Water & Oceans

"Plastic items from takeaway food and drink dominate the litter in the world’s oceans, according to the most comprehensive study to date."

"Lake Mead has declined to its lowest level since the reservoir was filled in the 1930s following the construction of Hoover Dam, marking a new milestone for the water-starved Colorado River in a downward spiral that shows no sign of letting up."

"Liberal Senate Democrats are unloading on a bipartisan group of senators working on an infrastructure deal, warning that the effort to win GOP backing could erode support on the left -- underscoring the stiff resistance the negotiators face in shepherding the proposal through a narrowly divided Congress."

"The surprising value of the country’s dive tourism industry gives another reason to protect its marine ecosystems."

"An international team of scientists is preparing to trap a dozen baleen whales off the coast of Norway and conduct hearing tests on them to gauge their sensitivity to human-made sounds such as sonar."

"Iron ore miner Vale SA's decomissioned Xingu dam is at "imminent risk of collapsing," according to a statement on Wednesday by the Regional Labor Department for the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais."

"The Biden administration is planning to restore wetlands protections lost under a Trump-era rule that promotes development, the EPA announced Wednesday."