Latest news with #public

Public urged to join butterfly count in ‘rescue mission' for declining insects

Yahoo

26 minutes ago

Science
Yahoo

Public urged to join butterfly count in ‘rescue mission' for declining insects

People across the UK are being urged to take part in an annual butterfly count after nature experts declared an 'emergency' last year due to record low numbers. The Big Butterfly Count, organised by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation over three weeks in the summer, gets members of the public to spend 15 minutes recording the butterflies they see in their garden, park or countryside. This year, the charity is urging people to take part in what it describes as a 'nationwide rescue mission' for the UK's ailing butterfly species, to provide data that helps scientists understand where butterflies are thriving, struggling or moving due to habitat loss or restoration. Last year saw the lowest numbers spotted in the count's 14-year history, with a record number of counts logged as seeing no butterflies at all, and familiar species such as small whites, common blues and small tortoiseshells having their worst summer ever. While 2024's lows were in part down to the wet spring and cool summer, and this year's warm sunny conditions are much better for butterflies, conservationists warn they come on top of long-term declines in the UK. More than 80% of butterfly species have declined since the 1970s, with experts warning they have been hit by damage to their habitats, climate change and the use of pesticides. They say that taking part in the Big Butterfly Count can be a small action that contributes to the larger effort to save butterfly species and the natural systems they support. Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation told the PA news agency: 'Butterfly numbers fluctuate from year to year in response to the weather, and the warm, sunny conditions over recent weeks have been much better for butterflies than the wetter, cool conditions last year, which resulted in one of the worst years for UK butterflies on record. 'How much butterflies have bounced back will only become clear if people get out, in their thousands, to take part in the Big Butterfly Count.' He also warned that while 'it's lovely' to see more butterflies around, one better summer would only go a little way to reversing the long-term declines, with numbers in peak years getting low and troughs when the weather is bad getting deeper. 'Also, although the recent sunshine is great for adult butterflies, the growing drought across many parts of Britain is bad news for their caterpillar offspring, which need growing plants to feed on,' he added. He said the more information conservationists could gather on how butterflies respond to changes, including the weather, the better informed conservation decisions would be in the fight to protect wildlife. 'Ultimately, the more counts we get from all over the country, the better we are able to respond to the challenges, which certainly include extreme weather resulting from climate change,' he said. To take part in the Big Butterfly Count, people can download the free app or visit and between July 18 and August 10, spend 15 minutes in any outdoor space, counting the number and type of butterflies spotted, logging results on the website or app.

Tech CEO Andy Byron gushed about hiring HR chief Kristin Cabot months before they were caught cuddling at Coldplay gig

The Sun

2 hours ago

Entertainment
The Sun

Tech CEO Andy Byron gushed about hiring HR chief Kristin Cabot months before they were caught cuddling at Coldplay gig

TECH CEO Andy Byron had gushed about hiring HR chief Kristin Cabot months before they were coat cuddling at a Coldplay gig. Byron and Cabot were left red-faced as they flashed up on a big screen in front of thousands in each other's arms. 6 6 6 Married Byron dived to hide behind a barrier, while Cabot covered her face with her hands and turned her back to the crowd. And now it has emerged that the Astronomer CEO had raved about the HR chief when she was hired a mere few months before they were caught on camera. Byron called Cabot a "proven leader" when she joined the company in November last year. He gushed: "Kristin's exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory. "She is a proven leader at multiple growth-stage companies and her passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces makes her a perfect fit for Astronomer." The press release added that Cabot "has a proven track record of preserving and enriching company culture at organizations experiencing rapid growth". Calbot released a similarly enthusiastic comment, saying she was "energised in my conversations with Andy and the Astronomer leadership team about the opportunities that exist here". Her statement added: "I prefer to think of my role as people strategy versus traditional human resources, as the real magic happens when you align the people strategy with the business strategy." The pair were watching Coldplay perform in Boston, Massachusetts, on Wednesday night when frontman Chris Martin panned his 'kiss cam' onto them. Yellow singer Martin exclaimed: "Oh look at these two." But, realising their grinning faces were being cast on a giant screen in front of thousands at Gillette Stadium, they both swiftly unlocked arms and shielded their faces. As a chorus of laughter echoed around the jam-packed stadium, Martin said: "Oh what... either they're having an affair or they're very shy." Cabot was recruited as software development firm Astronomer's Chief People Officer just nine months ago in November. On her LinkedIn, she boasts: "I lead by example and win trust with employees of all levels, from CEOs to managers to assistants." Cabot - who has the second surname Thornby in brackets on her page - adds: "I'm a passionate people leader known for building award-winning cultures from the ground up for fast-growing startups and multi-national corporations." According to Byron's LinkedIn, he has been CEO of Astronomer - understood to be worth more than £1 billion - since July 2023. The cringeworthy footage has gone viral on social media - having been shared thousands of times on X and TikTok. Hundreds have accused Byron of cheating on his wife, and have shared support for her. One social media user commented: "Sorry for the wife but glad they're being exposed and embarrassed." Another wrote: "How utterly sad." A third said: "They are both incredibly stupid, sorry. Why would you go to a concert of all places if you are having an affair." Byron and Cabot do not appear to have addressed the affair accusations yet. The Sun has approached Astronomer for comment. 6 6

Sick of the summer humidity? These areas in the U.S. will soon get a reprieve.

Washington Post

12 hours ago

Climate
Washington Post

Sick of the summer humidity? These areas in the U.S. will soon get a reprieve.

Has it felt unusually humid to you so far this summer? The data agrees. For about 270 million people across the United States, dew points, the temperature at which air becomes fully saturated with moisture, have been above-average this month. June was also unusually humid. The pattern has been tied to the same one that has caused unrelenting flooding rainfall, with higher levels of atmospheric moisture causing fuel for downpours and excessively muggy conditions.

Stolen windmill in rural Manitoba has RCMP heads spinning

CBC

a day ago

Stolen windmill in rural Manitoba has RCMP heads spinning

The RCMP are fanning out in their search for a stolen 25-foot-tall windmill and hoping the public can provide some tips. The turbine was taken sometime from July 4-6 from a property in the rural municipality of Grey, south of Portage la Prairie. "Due to the nature of the sheer size of the stolen property, RCMP believe someone in the area may have seen something," a news release said on Wednesday. The windmill is 7.6 metres tall with two-metre blades and is silver in colour. Anyone with information is asked to please call the RCMP at 204-745-6760.

Charging Infrastructure Zooms Ahead Despite Trump Attacks

Bloomberg