Latest news with #Azores
Gizmodo
22-07-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
You Don't Want to Know Where Scientists Just Found 27 Million Tons of Plastic
Despite the hundreds of millions of metric tons of plastic floating in our oceans—not to mention the microplastics in our saliva, blood, breast milk, and semen—researchers have been unable to account for all the plastic ever produced. A new study has just tracked down a large portion of it. Researchers from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and Utrecht University claim to be the first to provide a real estimate of ocean-polluting nanoplastics. Their research indicates that the North Atlantic Ocean alone hosts 27 million tons of floating plastic particles less than 1 micrometer (μm) in size. 'Plastic pollution of the marine realm is widespread, with most scientific attention given to macroplastics and microplastics. By contrast, ocean nanoplastics (<1 μm) remain largely unquantified, leaving gaps in our understanding of the mass budget of this plastic size class,' they explained in a study published earlier this month in the journal Nature. 'Our findings suggest that nanoplastics comprise the dominant fraction of marine plastic pollution.' To reach these conclusions, Utrecht graduate student and study co-author Sophie ten Hietbrink collected water samples from 12 locations while working aboard a research vessel traveling from the Azores to the continental shelf of Europe. She filtered the samples of anything larger than one micrometer and conducted a molecular analysis on what was left behind. The team then extrapolated its results to the entire North Atlantic Ocean. 27 million tons is 'a shocking amount,' Ten Hietbrink said in a NIOZ statement. 'But with this we do have an important answer to the paradox of the missing plastic.' Namely, that a large part of it is floating in our oceans, invisible to the naked eye. Unfortunately, there are a number of ways nanoparticles can end up in the oceans. While some likely arrive via rivers, others fall out of the sky with rain or on their own as 'dry deposition.' (Yes, we've even found plastic pollution in the sky). Nanoparticles can also form when large pieces of plastic already in the ocean are broken down by waves and/or sunlight, according to the researchers. The question now is how this pollution is impacting the world and its creatures—including us. 'It is already known that nanoplastics can penetrate deep into our bodies. They are even found in brain tissue. Now that we know they are so ubiquitous in the oceans, it's also obvious that they penetrate the entire ecosystem; from bacteria and other microorganisms to fish and top predators like humans,' said Helge Niemann, a geochemist at NIOZ and another co-author of the study. 'How that pollution affects the ecosystem needs further investigation.' The missing plastic paradox, however, is not completely solved, because not all plastics were represented in the samples. The team didn't find polyethylene or polypropylene, for example. 'It may well be that those were masked by other molecules in the study. We also want to know if nanoplastics are as abundant in the other oceans. It is to be feared that they do, but that remains to be proven,' Niemann added. 'The nanoplastics that are there, can never be cleaned up. So an important message from this research is that we should at least prevent the further pollution of our environment with plastics.'
North Wales Live
21-07-2025
- Climate
- North Wales Live
Summer's fourth heatwave an emerging threat as maps turn red
A fourth heatwave has been flagged as an emerging threat in early August. Temperatures are predicted to reach 31C in southern Britain with a chance some of this heat will be felt in North Wales. High pressure is currently modelled as moving in from the south-west for a time, bringing warmer conditions with the potential for things to turn hot. GFS data suggests temperatures may hit 28C in southeast Wales by Saturday, August 2. In this scenario, several days of warm to hot weather are possible, with the mercury peaking at 31C in eastern England on Sunday, August 3. Northeast Wales may see 24C-25C, on the edge of heatwave criteria, but conditions will remain cooler in northwest Wales, with some coastal areas struggling to reach seasonal averages. Netweather meteorologist Ian Simpson wrote: 'Long range guidance from the ECMWF 42-day forecasts and the Met Office point towards a likelihood of further generally dry weather in the south of Britain as we head into early August, possibly with high pressure moving in from the south-west for a time and bringing another spell of generally dry sunny weather and potential for it to turn hot again.' The Met Office is more guarded over the timings, saying there is 'only a small chance' of hot spells during late July and early August. However the forecaster said that, in the second week of August, high pressure may build from the southwest, bringing dryer and sunnier weather. In its long-range forecast from August 4-18, the Met Office said: 'There are signs that high pressure to the southwest may try to extend its influence across the UK, which could bring more in the way of dry, settled weather as we head further into August. 'Temperatures will likely continue to be near or above average overall, with a continuing chance of some very warm or hot spells, especially in the south and east, if high pressure wins out for a decent stretch of time.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Following Sunday's storms, another Met Office yellow alert for thunderstorms is in place over northeast Wales today (Monday, July 21). In some places, scattered heavy rain showers could yield 20mm-30mm of rain within an hour. A few areas might even see 40-50mm. Over the coming days and weeks, a "strong" Azores high is expected to linger off southwest Britain, occasionally nudging further north. This could bring a few days of higher temperatures in central and southern England from Friday, July 25, with some of this heat also pushing into Wales. Low pressure over Scandinavia may have a say on this scenario. Relatively cool northwesterly flows are expected to continue bringing wet weather to western Scotland – a yellow warning for rain is in place here for Tuesday, July 22 – and this may temper conditions further south going through to next weekend. For this reason, the Met Office describes the rest of July as 'changeable' as weather fronts battle it out. In northern areas it expects spells of rain or showers to be mixed in with some drier, brighter days. Southern Britain may see less of the wet stuff, said Mr Simpson. 'Many areas, particularly the south, probably not seeing much more rain through to the end of the month,' he said. 'It will probably end up relatively cloudy for most, with the north-westerlies bringing moisture in off the North Atlantic, although sheltered eastern and southern counties will see more sunny spells coming through than the north-west.' This generally north-westerly system is expected to cool things down in much of Europe this week, with hotter weather lingering only in southern Spain and Portugal, he added.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Yahoo
How Portuguese Culture Makes It Easier To Parent
This is part of Reason's 2025 summer travel issue. Click here to read the rest of the issue. My baby was stolen in a Portuguese airport. The culprit was a granny who worked in the bakery there, crafting pastéis de nata. While I was sorting out the rental car booking, my husband had taken our then-9-month-old son to fetch pastries. Our son quickly disappeared—taken behind the counter by an insistent old lady who wanted to show him around and, presumably, feed him spoonfuls of custard. Who am I to object to local custom? Portuguese culture grants special privileges to children and families, and those privileges really do make a big difference. We've been to Lisbon, surf towns to the west, the Azores, and even Cabo Verde, the African island nation and former colony, where many of the same norms apply. Pregnant women, the elderly, and people traveling with young kids get special lines for airport security and customs, ushered through as fast as possible. Native Portuguese will get offended if they see you in the normal line, instructing you to go to the priority line and sometimes getting the attention of the customs officer to make sure the system is adhered to—the only time Southern Europeans have ever been rule-abiding! Though their Northern European neighbors are strict about taxi cab car seat rules and paranoid about child safety on buses (in Norway they made me use a car seat), the Portuguese are relaxed about it, allowing parents to make whatever choices they deem best. This is helpful for those of us who don't travel with car seats, preferring to use public transit wherever possible. Their playgrounds allow lots of risky play. We availed ourselves of Lisbon's Jardim da Estrela, which had plenty of climbing structures, including one extending more than 15 feet in the air, full of kids as young as 5 jousting for the top spot. Contrast this with the American approach: Our illustrious federal regulators publish the Public Playground Safety Handbook, which discourages playground designers from using free-swinging ropes (which "present a potential strangulation hazard," as they could "fray" or "form a loop") and mandates the steepness of slides. Or worse, the New York approach: padlocking certain playgrounds, such as Hudson River Park's Pier 26 and Madison Square Park's, when it gets chilly out, because God forbid children slip or fall in the event that there's ice or snow. (Better to just stay inside glued to a screen, these policies seem to suggest.) In Lisbon, the public park facilities even had a miniature bathroom for potty-training kids, but you could also freely change a diaper on a park bench. The nearby day cares dressed kids for rain or shine, and they seemed to make outdoor time a habit. The moms did not hover—a refreshing contrast to Manhattan and Brooklyn—and there was a healthy mix of moms and dads handling the kids. (To give credit where due, some Northern Europeans get good marks in these subjects. Playgrounds in Berlin are abundant and, in many cases, designed to maximize kid independence—and nasty weather rarely deters there, since active outdoor time is valued highly.) At home in New York, I keep a list of fancy restaurants that tend to be welcoming toward babies and toddlers (Bonnie's in Williamsburg, Cafe Gitane in Lower Manhattan), precisely because it feels like a rarity: Several restaurants have adopted policies disallowing children (Jean-Georges, Bungalow). In Portugal, it's standard to see families out to dinner, and out quite late. Though the families don't tend to be huge—Portugal has not been immune to the sinking-birthrate issues that have plagued the rest of the developed world—they are rebounding a bit from a 2013 low of 1.21 births per woman. Lots of cultures around the world get components of childrearing right: The American expats I met in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, let their kids roam free-range and almost universally homeschooled, seceding from the dominant parenting culture in America, the rat race, and the anxiety. (In some cases, they've deviated very far from the norm: One mom told me it's totally chill to breastfeed 8-year-olds. But I think that's just a hippie thing, not a Central American custom.) Panamanian parents in coastal towns like Playa Venao seem to let their young kids surf with abandon, unsupervised except by siblings. The aforementioned Germans have free-play areas where adults aren't allowed, such as Berlin's Abenteuerlicher Bauspielplatz Kolle 37, a playground with spots for climbing and hammer-and-nails construction and fire building. When I visited, a crowd of 9-year-olds were tending it with pokers; my toddler, not yet allowed in, seemed already to covet access to the flames. But the Portuguese in particular grasp something I fear American parents miss: You don't have to recede from society once you have children, relegated only to explicitly kid-friendly spaces. The way to get children to learn how to fly and dine in restaurants and act civilized in public is to include them, and to let them practice again and again. Of course, those reps are easier gotten when you have a surrounding culture that acts like children are a gift, not a burden. The grace with which Portuguese culture treats families makes it easier to bear when your kid inevitably messes up in public; everyone who witnesses the tantrum or the spilled glass seems to realize that this is a normal part of living alongside kids—a little cost worth bearing to have a society that's warm and friendly and growing. The post How Portuguese Culture Makes It Easier To Parent appeared first on Solve the daily Crossword
Condé Nast Traveler
14-07-2025
- Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Things to Do on Terceira, the Azores' Most Historic Island
When travelers talk about visiting the Azores—the Portuguese archipelago in the middle of the north Atlantic—you often hear rave-reviews of lush landscapes, wild coastlines, and mysterious lakes. Sounds stunning, right? More often than not, however, they're only talking about one of the nine islands that make up the destination: São Miguel. And as beautiful and transporting the Azores' largest island is, there are many others with totally different elements to explore: Have you considered experiencing one of the most historic places in Portugal with a visit to the island of Terceira? As the Azores' second-most populous island, Terceira offers plenty more—by way of a lively former capital—to travelers. According to local tour guide Miguel Linhares, what makes Terceira particularly special is that it has a little bit of what the other islands are known for—volcanic geography, beautiful flora, hiking trails—plus unique culinary traditions and even wine-making. But what Terceira has in excess that the rest of the region doesn't is its history; the city of Angra do Heroísmo served as the Portuguese capital more than once, and boasts a storied heritage built around countless festivals and parties. Municipal swimming area Zona Balnear da Prainha (or simply Prainha) in the city of Angra do Heroísmo is set against the nearby forest reserve Monte Brasil. Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Getty 'Terceira island is often called by the residents of the other eight islands an amusement park—it suits us fine actually,' Linhares explains. 'I think that our hospitality and cheerful character stand out.' If you make it to Terceira at the end of June, you'll be treated to the Sanjoaninas Festival, a multi-day spectacle celebrated all over the island with sporting events, concerts, parades, and much more. The event celebrates how the island sets itself apart from its eight sisters, and you can use its happenings as a springboard to explore all Terceira has to offer. Plus, with new direct summer flights from California, getting to Terceira has never been easier. Here's our guide to the best things to do on Terceira, the Azores' historic gem, get you started. How to get to and get around Terceira, the Azores' culture island What's made São Miguel recently popular (in addition to beautiful landscapes) has plenty to do with access. For decades, there have been a lot of flights that bring American travelers there; direct connections to the other islands from the United States, however, have been quite limited. But TAP Air Portugal's new weekly seasonal flight between San Francisco and Terceira has made the Azores' second most-populous island more accessible. (Interestingly, the Azorean community in the Bay Area primarily originated from Terceira.) The flight will run every Tuesday until mid-September. While there is public transportation (buses) and taxis on Terceira, they're not the most reliable. The easiest way to get around this 153-square-miles island would be to rent a car, or to hire a guide who can drive you to hiking trails, wineries, and rock pools. The main 'downtown' core of the 'city' of Angra is perfectly walkable, however. This is where you'll find historic buildings, shops, restaurants, and bars.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
Engine Trouble Strands Delta Passengers on Remote Island for Over a Day
Two hundred and eighty two passengers on a Delta flight from Madrid to New York City were unexpectedly diverted to the Portuguese island of Terceira after an indication of engine troubles. The seven-hour flight turned into a 29-hour stay on the volcanic archipelago of the Azores. Delta Flight 127 was forced to stop at Lajes Airport in Terceira on Sunday, part of a small group of islands called the Azores that sit around 1000 miles from mainland Portugal. Largely an island known for its abundance of cattle, Terceira has just one airport that is shared with a military base and only operates to a select handful of cities. "As safety comes before all else at Delta, the flight crew followed procedures to divert to Lajes, Azores," a Delta Airlines spokesman said in a statement, "the flight landed safely, and we sincerely apologize to our customers for their experience and delay in their travels." A new plane was sent from New York around five hours after the original plane landed in the Azores. It landed shortly after 2 a.m. and left later that night at around 9 p.m. on Monday. Passengers traveling from Madrid finally landed in New York at 10:22 p.m. — 31 hours after the expected time of arrival. The 282 passengers on board the flight as well as the 13 crew members were given meals and rooms at nearby hotels while they waited for a replacement plane to come from New York to pick them up. It's expected they will also receive a full reimbursement for the flight. Flight 127 — a 21-year-old A330 — remained parked at the Lajes airport for a number of days afterwards. As of Wednesday, it is currently back in service and continuing its usual flight from Madrid to New York City. Engine Trouble Strands Delta Passengers on Remote Island for Over a Day first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 9, 2025
