designed to absorb oil and other pollutants from coastal waters. The project, developed by Brazilian non-governmental organisation Fiotrar, is being tested in Enseada de Bom Jesus along Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro. The area has faced decades of pollution linked to heavy maritime traffic, illegal discharges and other sources. The idea was inspired by similar technologies already used in countries including Chile and the United States. Human hair has natural properties that allow it to absorb oil, making discarded salon hair a potentially useful material for cleaning polluted water. The hair is packed into cylindrical structures known as “eco blankets” or filters. These are attached t...

  Lady Elliot Island a coral cay at the southern end of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has undergone a remarkable ecological recovery after being left severely degraded by 19th century guano mining. The island’s decline began in 1863, when commercial guano mining removed nutrient rich soil and vegetation. Introduced goats further damaged the landscape by preventing new plants from establishing. Although mining ended in 1874, much of the ecological damage remained, leaving the island largely covered in exposed coral rubble. A major turning point came in 1969, when Australian pilot Don Adams secured a tourism lease on the island. Rather than focusing only on tourism, Adams began an ambitious revegetation programme. He flew in drums of fresh water and thousands of seedlings from...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled a new global blueprint to strengthen the prevention, detection and control of transboundary animal diseases, warning that their rapid spread poses a growing threat to food security, livelihoods, trade and human health. The Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD) was presented at a high level event in Rome on July 24. The country led initiative aims to bring governments, farmers, private companies, financial institutions, foundations and producers together through national partnership platforms. FAO Director General QU Dongyu said diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, foot and mouth disease, African swine fever and New World screwworm are spreading across borde...

Europe’s increasingly intense wildfires are creating a new danger in areas contaminated by unexploded bombs and military ammunition left behind from the two World Wars and the Cold War. Recent fires in Germany and France have highlighted the growing threat. When a wildfire swept through Germany’s Müritz National Park in July bomb disposal teams had to work alongside firefighters because parts of the forest contained buried Cold War era ammunition. A major wildfire in France Gironde region also exposed dozens of World War II-era shells. At least 75 shells were recovered near Le Porge while some reportedly detonated during the fire. One projectile even struck the wall of an evacuated house. Experts say prolonged heat from wildfires can trigger buried explosives. While short lived su...

  Turkiye’s integrated approach to flood risk reduction is showing significant results, with river rehabilitation measures helping reduce flood related costs by up to 95% in some high risk areas. The country Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) has increasingly shifted its focus from responding to disasters to preventing and reducing risks before they escalate. A Department of Climate Related Disaster Risk Reduction was established in January 2024 to strengthen the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. The approach has been particularly important in Türkiye Black Sea region, where intense rainfall, steep terrain, landslides and floods pose major risks. In April 2024, AFAD and the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (D...

  Saudi Arabia, home to the vast Rub’ al Khali or Empty Quarter, has one of the world’s largest concentrations of desert sand. Yet the country imports certain types of construction sand from countries including Australia. The reason lies not in the quantity of sand available, but in the shape, size and properties of the grains. The Empty Quarter covers roughly 650,000 square kilometres across the southern Arabian Peninsula. Its dunes contain enormous quantities of sand, with some rising more than 250 metres. However, much of this wind shaped sand is unsuitable for conventional structural concrete. Why desert sand is unsuitable for concrete Concrete requires aggregate with grains that can effectively interlock. River sand and crushed quarry material generally contain angula...

  The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Tamil Nadu’s plea seeking Karnataka compliance with directions to release Cauvery water to the neighbouring State. The application will be heard on August 13. Appearing before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday senior advocate C.S. Vaidyanathan, representing Tamil Nadu, said the continuing shortfall in Cauvery water allocation had placed farmers in the State in a difficult situation. Tamil Nadu has sought a direction to Karnataka to implement the July 30 decision of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), which asked Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily for 15 days from the Kabini and Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoirs. The State has asked that 4.536 TMC of water be released by August 12, corresponding to...

August 11, 2026: Growing wildfire risks in Britain are prompting calls for a dedicated national wildfire service, but experts say specialist aircraft and professional firefighters alone will not be enough to tackle the country’s emerging wildfire challenge. Increasing periods of heat, drought and dry vegetation are creating conditions that can allow wildfires to spread more quickly and become more difficult to control. While Britain does not typically experience the massive forest fires seen in parts of southern Europe, North America and Australia, wildfires are becoming a growing concern across grasslands, heathlands, moors, peatlands and areas where homes and businesses border open landscapes. Why prevention matters Experts argue that wildfire preparedness must begin well bef...

August 11, 2026: A mass wildfire evacuation drill held in Spokane, Washington, just months before devastating fires swept through the area is being credited with helping emergency officials and residents prepare for a real-life evacuation involving more than 60,000 people. The experience highlighted the importance of practising evacuation plans before a disaster occurs, particularly in communities where limited roads can quickly become congested when large numbers of residents attempt to escape at the same time. Why wildfire evacuations are difficult Evacuating during a wildfire is far more complicated than simply getting into a vehicle and driving away. Fast moving flames, changing winds, thick smoke and limited road networks can turn evacuation routes into traffic bottlenecks. ...