Chris Baraniuk

Hummingbird hawk-moth sightings have surged across the UK in 2026, potentially driven by hot weather, strong southerly winds and drying food plants in southern Europe and North Africa. Experts expect a strong summer but caution that it is too early to compare numbers with previous years. Milder British winters linked to climate change could allow more moths to survive, reproduce and eventually become a regular resident species rather than a purely migratory visitor.

As UK heatwaves become more frequent and intense, homeowners and businesses are adopting measures to reduce indoor overheating, from temporary yoghurt or reflective window treatments to brise-soleil, detachable awnings, shade sails, blinds and pergolas. Research at Loughborough University found that external window shading can lower indoor temperatures by about 6C and is more effective than internal shading. Demand for products has surged, but many older UK homes, as well as schools, hospitals and care homes, still lack adequate protection. Experts say sustained investment, stronger building adaptation and a cultural shift are needed as the UK adjusts to a hotter climate.

Lanchester Wines heats its Gateshead warehouses with water from a flooded former coal mine, using a heat pump to maintain wine-storage temperatures and reduce heating bills by about 35%. The company encountered poorly located boreholes, regulatory complexity and difficult access negotiations with the Mining Remediation Authority, but a new agreement through 2044 has streamlined the process and could serve as a template for other projects. Experts say mine-water heating can provide relatively warm, low-carbon energy, although drilling risks, toxic gases, corrosion and mineral buildup create technical challenges. With 23,000 flooded coal mines in the UK and many homes and businesses located nearby, the technology has substantial expansion potential; existing networks in north-east England, the Netherlands and Germany demonstrate that it can supply commercial, cultural and residential buildings.

Rising UK temperatures are driving rapid growth in household air-conditioning ownership, but cooling systems can consume substantial electricity and increase emissions. Portable units are relatively inefficient and costly to run, while properly sized built-in systems and especially reversible air-to-air heat pumps offer better efficiency and can support home decarbonisation. Solar panels, batteries and running systems during periods of abundant renewable electricity can reduce their impact. Shading, ventilation, insulation, green roofs and fans should be considered first where possible, although air conditioning can protect older, vulnerable and other at-risk people during dangerous heatwaves.

A global analysis of more than 5,300 coastal-litter surveys found that food and drink packaging—including wrappers, bottles, lids and caps—is the most widespread shoreline litter, appearing in 93% of the 112 countries analysed or estimated. Plastic bags and cigarettes were far less prevalent, while regional differences were observed, particularly the persistence of plastic bags in Asia. Researchers argue that limiting plastics to essential uses and expanding refillable containers could reduce pollution. The findings come as negotiations for an international plastics treaty face delays and funding uncertainty, with experts calling for economic models that treat discarded plastic as lost value rather than disposable waste.

Scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder induced the bioluminescent algae Pyrocystis lunula to glow for up to 25 minutes by exposing it to a mildly acidic solution. Encapsulating the algae in hydrogel enabled the team to 3D-print glowing cyan shapes, suggesting possible uses in low-waste light-emitting devices, glow products and biosensors that respond to environmental toxins. Experts caution that translating the method from controlled laboratory conditions to practical applications will be difficult, while also questioning how long the algae can survive at the study’s acidic pH. The evolutionary purpose of the algae’s natural blue flashes remains uncertain.

A 1,200-year record of mountain cherry blossom dates in Japan will continue after the death of Yasuyuki Aono, who meticulously compiled historical and modern observations at Arashiyama in Kyoto. A researcher has offered to take over the observations using the same species, sources and location. Aono’s dataset shows that peak flowering has occurred progressively earlier as temperatures have risen, with 2021 and 2023 recording the earliest blooms. Scientists say the record is exceptionally valuable for studying climate change, while related research indicates that milder winters are causing some cherry trees to produce less complete displays.

Birdex is a Pokémon-style birdwatching app that awards points and digital cards for recording UK bird sightings, with users having logged more than 200,000 observations. Developers say the rewards-based format is intended to engage young people with nature, while users praise its appeal for families. Critics object to its AI-generated bird artwork, which the developers say was used because of limited funds. The British Trust for Ornithology sees possible citizen-science benefits if the data are shared, but warns that gamifying rare-bird sightings could encourage disturbance, particularly of vulnerable capercaillies during nesting season.

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University analyzed 18 organ-tuning books from churches in London, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, with records dating to 1966. The preliminary findings show that average summer temperatures inside sampled urban churches rose from 17.2°C in the late 1960s to 19.8°C in the 2020s, suggesting both increased heating and broader climate warming. Experts caution that ventilation and other factors may also influence the readings, but say the records offer a rare source of historical environmental data. Rising temperatures and humidity can damage organ materials and alter pitch, prompting the researchers to seek additional tuning books for further study.

A year-long study of seven all-electric social-housing homes in Birmingham found that their peak electricity demand was lower and more variable than expected, reducing concerns that heat pumps would overload the grid. Annual energy use was 40% to 67% below the UK household average, although resident misunderstandings about immersion heaters and heat-pump controls reduced efficiency in some cases. Researchers and housing experts said the findings support wider heat-pump adoption and show that standard energy-performance calculations need to be more realistic. Midland Heart is considering battery storage and planning 95 more homes based on the project, while the final version of England’s Future Homes Standard remains unpublished.

Marine biologist Eric Clua argues that a small number of individual sharks may learn to regard humans as prey and become responsible for multiple attacks. DNA evidence linked one tiger shark to bites on women near Saint-Martin and St Kitts and Nevis, although efforts to locate and remove that shark found no match among nearly 50 sampled tiger sharks. Some scientists consider the hypothesis plausible and see targeted removal as preferable to indiscriminate culls, while others say the evidence is too limited and that tracking specific sharks is impractical. Most experts emphasize preventive measures, such as lifeguards, and warn that the “problem shark” idea could reinforce misleading portrayals of sharks as human-eating monsters.

Waterwheels are being revived as a low-carbon source of dependable electricity for remote communities and historic sites. Projects in Kashmir, Nepal, Germany and Northern Ireland show that waterwheel generators can support off-grid energy systems, power buildings and pump water, while costing as little as about $1,000 for some small designs. Experts cite their continuous output and potential efficiency of up to 85%, though larger installations can be expensive and aquatic impacts require monitoring.

A critically endangered North Atlantic right whale was observed off McSwynes Bay in County Donegal, Ireland—the first recorded sighting off the country in 114 years. Holidaymaker Adrian Maguire filmed the whale while fishing, and researchers identified it from its distinctive white callosities. With fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales remaining, scientists say deaths from ship strikes and fishing-gear entanglements are preventing population recovery. The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and New England Aquarium are working to identify the individual, while the public has been asked to keep its distance. The sighting offers a rare glimmer of hope but is not considered evidence that the species is returning to Irish waters.

A rare localized snowfall observed near West Molesey in Surrey on 23 January 2023 is thought to have formed when moisture in freezing fog condensed around pollution particles, potentially from industrial facilities near Heathrow. Satellite imagery showed three snowfall bands despite dry, high-pressure conditions, while experts said conventional cloud-based snowfall was unlikely. Aircraft ice trails and nearby reservoirs may also have contributed. The phenomenon is expected to become rarer in the UK as temperatures rise because of global heating.