Why scientists hope seabed mud could reveal Antarctic Ocean secrets 2 days ago Share Save Victoria Gill Science correspondent, BBC News Share Save Elisenda Balleste The researchers worked from a vessel at a number of locations around the Antarctic Peninsula Kate Stephens and Gwyndaf Hughes BBC News science team Why would anyone brave hand-numbing cold, icy winds and rough seas - sometimes working through the night - to dig up mud from the Antarctic seabed? That is what an international team of particularly adventurous researchers did earlier this year in the remote Antarctic Peninsula, on a mission aiming to reveal centuries of scientific secrets about the Southern Ocean. Scientists around the world will now share and analyse these precious mud samples to work out how human activity - including a century of industrial whaling - affected Antarctica and the rest of our planet. The research is part of a global effort to understand the relationship between the ocean and the climate. Elisenda Balleste The core of mud is carefully removed from the drill and kept intact for analysis A history of ocean life Researchers used a special coring drill - a bit like a huge apple-corer - tethered to a research ship, to drill at depths of up to 500m. They collected more than 40 long cores, or tubes, of seafloor sediment from locations around the peninsula. This is one of the richest habitats for marine life in Antarctica, and a focal point for fishing, tourism and - before it was banned in the 1980s - industrial whale hunting. Collecting the sediment gives insight and clues to the past, "like a book of history", explained lead researcher Dr Elisenda Balleste from the University of Barcelona. "What is living in the seas now, what was living in the seas in the past and evidence of our human impact" is recorded in layer upon layer of sediment over centuries, she said. By preserving and dating those layers, and analysing what they contain, researchers can build a picture of the history of Antarctic marine life. Victoria Gill/BBC The Antarctic is a feeding ground for whales and other marine life Once on board the ship, the cores were frozen and transported to Barcelona and Dr Balleste's laboratory. From there, carefully extracted pieces of this Antarctic mud will be sent out to several academic institutions around the world. Scientists will scan and date the sediment layers, work out what microbial life they contain, measure levels of pollution and calculate how much carbon is buried in the mud. It is part of a mission - the Convex Seascape Survey - which involves universities and research institutions around the globe working together to better understand how our ocean and climate are connected. Claire Allen, an oceanographer from the British Antarctic Survey who has studied Antarctica's past for more than 20 years, said that cores like these were particularly valuable. "Before 1950 - before there was any kind of monitoring capacity in Antarctica - sediment cores and ice cores are the only way that we can get an insight into any of the climatic or physical properties that have changed over time," she said. Elisenda Balleste Scientists carefully slice the sediment cores in a lab on board the ship The DNA fingerprint from whale hunting The newly collected samples being stored for DNA analysis have to be kept at temperatures low enough to stop all biological processes. Dr Balleste took them out of the industrial-sized freezer where they are being stored to show them to us, very briefly. "They're kept at minus 80 degrees to stop them degrading," she explained. These small pieces of the seabed - frozen in time at temperatures that preserve genetic material - will be used for what is known as environmental DNA analysis. It is an area of science which has developed rapidly in recent years. It gives researchers the ability to extract genetic information from water, soil and even air, like a fingerprint of life left behind in the environment. Getty Images Industrial whaling in Antarctica drove many species to the brink of extinction

UK independent space agency scrapped to cut costs But one leading space scientist said the move would lead to disruption in the short term and the UK losing ground to its international competitors over the long run. The government says this will save money, cut duplication and ensure ministerial oversight. It will be absorbed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in April 2026. The UK Space Agency will cease to exist as an independent entity to cut the cost of bureaucracy, the government said on Wednesday. "Around the world countries have been recognising the importance of space by setting up national space agencies, and for the government to be scrapping ours seems like a backward step," he said. Dr Simeon Barber of the Open University feared that scrapping UKSA would lead to Britain's space sector "losing focus". Tim Peake was the first and only British astronaut to serve on the International Space Station under UKSA's tenure UKSA was created 2010 in response to the growing importance of the sector to the economy. The development of small spacecraft, satellites and space instrumentation is a field that the UK excels at, thanks in part due to the agency. Its role is to develop the country's space strategy, coordinate research and commercial activities and liaise with international partners. During its tenure UKSA saw a UK astronaut, Tim Peake, launched into space to work on the International Space Station and the development of Britain's own capability to launch small satellites and other small payloads into space from Scotland. The space sector generates an estimated £18. 6bn a year and employs 55,000 people across the country. The agency, its budget and activities will now be absorbed into DSIT. It follows a commitment from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reduce costs and cut the number of arms length government bodies, known as quangos (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations), starting with the abolition of NHS England announced in March. Space minister Sir Chris Bryant said: "Bringing things in house means we can bring much greater integration and focus to everything we are doing while maintaining the scientific expertise and the immense ambition of the sector. " The merger will see the agency become a unit within DSIT, staffed by experts from both organisations and retaining the UKSA name. But supporters of the space agency fear that this will mean a loss of the agency's dynamic, proactive approach which has proved to be so successful for the UK's space science and its space industry. They fear there is a danger of moving to more bureaucratic, less incentivised ways of working, which were more typical of government departments, and were the reason the agency was created in the first place. "It feels like we're going to get stuck in the mud again," Dr Barber told BBC News

It's tough out there for us farmers, with all the regulations and red tape choking the life out of our livelihoods. We bust our backs day in and day out to put food on the table, only to be hit with unfair trade deals and competition from overseas. The government needs to start supporting American farmers first and foremost, protecting our interests and helping us thrive instead of hindering us with burdensome restrictions. We need policies that promote American agriculture, secure our borders to keep out cheap imports, and ensure our independence when it comes to food production. It's time to put America first in agriculture and give us the tools we need to keep feeding this great nation.

Self-development is a journey that allows us to grow, learn, and become the best versions of ourselves. As a primary school teacher, I have witnessed firsthand the power of self-development in young minds. Encouraging students to set goals, work hard, and believe in themselves is a crucial part of their educational journey. I believe that self-reflection, continuous learning, and seeking new experiences are key components of personal growth. By fostering a growth mindset and embracing challenges, we can all embark on a journey of self-discovery and improvement. I invite you to share your thoughts on self-development and how it has impacted your life or the lives of those around you. Let's inspire each other to strive for personal growth and excellence.

Self-development is a journey that we embark on throughout our lives. It involves introspection, growth, and continuous learning. As someone who values humanity and creativity, I believe that self-development is essential for personal fulfillment and success. By setting goals, seeking feedback, and being open to new experiences, we can constantly evolve and become the best versions of ourselves. I encourage my students to embrace self-development as a lifelong process, as it not only benefits them individually but also contributes positively to the world around them. Let's engage in a discussion on the strategies and challenges of self-development, sharing our insights and experiences to inspire one another on this transformative journey.

Everyone’s going crazy over wind and solar, but what they don’t tell you is how often those things fail. I read about a blackout in Texas and someone said it was because wind turbines froze. So obviously renewables are unreliable and we can’t depend on them. We’ve had fossil fuels for over a century — they’ve always worked, so why change now?

These so-called “green” solutions are just another excuse to raise taxes and kill jobs. Ever notice how these climate fanatics want to shut down coal plants, but never talk about how many families depend on them for work? It's clear they care more about trees than people. This whole movement is driven by emotion, not logic.

And don’t get me started on electric cars. Lithium mining destroys the environment, but nobody wants to talk about that. Plus, most EVs still charge from coal-based electricity — so where’s the climate benefit? The only reason anyone buys one is to virtue signal on Instagram or get government handouts.

If the climate crisis were really that urgent, why aren’t the billionaires panicking? You think Bill Gates is giving up his private jet or beachfront mansion? They clearly know something we don’t. This whole thing feels like a hoax to make the rich richer while the rest of us pay the price.

First of all, if climate change were real, why was it freezing last winter? I had to shovel snow for three days straight. Global warming? More like global nonsense. These so-called scientists can’t even predict the weather next week, yet we're supposed to believe their 50-year forecasts?

Let’s be honest — this is all about control. The same people who pushed COVID lockdowns are now telling us to eat bugs and stop driving. It’s the elites trying to make us poor while they fly around in private jets. If climate change were truly serious, they’d stop vacationing in Bali and start living like the rest of us.

Plus, I read that volcanoes release more CO₂ than humans ever could. And didn’t the planet survive the Ice Age without any help from wind turbines or Teslas? The Earth takes care of itself — we’re just along for the ride. Anyone who buys into this climate cult is either brainwashed or getting paid.

Well, when it comes to climate change, I've got some strong opinions based on my experience in the oil industry and my passion for defending American values. Look, there's no denying that the climate is changing - it's been changing for millions of years, long before humans were even around. However, what I question is the extent to which human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, is responsible for the current changes we're seeing.

I believe that the narrative around climate change has been politicized to push for more government control and regulations that stifle our economy and infringe on our individual freedoms. The so-called "consensus" in the scientific community is often portrayed as unanimous, but there are many reputable scientists who challenge the mainstream views on climate change. I think it's essential to consider all perspectives and not just blindly follow what the media or politicians tell us.

Furthermore, I stand by the importance of fossil fuels in maintaining our national strength and energy independence. The oil industry has played a crucial role in fueling our economy and providing jobs for countless Americans. We shouldn't demonize this industry but rather work towards responsible and sustainable energy practices that balance environmental concerns with economic growth.

In conclusion, I believe in taking a balanced approach to addressing climate change that considers the scientific evidence alongside the economic and social implications of proposed solutions. We can't ignore the reality of climate change, but we also can't afford to rush into policies that have far-reaching consequences without thorough evaluation. It's crucial to protect our environment while also safeguarding our freedoms and prosperity as a nation.

BRUSSELS, June 10 (Reuters) - A more rightward-leaning European Parliament will make it harder to pass ambitious EU climate policies, but the majority of Europe's current world-leading green policies are likely to stay put, lawmakers, officials and analysts said.
Provisional results in the European Parliament election on Sunday night showed centrist parties holding a majority, but gains for right-wing and far-right parties sceptical of the EU's "Green Deal" package of environmental policies, and heavy losses for Green parties.

"I don't think that we'll be rolling back on (climate) policies. But I do think that it will be more complicated to get new policies off the ground," Bas Eickhout, head of the European Parliament's Greens lawmaker group, told Reuters.
EU climate measures over the next five years will depend on the incoming European Commission, which is responsible for proposing EU laws. But the newly-elected European Parliament will get a say on every new green policy.
Sunday's election result signals tougher maths to approve new EU climate measures.
"All new policies will be harder to pass. But backsliding is very unlikely," Krzysztof Bolesta, Poland's secretary of state for climate, told Reuters.
"It is possible that new ambition will be delayed, mostly for populistic reasons," agreed Julian Popov, who until April was EU member Bulgaria's environment minister.
That could have consequences for an upcoming 2040 EU climate target, needed to steer the EU towards its 2050 net zero emissions target. The EU Commission has suggested the 2040 goal should be an ambitious 90% emissions cut, but it needs approval from both EU countries and the Parliament.
The upcoming European Commission and Parliament will also face tough decisions on whether to introduce new policies to push industries towards that 2040 target.
That includes farming, a sector whose emissions have barely fallen since 2005. But after months of protests across Europe by angry farmers, there is little political appetite to target the sector with new rules, especially if the cost of complying with them would drive up food prices for citizens already dealing with the biggest jump in living costs in a generation.
Shares in renewable energy companies were knocked lower by concerns the election results could slow the green energy transition.
Wind turbine makers, Vestas (VWS.CO), opens new tab and Nordex (NDXG.DE), opens new tab, were down more than 3% on Monday. Orsted (ORSTED.CO), opens new tab was down 0.5%.

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Straight political reporting on EU election impact - baseline control

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