Environment

One week after Israel's strike on Iran's South Pars gas field sparked retaliatory attacks on Gulf energy facilities, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran rejected a cease-fire offer on March 25. The escalating conflict is crippling water security, with strikes damaging desalination plants vital to Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

March 26, 2026 Reported by AI

As Earth Hour approaches this Saturday, its organizer emphasized that the one-hour event for the planet serves as a reminder to conserve resources at all times. Angela Consuelo Ibay of WWF-Philippines said the symbolic switch-off aims to foster habits amid the energy crisis. The Department of Energy suspended spot market operations on Thursday to ease consumer burdens.

Scientists in Brazil and Peru are using machine learning for early outbreak predictions and Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to curb dengue fever, amid rising cases fueled by climate change. In Lima, a 2024 epidemic overwhelmed hospitals, prompting adaptations now informing regional strategies. These efforts offer models as subtropical U.S. areas report local transmissions.

March 25, 2026 Reported by AI

Scientists at Harper Adams University in the United Kingdom used fiber optic cables and distributed acoustic sensing to demonstrate how plowing destroys soil structures that hold water. The research, detailed in a new paper, shows tilled fields retain less moisture than undisturbed ones despite appearing looser. Findings highlight benefits of regenerative farming practices like no-till agriculture.

Egyptian authorities removed building violations and encroachments on agricultural and state-owned land during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, the Ministry of Local Development and Environment announced on Monday. Minister Manal Awad said the campaigns covered 21 governorates with ongoing monitoring.

March 23, 2026 Reported by AI

Uppsala Municipality is closing Eriksbergsvägen between Granitvägen and Ekebyvägen from March 23 to May 8, evenings from 9pm to 1am, to let common frogs, moor frogs, smooth newts and common toads cross safely.