Global hard coral cover dropped 9.5% below historical averages between 2020 and 2024, driven by mass bleaching events now striking reefs every five to six years instead of decades apart, according to a report released on August 31 by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. Scientists warn that soaring ocean temperatures—culminating in a daily global … Read more
Black bear encounters across the U.S. West are surging in 2026, driven by an exceptionally dry winter that wiped out 90% of the animals’ natural food sources, according to wildlife agencies and bear experts. States including Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah are reporting record-breaking sightings, home break-ins, and animal fatalities as hungry bears push deeper … Read more
A vast oil spill from the leaking sanctioned tanker Caroline Bezengi has begun hitting Oman’s coastline near Ras Madraka and Masirah Island, threatening an environmental disaster comparable in potential scale to the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill. According to Oman’s environment agency and independent oil spill specialists reviewing satellite imagery, the slick now covers an area … Read more
Indonesia has closed Mount Bromo national park in East Java for all tourist activities, according to the park operator, as a wildfire burning since Monday expands within its caldera area. The closure took effect on Saturday evening for an undetermined duration, shutting down access to the active volcano known for its popular sand sea caldera. … Read more