Science & Earth

The city council says a small number of bird flu cases were found in wild birds at Yeadon Tarn in Leeds and it is working with DEFRA to monitor the situation; the area remains open with notices advising visitors not to touch or feed birds.

Behaviorists from Palm Beach Zoo and Precision Behavior trained a southern white rhino in Zimbabwe to accept eyedrops, treating a parasitic infection and protecting the animal's eyesight; local staff were taught to continue daily medication.

President Trump announced repeal of the EPA’s 2009 'endangerment finding,' removing the federal determination that greenhouse gases endanger public health; legal challenges are expected.

Cuba has accelerated solar and wind projects with Chinese support as power cuts worsened after Venezuelan oil shipments fell; the government has set a target of 26% renewables by 2035.

New research finds half of over-50s are planning a 'Golden Gap Year' focused on personal growth and long-awaited travel, with popular destinations including Dubai, Australia, Thailand, Mauritius and the Maldives.

With the UK seeing heavy rain, the article notes Gozo—an island near Malta—has mild February weather around 18C and is known for green hills, dramatic cliffs and quieter beaches compared with Malta.

Gozo, Malta’s smaller sister island, is reachable by short ferries and is reported to have February temperatures around 16–20C; media reports also noted example one-way flights from London Stansted to Malta for £35 and local pints priced at about £1.80.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow cold-health alert for several English regions from 6am on Friday (Feb 13) to 8am on Monday (Feb 16), while Met Office forecasts show overnight lows down to around -4C in some areas.

A TikTok gardening expert cautioned that a very wet, cold winter has made early February planting more difficult and suggested waiting until late February or early March; the RSPB also highlighted National Nest Box Week and encouraged providing nest boxes for garden birds.

Volunteers excavating a newly accessed cave at Stump Cross Caverns in North Yorkshire uncovered a fossilised lower wolverine jaw, a find described as very rare; site dating has suggested Ice Age material in the caverns is roughly 80,000–90,000 years old, with some reports describing the specimen as older than 90,000 years.

The article lists nine cruise experiences — from transatlantic crossings and Galapagos and Antarctic expeditions to river cruises on the Amazon, Mekong and the Nile — that provide access to notable natural and cultural sights.

The study reports Shrimycocin-A, extracted from coconut shells, shows antifungal activity across a range of plant and human pathogenic fungi and demonstrated systemic absorption with no reported phytotoxicity in tests.

Romanian researchers recovered bacteria from a 5,000-year-old Scărișoara Cave ice core that showed resistance to several modern antibiotics; chemicals from the samples also inhibited multiple disease-causing bacteria.

In Ilulissat, a five-time Greenlandic sled dog champion says unusually warm winter weather left January without sea ice and has disrupted traditional dog sled travel while nearby glaciers retreat and permafrost thaws.

Community scientists and specialists in California are documenting lichens and other fungi to fill knowledge gaps, while many species face threats from habitat loss, pollution and climate change.

Beijing's PM2.5 levels have fallen about 69.8% since 2013 and nationwide particulate pollution fell 41% in the decade from 2014, yet many Chinese cities still exceed World Health Organization limits.

Cadaver dogs searched a water tank and a recently cemented outhouse at a family-owned property, and detectives have returned to the area to continue searches; police say a resident of the remote station has been declared a suspect and that Gus is likely dead, and no evidence was found in the latest searches.

A 34-person randomized trial reported in Nature Medicine found that one intravenous dose of DMT given with psychotherapy led to rapid reductions in depressive symptoms compared with placebo, with antidepressant effects lasting three to six months for some participants.

The Royal Horticultural Society says about 6% of UK daffodils show pink and is asking gardeners to report or, with permission, donate possible Mrs R.O. Blackhouse (also reported as Mrs R O Backhouse) bulbs so they can be trialled and preserved.

Madagascar's disaster agency reported at least 59 deaths and more than 16,000 people displaced by Cyclone Gezani; forecasts show the storm looping back toward southwestern Madagascar with a possible second landfall on Monday.

Parts of the UK are under Met Office snow and ice warnings and the Met Office is reported as advising homes be heated to at least 18C; the Energy Saving Trust is reported as recommending thermostats generally be set between 18C and 21C and noting potential savings from lowering from 22C to 21C.

Rosy-faced lovebirds in Phoenix, thought to number about 2,000, form lifelong pairs and frequently groom and feed each other.

The administration plans to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding that underpins federal rules on CO2 and other greenhouse gases, and several environmental groups have announced they will challenge the repeal in court.

California's Fish and Game Commission unanimously listed six groups of central coast and southern mountain lions under the California Endangered Species Act, extending protections to more than 1,400 animals found from the Bay Area to the Mexican border.

An international four-person crew launched to the International Space Station to replace astronauts who returned early following NASA's first medical evacuation; they are expected to arrive tomorrow and will restore the station to full staffing.

The General Synod voted on 12 February to encourage parish churches to use more seasonal, local and low‑impact flowers and to move away from floral foam.

The government has proposed 13 new swimming sites across the UK, including a possible bathing spot at Ham and Kingston on the River Thames in Greater London. A six-week public consultation is under way and designation would bring regular water-quality testing during the bathing season.

Revised plans for Eden Project Morecambe, costing £100 million, have been submitted to Lancaster City Council and now show two domes called Realm of the Sun and Realm of the Moon. The attraction is expected to open to the public in 2028 after a delay from 2026.

The Met Office has upgraded its forecasting system with a new supercomputer that delivers clearer cloud, fog and rainfall predictions and extends severe weather forecasts from seven to 10 days.

The Environment Agency has added seven water industry regulation teams across the South East and expanded its water enforcement workforce from 41 roles in 2023 to 195 by March, completing over 8,000 inspections in the 2025/26 year.