Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Study suggests hydrogel microparticles increase survival by 30% in bumblebees exposed to lethal doses of neonicotinoids Scientists have developed a “vaccine” for bees against pesticides – and it appears to work, according to an initial study. According to the findings, published in Nature Sustainability, hydrogel microparticles fed to bumblebees in sugar water caused a 30% higher survival rate in individuals exposed to lethal doses of neonicotinoids, and significantly milder symptoms in those exposed to lower doses that would not usually be lethal but can cause harm. Continue reading...

While the Greens remain hopeful of compromise, the PM has indicated he wants a deal struck with the Coalition Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Anthony Albanese is rejecting demands from the Greens and some Senate crossbenchers to subject development projects to climate-impact assessments and remove forestry’s effective exemption from environmental protection law, as the government negotiates on stalled legislation with parties to the left and right. The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, is in talks with the Greens, crossbenchers and the Coalition over legislation to establish an environment protection authority. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Rollout of pylons in countryside is a cheaper, quicker way to integrate green electricity, energy adviser says The government has ruled out burying electricity cables underground as part of its energy strategy, which will involve the unrolling of hundreds of pylons across the British countryside, Ed Miliband’s clean energy adviser has said. Chris Stark, the former leader of the Climate Change Committee, now heads the government’s “mission control” department for decarbonising the grid by boosting renewable energy and building connections across the country. Continue reading...

As increasingly explosive fire seasons ravage the country, federal firefighters say their employer is exacerbating exhaustion by misclassifying their jobs Firefighters are feeling the strain of another long and intense season, with months to go before the highest risks subside. But as they battle the flames, the thousands of people working for the US Forest Service (USFS), the largest federal employer of firefighters, are also fighting for changes within the agency to tackle issues they say have made the work even harder. Federal firefighters have been waiting for years for revisions to outdated job descriptions, which have forced them to do more for less. Many have opted to leave altogether. Continue reading...