Science & Earth

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.

The Environment Agency has expanded its water enforcement workforce and set up five new regulatory teams across East Anglia to inspect Anglian Water sites and tackle pollution as part of a wider increase in roles and funding.

Laboratory research reports that levetiracetam, a widely used epilepsy drug, can halt early amyloid-related protein build-up linked to Alzheimer's, and scientists are developing a longer-acting formulation because the drug is metabolised very rapidly.

A proposed Ham and Kingston bathing site on the River Thames is among 13 spots expected to open in May, and water will be regularly tested for E. coli and other bacteria.

The government has proposed designating a stretch of the Thames at Ham and Kingston as the river's first official bathing site, part of 13 new sites; sewage and other pollution mean the river still misses some legal water-quality targets.

UK property and window experts report that black mould often appears around damp windows and that lemon juice, containing about 5% acidity, is being described as an effective natural remover when used full strength.

The Met Office forecasts a rare sunny day across the UK on Saturday, February 14, with clear skies in Greater Manchester and cooler-than-average temperatures; rain, sleet and snow are expected before and after this day.

Volunteers and conservation groups are planting native cypress and tupelo trees to restore wetlands around New Orleans; organizers report progress toward a roughly 30,000-tree goal and say key plantings should finish by next year.