PLAYING THE LONG GAME

Hello

When environmental challenges are urgent, progress can feel slow. But climate action can be two things at once – requiring urgency in some areas and patience in others. Climate deniers and regressive governments do their fair share to block progress, and the meticulous methods of scientific data collection can also feel arduous at times. So it’s worth celebrating the wins where they happen. 

Last year solar power and wind generation finally surpassed hydropower generation. Beneath the waves, a gray whale was recently spotted in the Atlantic, where it’s thought to have been extinct for over 200 years. And the Eurasian beaver (extinct in many countries since the 16th century) is making a remarkable comeback amid the global decline of biodiversity.  

Lasting change, whether in science, conservation, or policy, takes time. And though it’s a long game, it’s one worth playing.

A NOT SO 'GLACIAL PACE'

Glaciers are the slow-moving giants of our cryosphere, changing the landscape around them over time – a very, very long time. Some have been around for millions of years, carving out the earth and shaping mountains and valleys. Yet now many of them are disappearing alarmingly quickly. 

A new 3D study of crevasses on the Greenland Ice Sheet (a massive ice formation that acts as a vast glacier) shows that deep cracks in the ice are expanding faster than ever as our planet warms, speeding up ice loss and raising sea levels. These crevasses, which are wedge-shaped fractures that form where ice flows more rapidly, are particularly concerning because they can increase instability at the glacier’s edges. 

Glaciers are vital to our planet, providing life-sustaining nutrients for ecosystems and storing around 70% of the world’s freshwater. But they’re now at risk of vanishing entirely, causing more frequent floods, avalanches, and droughts in the process.

LPF has been warning of the melting of glaciers for years. One of Lewis’s first swims was across the glacial Lake Pumori on Mt Everest in 2010, where he drew attention to the melting of the Himalayan glaciers, a water lifeline for over 2 billion people. 

Fast forward 15 years and glacier melt has only accelerated as the climate crisis intensifies. In response, the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation 2025 has been launched by UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organisation. This global initiative calls for collective action to protect Earth’s ice, because what took millennia to shape is now rapidly melting away.

WOMEN SHAPING SCIENCE

As women continue to make their mark in traditionally male-dominated fields, their long-overlooked contributions to science are now more vital than ever. Yesterday, on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrated women who, like trailblazers Eugenie Clark, Sylvia Earle, and Rachel Carson, are making waves through their research, passion, and ideas.

Women and girls are at the forefront of the groundbreaking work we strive to highlight through our Champions Community. From Dr Pippa Moore’s work to restore kelp forests and combat climate change, and Dr Kristen Marhaver’s pioneering coral propagation methods, to Ruth Mathews source-to-sea approach for river conservation, their efforts are redefining how we protect our blue planet.

SEAWEEDING THE FUTURE

In science, accumulating reliable data over time is essential for meaningful progress, and it’s no different when it comes to protecting our oceans. Long-term research takes patience, but the results are often invaluable. 

That’s why we’re excited to launch our new Ocean Research social media series, highlighting the innovative and imperative work necessary to protect our oceans. First up is Kelp Ark.

Kelp Ark is dedicated to preserving the genetic diversity of seaweed through a global biobank. In partnership with the Universities of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Southern California, their work will protect keystone species and high-potential seaweed crops from the ongoing existential threats of warming oceans and the human impact. By harnessing the potential of seaweed to address globally significant societal challenges, they are paving the way for a more sustainable and biodiverse future for our oceans and the people who depend on them.

OCEAN BULLETIN

🐠 A new study links algal blooms to disorientation in whales, increasing the risk of ship strikes and entanglement.

🐠 Genetic diversity gives rare mako sharks hope of surviving catastrophe if overfishing stops.

🐠 Oil spill leaves 19 African penguins in rehab near Cape Town – cause still unknown.

🐠 Pace of global heating leads renowned climate scientist to declare target of 2°C as ‘dead’.

🐠 Scientists set to use satellites to count Antarctic krill from space using subtle seawater colour changes.

LOVE BIRDS

Our Ocean Animal of the Month is the wandering albatross, a seafaring, majestic bird with a 3.5-metre wingspan. Did you know that these romantic seabirds mate for life? They may take years to find the right mate, but once they do, they perform intricate and lengthy courtship dances to establish and reaffirm their bond. Now that’s true love!

Image credits
Turtle on beach © David Sng | Glacier © Kelvin Trautman | Eugenie Clark © Mote Marine Laboratory | Kelp farm © Nessim Stevenson | Albatross couple © mzphoto.cz