David Roberts

This company claimed to ‘de-extinct’ dire wolves. Then the fighting started. Colossal’s bold announcements have drawn criticism from many scientists, but the billion-dollar firm is not backing down.

There's so much wrong with Colossal Biosciences' comments in this @nature.com article www.nature.com/articles/d41.... It's our job as scientists & academics to provide expert opinion & scientific commentary as part of our critic & conscience role in society to help inform public opinion 1/7 🧵

Rewilding charity seeks views on reintroducing storks to London Storks disappeared from the skies above London centuries ago due to hunting and habitat loss.

BBC News - Does London need a delivery of white storks?
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Mission under way to save 'world's most beautiful' snails Researchers in Cuba and the UK are working together to reveal the biological secrets of the beautiful but endangered Polymita snail.

BBC News - Mission begins to save snails threatened by own beauty
www.bbc.com/news/article...

What Ocean Ramsey does is not shark science or conservation: some brief thoughts on “the Shark Whisperer” documentary Netflix has a new (sarcastic air quotes) “documentary” out about Ocean Ramsey, who longtime readers and followers know is a serial wildlife harasser who also coordinates massive online …

Whenever I (or other shark conservation experts) say "Ocean Ramsey does not raise awareness, she says very wrong things about threats to sharks and their policy solutions," some people feel the need to say "but she taught me something" ...and what they say is always a very wrong thing!

How the mystery of Winston Churchill's dead platypus was finally solved The mystery of a dead platypus, a Nazi submarine and a 45-day voyage has long remained unsolved - until now.

BBC News - The mystery of Winston Churchill's dead platypus was unsolved, until now
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Rights of Hampshire rivers recognised in council votes Waterways have the right to be free from pollution and to regenerate, two councils declare.

BBC News - Rights of Hampshire rivers recognised in council votes - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Forest near Loch Ness gets special European status Dundreggan's trees have been recognised for their genetic diversity.

BBC News - Forest near Loch Ness gets special European status - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'Communities' of strange, extreme life seen for first time in deep ocean A Chinese-led research team captures pictures of life at depths of more than 9km in the northwest Pacific Ocean.

BBC News - 'Communities' of strange, extreme life seen for first time in deep ocean
www.bbc.com/news/article...

2,500-year-old Siberian 'ice mummy' had intricate tattoos The woman, aged about 50, was buried in a Siberian ice cave and discovered millennia later.

BBC News - 2,500-year-old Siberian 'ice mummy' had intricate tattoos, imaging reveals
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Tsunami alerts scaled back after huge earthquake prompts evacuations across Pacific Alerts were issued across the Pacific following the 8.8 magnitude quake in Russia's Far East, but no deaths were reported.

BBC News - Tsunami alerts scaled back after huge earthquake prompts evacuations across Pacific - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

UK gets first female Astronomer Royal in 350 years Prof Michele Dougherty is the first woman to be appointed to the influential post.

BBC News - UK gets first female Astronomer Royal in 350 years - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Water buffalo boost wildlife at Hertfordshire nature reserve The animals improve biodiversity by grazing ditches and waterlogged marshy areas, a charity says.

BBC News - Water buffalo boost wildlife at Hertfordshire nature reserve - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Appeal to find data tags from sharks and rays in Jersey Jersey Marine Resources promises £50 to anyone who returns detached shark and ray data tags to them.

BBC News - Appeal to find data tags from sharks and rays
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Ennerdale's hairy ant experiment to make forest more resistant Forestry England is relocating ant nests from Yorkshire to protect woodland in the Lake District.

BBC News - Ennerdale's hairy ant experiment to make forest more resistant - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Nightjar numbers tracked in major heathland bird survey The largest heathland bird survey for more than 20 years tracks the UK's mysterious summer visitor.

BBC News - Nightjar numbers tracked in major heathland bird survey - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

UN chief urges Australia to aim higher as it debates climate goals Despite efforts to reduce emissions faster, Australia is one of the biggest polluters per capita.

BBC News - UN chief urges Australia to aim higher as it debates climate goals
www.bbc.com/news/article...

BBC uncovers lasting toxic legacy of cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka Scientists warn the damage to the environment after the 2021 X-Press Pearl disaster could be much more enduring.

BBC News - BBC uncovers lasting toxic legacy of cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Wildfires rage in Greece and Turkey as extreme heat persists Firefighters warn of a "difficult day" ahead, with temperatures are forecast to reach up to 44C (111.2F) on Sunday.

BBC News - Wildfires rage in Greece and Turkey as extreme heat persists
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Cumbria and Lancashire hen harrier chicks fledge Staff intervened to help feed the chicks after the parent hen harriers disappeared, the RSPB says.

BBC News - Cumbria and Lancashire hen harrier chicks fledge - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thousands of pollution tests cancelled due to lack of staff Testing programmes affected include those monitoring the impact of drought.

BBC News - Thousands of pollution tests cancelled due to lack of staff - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ten workers killed battling wildfires in Turkey Forestry workers and rescuers were trapped by fire following a change in the wind direction.

BBC News - Ten workers killed battling wildfires in Turkey
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Cover July 2025 | Oikos Journal Cover July 2025 | Oikos Journal

(Edited) Our cover for July! 🦜
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Chesini et al. (2025) evidences how recently and long-ago burned areas show reduced species and interaction richness, raising concerns about long-term impacts of human disturbances on ecosystem resilience.

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'Eel lanes' created in South Downs rivers to assist migration Dedicated lanes are to be created in rivers in South Downs National Park to assist with migration.

BBC News - 'Eel lanes' created in rivers to assist migration
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Top UN court says countries can sue each other over climate change The decision from the world's highest court has been welcomed by developing nations at most risk from climate change.

BBC News - Top UN court says countries can sue each other over climate change - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Archaeologists identify 250-year-old Shipwreck in Orkney Scientific analysis and community-led research led to the identification of the Earl of Chatham, which was found last year.

BBC News - Archaeologists identify 250-year-old shipwreck in Orkney
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Teeth marks suggest 'terror bird' was killed by reptile 13 million years ago Terror birds could be taller than a human and had powerful legs and hooked, flesh-ripping beaks.

BBC News - Teeth marks suggest 'terror bird' was killed by reptile 13 million years ago
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Ningaloo: Australia's coral reefs bleached by marine heatwave Divers at one of Australia's world-famous reefs said their experience was "like swimming on a corpse".

BBC News - The 'underwater bushfire' cooking Australia's reefs
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Kashmir's summers are getting hotter, taking a toll on people and farms In Indian-administered Kashmir, low rainfall and rising temperatures are putting people's livelihoods at risk.

BBC News - Kashmir's growing heat crisis hits health and harvests
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Devon and Cornwall campaigners' mixed response to water overhaul Campaigners respond to the government's decision to scrap the water regulator Ofwat.

BBC News - Campaigners give mixed response to water overhaul
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Durrell return threatened gecko species to Mauritius Durrell Conservation says it cared for and bred 30 lesser night geckos at Jersey Zoo for five years.

BBC News - Eggs of threatened gecko returned to Mauritius
www.bbc.com/news/article...