Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Huge concrete-like cubes deployed in North Sea to protect oysters from storms

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 6h

Marine conservationists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and nature charity Groundwork released 20 specialised oyster reef cubes, made from six tonnes of sea water-resistant concrete alternative, called Marine Crete, off the coast of Tyne and Wear. www.standard.co.uk/news/environ...

The efforts are part of a five-year restoration and conservation project for the Tyne and Wear area.

www.standard.co.uk

Lincolnshire Wildlife Park awaits white tiger traumatised by war

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 9h

Aleks was found abandoned last year in Kharkiv region of Ukraine before he was taken to an animal shelter in Chubynske.Lincolnshire Wildlife Park,had learned from the Ukrainian animal rescuers that some of the animals they caring for had already died due to shell shock. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Lincolnshire Wildlife Park is waiting on a final check-up before Aleks can be brought from Ukraine.

From remote islands to the DMZ, an intrepid teen hits 118 countries before turning 20

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 3h

Malaviya set out on his expedition on his 17th birthday in July 2023.Over 13 months, with occasional trips back home Westlake Village in Southern California he sojourned through some of the world's most populated cities and its most remote islands. www.npr.org/2025/10/10/n...

Arjun Malaviya set out to travel the world on his 17th birthday in July 2023. Over 13 months, the California teenager traveled through some of the world's most populated cities and most remote village...

www.npr.org

In the Amazon, stingless bees provide a sustainable livelihood

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 3h

With the support of WWF in partnership with Projeto Saúde e Alegria, ACOSPER is able to carry out community-led sustainable economic development activities like beekeeping (sometimes labeled as part of a “socio-bioeconomy”),with proper support. www.worldwildlife.org/stories/for-...

Beekeeping means an Indigenous community in Amazon provides economic livelihoods and helps them continue to protect the forest

www.worldwildlife.org

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 5h

Plantlife @plantlifeuk.bsky.social · 5h

🍄‍🟫FREE online waxcap training course🍄‍🟫

Whether you’re a beginner, regular citizen scientist for #WaxcapWatch, a land manager or simply someone who loves learning about nature - our free fungi course is for you. 🍄

Take your waxcap knowledge to the next level 👉 https://loom.ly/-W0_R_4

6 Million Pounds of Compost Given to NYC Gardeners in 2025 in Ongoing Organic Waste Collection Effort

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 1d

It’s all down to an expansion of New York City’s organic waste collection program which started last year. In it, yard waste and food scraps are collected curbside and brought to a central composting facility before being turned into rich fertilizer. www.goodnewsnetwork.org/6m-pounds-of...

6 million pounds of free fertilizer has been given away by NYC authorities after the first year of lawn waste/food scraps collection.

www.goodnewsnetwork.org

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 5h

Belgium's water suppliers have warned their federal government that they may soon lose insurance coverage for PFAS-related risks, which could threaten their public service role. bsky.app/profile/chem...

CHEM Trust @chemtrust.bsky.social · 6h

‼️ Belgian water suppliers express concern to their government about losing insurance coverage for PFAS-related risks.

🚰 Without coverage, providers are worried that compensation claims could cause higher water prices.

Read more in our latest #ToxicFree4EU briefing:

buff.ly/Jjkj6yF

Fossil found on UK coast is unique 'sword dragon' species

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 13h

The dolphin-sized ichthyosaur has been named Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the "sword dragon of Dorset" and is the only known example of its kind. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Scientists say the newly discovered species of marine reptile probably met a grisly end.

Romanian unlawful derogations for pesticides: European Commission launches its first ever infringement procedure

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 8h

The European Commission has initiated an infringement procedure against Romania for granting derogations to bee toxic neonicotinoid insecticides,it is the first time, infringement procedure against a Member State on the abuse of the emergency authorisation system. www.pan-europe.info/press-releas...

The European Commission recently announced [1] it was initiating an infringement procedure against Romania for granting derogations to bee-toxic neonicotinoid insecticides. This is the first time ever...

www.pan-europe.info

Five ways to reduce waste in the fashion industry

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 8h

In Chile’s Atacama Desert,piles of unwanted clothes reached so high they were visible from space,Dhaka textile dyes turned a river black,and in the English channel,researchers found synthetic fibres in the bellies of fish.These are all hallmarks of the clothing industry. www.unep.org/news-and-sto...

Ahead of the International Day of Zero Waste, we speak with a UNEP expert about how to lighten the fashion industry’s footprint on the planet.

www.unep.org

Restoring habitats key to fighting extinctions

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 6h

BirdLife International’s 2025 Red List update reveals a record number of species in decline, but shows how habitat restoration can help even the most threatened species to recover. www.birdlife.org/news/2025/10...

BirdLife International’s 2025 Red List update reveals a record number of species in decline, but shows how habitat restoration can help even the most threatened species to recover.

www.birdlife.org

Chemical pollutants affect wildlife and human behaviour. But industry toxicologists are reluctant to carry out tests, new survey reveals

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 7h

About 350,000 different chemicals are in everyday use,governments or industries conduct experiments to assess the potential risk to the environment,but many chemicals have reached the market without thorough assessment of the harm they may cause to the environment theconversation.com/chemical-pol...

A recent survey of environmental toxicologists has revealed that they believe that chemical pollution can and is affecting the health of humans and wildlife.

theconversation.com

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 6h

The Rivers Trust @theriverstrust.bsky.social · 8h

💧 What’s next for water in the UK?

Mark Lloyd explores what the Cunliffe and Corry reviews mean for our rivers and how we can secure a future that protects and restores our vital waterways.

Read the full blog on our website 👇

theriverstrust.org/about-us/new...

Global extinction of Slender‐billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris)

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 6h

There have been no incontrovertible sightings since 1995. In this time, extensive and intensive searches for the species have continued. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

In the current biodiversity crisis, conservation efforts are often focused on extinction prevention. However, it can be difficult to determine if a species is extinct, especially if the species has a...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Naked mole rats reveal genetic secret to long life

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 6h

A new study published in the journal Science of the naked mole rat shows that they have a life span of nearly 40 years,resistant to cancer,deterioration of the brain and spinal cord,and arthritis,so many scientists want to understand more about how their bodies work. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The bald, subterranean rats are the world's longest-lived rodent.

Pinpointing Sewage Seeps in Hawaii - Eos

Reposted by Jon.B

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 6h

In Hawaii, most of the population relies on private septic tanks or cesspools to dispose of sewage and other wastewater. There are more than 88,000 cesspools in the state, with about 55,000 on the Big Island alone. eos.org/articles/pin...

Cesspools and septic systems, as well as coastal development, put Hawaiian coastal waters at risk of contamination.

eos.org

South America’s First Continental Wildlife Corridor

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 1h

The Jaguar Rivers is the first multi-country Initiative to create a massive wildlife corridor in the heart of South America.Uniting successful grassroots nonprofits in Argentina,Bolivia,Brazil,and Paraguay,the initiative will restore ecosystems bringing back key species rewilding.org/south-americ...

The Jaguar Rivers Initiative is the first multi-country effort to create a massive wildlife corridor in the heart of South America. Uniting successful grassroot

rewilding.org

From remote islands to the DMZ, an intrepid teen hits 118 countries before turning 20

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 3h

Malaviya set out on his expedition on his 17th birthday in July 2023.Over 13 months, with occasional trips back home Westlake Village in Southern California he sojourned through some of the world's most populated cities and its most remote islands. www.npr.org/2025/10/10/n...

Arjun Malaviya set out to travel the world on his 17th birthday in July 2023. Over 13 months, the California teenager traveled through some of the world's most populated cities and most remote village...

www.npr.org

In the Amazon, stingless bees provide a sustainable livelihood

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 3h

With the support of WWF in partnership with Projeto Saúde e Alegria, ACOSPER is able to carry out community-led sustainable economic development activities like beekeeping (sometimes labeled as part of a “socio-bioeconomy”),with proper support. www.worldwildlife.org/stories/for-...

Beekeeping means an Indigenous community in Amazon provides economic livelihoods and helps them continue to protect the forest

www.worldwildlife.org

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 5h

Plantlife @plantlifeuk.bsky.social · 5h

🍄‍🟫FREE online waxcap training course🍄‍🟫

Whether you’re a beginner, regular citizen scientist for #WaxcapWatch, a land manager or simply someone who loves learning about nature - our free fungi course is for you. 🍄

Take your waxcap knowledge to the next level 👉 https://loom.ly/-W0_R_4

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 5h

Belgium's water suppliers have warned their federal government that they may soon lose insurance coverage for PFAS-related risks, which could threaten their public service role. bsky.app/profile/chem...

CHEM Trust @chemtrust.bsky.social · 6h

‼️ Belgian water suppliers express concern to their government about losing insurance coverage for PFAS-related risks.

🚰 Without coverage, providers are worried that compensation claims could cause higher water prices.

Read more in our latest #ToxicFree4EU briefing:

buff.ly/Jjkj6yF

Restoring habitats key to fighting extinctions

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 6h

BirdLife International’s 2025 Red List update reveals a record number of species in decline, but shows how habitat restoration can help even the most threatened species to recover. www.birdlife.org/news/2025/10...

BirdLife International’s 2025 Red List update reveals a record number of species in decline, but shows how habitat restoration can help even the most threatened species to recover.

www.birdlife.org

Naked mole rats reveal genetic secret to long life

Jon.B @jonbright.bsky.social · 6h

A new study published in the journal Science of the naked mole rat shows that they have a life span of nearly 40 years,resistant to cancer,deterioration of the brain and spinal cord,and arthritis,so many scientists want to understand more about how their bodies work. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The bald, subterranean rats are the world's longest-lived rodent.