Subscribe now
shark

Sharks at unprecedented risk of extinction after 71 per cent decline

27 January 2021

Numbers of oceanic sharks and rays have declined at an “alarming” 71 per cent over almost half a century, leading to an unprecedented increase in their risk of extinction


The Galapagos Archipelago is home to unique species including marine iguanas

The waters of the Galapagos Islands are being invaded by alien species

28 March 2019

53 non-native organisms have been spotted in the protected marine environment of the Galapagos. Ships may be to blame – and worse species could be on their way


Sperm whales are tracking fishing boats and stealing their fish

Sperm whales are tracking fishing boats and stealing their fish

8 June 2018

Fishing boats in the Gulf of Alaska are being stalked by enormous sperm whales, which charge in and rip huge volumes of fish from the lines


Half of life on Earth has vanished since we arrived on the scene

Half of life on Earth has vanished since we arrived on the scene

21 May 2018

The biomass of living organisms on the planet has halved since human civilisation began, and humans now outweigh all wild mammals tenfold


Virtuoso bowhead whales constantly make up new songs

Virtuoso bowhead whales constantly make up new songs

3 April 2018

Bowhead whales are such talented singers they can make two sounds simultaneously, and they invent new songs every year


Much of nature is near collapse and that means society is too

Much of nature is near collapse and that means society is too

23 March 2018

An assessment of Earth’s biodiversity predicts catastrophic losses within decades, with severe knock-on effects for human civilisation like shortages of food


A very pregnant female ray had to fend off four courting males

A very pregnant female ray had to fend off four courting males

22 March 2018

Giant devil rays have been filmed courting for the first time, and it turns out the males do not even wait for the females to give birth


The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is gobbling up ever more plastic

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is gobbling up ever more plastic

22 March 2018

There's at least four times as much plastic floating in the Pacific as we thought, and a lot of it may have floated over from Japan after the 2011 Tohoku tsunami


North Atlantic right whale

North Atlantic right whales didn't have a single calf this year

27 February 2018

The failure of the breeding season bodes ill for endangered North Atlantic right whales, which are down to a population of just 430


Australia's A$60 million plan for Great Barrier Reef won't work

Australia's A$60 million plan for Great Barrier Reef won't work

23 January 2018

The Australian government has pledged millions of dollars in extra funding to protect the Great Barrier Reef, but none of it will go to tackling the biggest threat


Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop