ONE OCEAN

Hurricane Polo, in the eastern Pacific, is being described as one of the strongest storms ever recorded for its area and time of year, with unusually warm ocean waters linked to El Niño providing the fuel. Coverage highlights how the climate pattern is intensifying Pacific hurricanes, prompting attention from weather watchers and forecasters tracking the storm's strength and path.

The 2023-24 El Niño is described as record-shattering, with analysis of its wide-ranging effects on global temperatures, weather patterns and ecosystems. The event has driven exceptional ocean warming in the tropical Pacific, contributing to record global heat, shifts in rainfall, droughts and flooding in various regions, and stress on fisheries and agriculture. Commentators are weighing how much of the recent temperature surge should be attributed to El Niño versus longer-term climate change.

A new global review reports that cigarette butts account for roughly 12% of litter found in aquatic environments, making them one of the largest single sources of waterway and ocean pollution. The findings highlight the scale of plastic contamination from tobacco filters, which can persist in the environment and leach toxic chemicals. Environmental commentators are pointing to the figures as further evidence for tighter regulation of single-use tobacco products.

UNESCO has unveiled its ONE OCEAN installation during the UN General Assembly in New York. The installation forms part of the organization's ongoing ocean advocacy, timed to coincide with the annual gathering of world leaders where marine protection and climate issues are on the agenda.

Climate Week NYC has wrapped up, with coverage pointing to two major themes: the build-out of smart electricity grids and growing attention to ocean resilience. Businesses, governments and campaigners used the annual New York gathering to announce commitments and debate how to finance cleaner energy systems and protect marine ecosystems.

Environmental experts are warning that plastic pollution in the deep ocean may be interfering with the bioluminescent organisms that live there. Pollution particles could block or mimic the light signals deep sea species rely on for feeding, mating and defence, potentially disrupting entire ecosystems in one of the planet's least explored environments.

The European Space Agency's JUICE mission, bound for Jupiter and its icy moons, passed at less than 10,000 km overhead around 13:45 CEST during its second Earth gravity assist, prompting a heads-up to ships in the Indian Ocean beneath its flight path. The spacecraft will return for one final Earth slingshot in 2029 before heading to the outer solar system.

Scientists report that conditions on Enceladus, Saturn's icy moon with a subsurface ocean, could support microbial life. The findings strengthen the case that the moon is one of the most promising places in the solar system to search for living organisms beyond Earth. The research is drawing attention among space and astrobiology enthusiasts discussing future exploration missions to Enceladus.

Hawaii has experienced its third near-miss from a Pacific hurricane this season, according to reporting in The Atlantic. The storms have tracked close enough to the islands to raise alarms, prompting evacuations and emergency preparations even without direct landfalls. Commenters are linking the pattern to warmer ocean temperatures and are debating whether climate change is increasing hurricane threats to the islands.

New research indicates that Earth microbes can survive under simulated conditions of the ocean beneath the ice of Saturn's moon Enceladus, suggesting life there is not out of the question. Scientists see the finding as encouraging for the search for life beyond Earth, since Enceladus's subsurface ocean is considered one of the most promising places to look.

Scientists conducting deep-sea research have discovered an unexpected creature living around 3,000 feet beneath the ocean's surface. One of the researchers described the sighting as shocking, suggesting the animal was found well outside its known habitat or depth range. The finding is drawing attention from marine biology enthusiasts and highlights how little is still known about life in the deep ocean.

Researchers from Purdue University are travelling to a remote island group in the Pacific Ocean to investigate possible remnants of Amelia Earhart's aircraft. The aviator vanished during her 1937 attempt to fly around the world, and her disappearance remains one of aviation's great mysteries. The expedition has drawn attention as it could finally shed light on what happened to her plane.

A new documentary follows a couple living in extreme isolation in one of the world's most remote stretches of ocean, showing how they survive far from any settlement or support. The film is drawing a large international audience, with viewers responding to its rare look at daily life, self-sufficiency and the challenges of living at sea alone.

A nor'easter forced officials in Ocean City, Maryland, to cancel a music festival as the storm battered the coast. Officials are now assessing damage to the beach and boardwalk, and many in the area say organizers made the right call calling off the event ahead of dangerous conditions. Cleanup and repairs are underway as the community gauges the storm's impact.

New research indicates the ice grains erupting from Saturn's moon Enceladus are more unusual than scientists previously understood. Enceladus, which has a subsurface ocean beneath its icy shell, constantly sprays water vapor and ice particles into space through cracks near its south pole, and fresh analysis of this material has revealed unexpected properties. The finding adds to interest in the moon as one of the most promising places to search for life beyond Earth.

Organizers have announced the Ocean Art 2026 underwater photography competition, an international contest inviting divers and photographers to submit images of marine life and underwater scenes. The announcement, carried by California Diver Magazine, opens the cycle for one of the best-known events in the underwater imaging world, with categories typically spanning wide-angle, macro, and conservation-focused work.

The Ocean Art 2026 underwater photo competition has opened its call for entries, inviting photographers worldwide to submit their best underwater imagery. Run by Dive Photo Guide and covered by DIVE Magazine, the annual contest is one of the most prominent in underwater photography, attracting amateur and professional shooters across categories ranging from macro to wide-angle marine life.

Animal bioluminescence dates back at least 540 million years, and the ability to produce light has evolved independently at least 94 times, making it one of evolution's most repeated experiments. Blue-green ocean light can serve multiple purposes, including defense, camouflage and communication between animals. Science communicators are sharing the figure to highlight how often natural selection has converged on glowing light in marine life.

Renovations at the Port of Savannah's Ocean Terminal are now 60% complete, according to a report from Marine Log. The upgrade work at the Georgia port facility marks steady progress on infrastructure aimed at expanding the terminal's capacity to handle cargo. Port of Savannah is one of the busiest container ports in the United States, making the terminal's modernization significant for shipping and logistics along the East Coast.

Renovations at the Ocean Terminal at the Port of Savannah are now 60 percent complete, according to a report in the trucking and freight press. The work is part of efforts to expand cargo capacity at one of the busiest container ports in the United States. Freight and logistics observers are following the project's progress and its implications for port operations.

The renovation of the Ocean Terminal at the Port of Savannah has passed the 60 per cent mark, according to the Georgia Ports Authority. The multi-year project is transforming the former industrial site into a modern container terminal, expanding capacity at one of the busiest ports in the United States. The milestone signals steady progress on a project closely watched by shipping and logistics operators along the US East Coast.

New research suggests Saturn's icy moon Enceladus makes signs of potential alien life easier to detect. The moon's subsurface ocean, sampled by NASA's Cassini spacecraft through plumes venting from its south pole, offers a promising target in the search for life beyond Earth, and the findings have drawn attention from planetary scientists.