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Mercury contamination found at more ancient Maya sites

Mercury contamination found at more ancient Maya sites

By Will Dunham Nov 6 (Reuters) - For the ancient Maya, the vibrant red mineral cinnabar held deep sacred meaning, representing blood, life and the soul. They used it widely as pigment in murals and temples while also employing it in ceremonies and funerary rites.

EIB Establishes Regional Representation in Panama to Strengthen Central American and Mexican Partnerships

EIB Establishes Regional Representation in Panama to Strengthen Central American and Mexican Partnerships

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has formally launched its regional representation for Central America and Mexico, based in Panama. This new office, operational since October 2026, aims to strengthen partnerships with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama. The EIB's cooperation with Panama is already significant, with over $1.1 billion in historical financing, including $500 million for the Panama Canal expansion. The regional representation will facilitate closer engagement with governments, financial institutions, and businesses across the region, supporting project preparation and implementation in sectors such as energy, sustainable mobility, water and sanitation, and innovation. The launch event was attended by EIB President Nadia Calviño and Panama’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, along with other regional representatives.

New Study Reveals Self-Reinforcing Dynamics Intensifying Extreme Heatwaves in U.S. and Globally

New Study Reveals Self-Reinforcing Dynamics Intensifying Extreme Heatwaves in U.S. and Globally

A new study published in Science Advances, led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), has identified a previously misunderstood self-reinforcing interaction that makes extreme heatwaves 10 percent hotter. This interaction involves temperature, soil moisture, and atmospheric pressure. Researchers used machine learning and statistical analysis to discover that in mid-latitude regions, including parts of North America, these three factors begin to interact and drive each other further once a certain temperature threshold is reached. This phenomenon contributes to 'mega heatwaves' that have significantly surpassed previous temperature records. For instance, the 2021 summer heatwave in the U.S. Pacific Northwest saw temperatures reach 4.6°C above prior records. The study explains that high-pressure systems increase solar radiation, while rising temperatures dry out soils, reducing evaporative cooling. These two-way relatio...

Study Confirms Hurricane Landfalls Increase Wildfire Activity in U.S. Gulf Coast Region

Study Confirms Hurricane Landfalls Increase Wildfire Activity in U.S. Gulf Coast Region

A recent study has provided empirical evidence supporting the long-held hypothesis that hurricane landfalls lead to increased wildfire activity along the U.S. Gulf Coast. The research analyzed data from 30 hurricanes that made landfall between 1992 and 2019, comparing wildfire activity five years before and after each storm. The findings indicate a rise in both the number of wildfires and the total area burned in the five years following hurricanes. This increase is attributed to factors such as elevated fuel accumulation from treefall and altered forest microclimates, including increased radiation, temperature, and aridity. The Florida Peninsula, in particular, experienced the most significant surge in wildfire activity, primarily within two to three years post-hurricane. The study also compared wildfire activity with fire weather index data to ensure that observed trends were directly linked to hurricane damage rather than general climatic factors, confirming the hurricane-fire interaction.

Iowa DNR Did Not Issue Warnings for 27 High E. coli Beach Tests This Summer

Iowa DNR Did Not Issue Warnings for 27 High E. coli Beach Tests This Summer

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) did not issue swim advisories for 27 instances this summer where single E. coli sample tests at state beaches exceeded state standards. The DNR conducts weekly tests for E. coli and cyanobacteria toxins at state park beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Swim advisories are typically issued when tested samples surpass a specific threshold. However, the decision to issue an advisory is also influenced by a five-year data point that classifies beaches as 'vulnerable,' 'transitional,' or 'less-vulnerable.' Beaches classified as 'less-vulnerable' do not receive advisories based on a single high E. coli test. Advisories are issued for all beaches if the five-week geometric mean for E. coli exceeds 126 colony forming units (CFU) per 100 milliliters of water. Tammie Krausman, DNR communications director, stated that due to the time it takes to receive lab results (1.5 to 2 days), the department uses a predictive model based on historical data, as bacteria levels of...

South Korea and Mexico Report Bird Flu Outbreaks, Over 300,000 Birds Culled

South Korea and Mexico Report Bird Flu Outbreaks, Over 300,000 Birds Culled

Mexico and South Korea have both reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, leading to the culling of over 300,000 birds. In Mexico, the H5N1 virus was detected on a farm in the Yucatan Peninsula, affecting a flock of 225,860 laying hens in the town of Uman. This marks Mexico's first poultry outbreak in over two years. Simultaneously, South Korea reported an outbreak of avian influenza in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, near the border with North Korea, where 90,986 poultry were affected. In both instances, all infected birds were culled as a precautionary measure to prevent further spread, according to reports from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The global spread of bird flu has been a significant concern for governments and the poultry industry due to its impact on supply, food prices, and the risk of human transmission.

Vermont's Lake Champlain Cleanup Falters Despite $900 Million Investment, EPA Warns

Vermont's Lake Champlain Cleanup Falters Despite $900 Million Investment, EPA Warns

Vermont's decade-long effort to clean up Lake Champlain is significantly behind schedule, despite nearly $1 billion spent on water quality projects and programs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned last year that Vermont is "not on track" to meet its 2036 cleanup goal, needing to more than double its annual pace. Currently, the state has achieved only 35% of its target. The primary issue is excessive phosphorus, which fuels toxic cyanobacteria blooms, also known as blue-green algae. These blooms have led to pet deaths, beach closures, and negatively impacted local businesses and property values. Phosphorus enters the lake from agricultural runoff, stormwater, and sewage treatment plants. While some areas of the lake have shown minor improvements, seven of 15 sampling stations have consistently exceeded EPA phosphorus limits since 2015, and four stations recorded higher average phosphorus levels in the last decade compared to the previous one. State agencies have been slow to implement mor...

International Atomic Energy Agency Launches Global Network to Monitor Lake Isotopes for Conservation

International Atomic Energy Agency Launches Global Network to Monitor Lake Isotopes for Conservation

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has initiated the Global Network of Isotopes in Lakes (GNIL), a new program designed to establish an international database for stable isotopes, water chemistry measurements, and environmental observations in lakes. This initiative aims to provide countries with scientific data to inform conservation and restoration efforts for freshwater ecosystems. According to Najat Mokhtar, IAEA deputy director general and head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened globally due to degradation, unsustainable water use, and changing environmental conditions. The GNIL will utilize stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes as natural fingerprints in water to trace its origins, age, and movement. By measuring the balance between heavy and light isotopes, scientists can determine precipitation patterns and water sources for lakes and rivers. Initially, GNIL will focus on establishing common protocols, governance, and...

International Science Council to Host Webinar on Global Plastic Pollution Treaty Negotiations

International Science Council to Host Webinar on Global Plastic Pollution Treaty Negotiations

The International Science Council (ISC) is organizing a webinar to facilitate discussions on the global plastic pollution treaty. This event aims to inform the intersessional discussions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution, specifically advancing towards INC-5.4. The webinar, scheduled for November 24, 2026, from 14:30-15:45 UTC, will provide updates on the ongoing negotiations. It seeks to foster dialogue between national delegations and the scientific community, exploring avenues for the ISC membership and the broader scientific community to contribute to the treaty's final stages and its subsequent implementation. Key participants will include Margaret Spring, Chair of the ISC Expert Group on Plastic Pollution; Salvatore Aricò, ISC CEO; Julio Cordano, Chair of the INC; Elena Tomesani, ISC Focal Point on Plastic Pollution; and Patrick Schröder, a member of the ISC Expert Group on Plastic Pollution.

Birds Not Mosquitos Coalition Halts Incompatible Insect Technique Amidst Plummeting Native Bird Populations in Hawai'i

Birds Not Mosquitos Coalition Halts Incompatible Insect Technique Amidst Plummeting Native Bird Populations in Hawai'i

The Birds Not Mosquitos coalition, a multi-agency effort in Hawai'i, has paused its incompatible insect technique (IIT) program after an unexpected surge in mosquito numbers on Kaua'i led to a dramatic decline in native bird populations. The coalition, which includes the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, University of Hawai'i, National Park Service, and various non-profit organizations, had invested significantly in the IIT. This technique involved releasing male mosquitoes infected with a specific bacteria to prevent female mosquitoes from producing viable eggs. The initiative received over $49 million in federal funding and $2.4 million from the state. Despite initial optimism, data by late 2025 indicated the IIT was not preventing avian malaria at the necessary rates. The situation worsened on Kaua'i last winter, with an unprecedented mosquito population explosion on the Alaka'i Plateau, a critical habitat for native forest...

Study Links Little Ice Age Climate Variability to Vitamin D Deficiency in Industrial-Era England

Study Links Little Ice Age Climate Variability to Vitamin D Deficiency in Industrial-Era England

A recent study examining an 18th and 19th-century Quaker cemetery in North East England has found dental evidence of disrupted mineral metabolism, suggesting widespread vitamin D deficiency. Researchers at the Coach Lane cemetery in North Shields observed interglobular dentin (IGD) in 76.2% of the 21 individuals studied, with 68.8% showing multiple episodes. This dental condition, indicative of disordered mineral metabolism, was prevalent in a population whose historical timeline coincided with periods of intense volcanic activity and reduced solar output during the Little Ice Age. The study argues that climate variability, characterized by strong climatic shifts due to volcanic eruptions, solar minima, and ocean-atmosphere processes, should be considered a significant factor alongside industrial pollution, latitude, diet, and social conditions when assessing historical vitamin D deficiency. Large volcanic eruptions, such as the VEI 7 eruption of Tambora in 1815, reduced incoming solar radiation, while col...

U.S. State Department Advises 'Reconsider Travel' for Guatemala, Citing Specific High-Risk Areas

U.S. State Department Advises 'Reconsider Travel' for Guatemala, Citing Specific High-Risk Areas

The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 3 'Reconsider Travel' advisory for Guatemala, with four specific areas designated as Level 4 'Do Not Travel.' These high-risk areas include the departments of San Marcos and Huehuetenango, Zone 18 in Guatemala City, and Villa Nueva. These locations are generally not part of the typical tourist routes. For travelers, the practical advice is to fly into La Aurora airport, use a tourist shuttle to Antigua, avoid driving at night, and restrict travel to the Antigua, Atitlán, and Tikal corridor. The dry season, from November through April, is recommended for travel, as the rainy season from May through October can make trails muddy and water murky. U.S. citizens can enter visa-free for up to 90 days, a period shared across Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua under the CA-4 agreement, meaning border crossings do not reset the clock. Passports require six months of validity, and an extension for another 90 days is possible in Guatemala City for $25.