Nature & Science Briefing

Great Barrier Reef sees high coral recovery

Marine biologists have recorded the highest coral cover on Australia's Great Barrier Reef in more than a decade. The latest survey by the Australian Institute of Marine Science found hard coral covering up to 36 per cent of the reef in some northern sections, levels not seen since monitoring began in the mid-1980s. Researchers credit a run of mild summers and reduced cyclone activity, though they caution that a single marine heatwave could reverse the gains quickly.

New high-speed rail links three European capitals

A new high-speed rail service connecting Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris began operations this week, cutting journey times by nearly a third. The route uses next-generation electric trains capable of 320 km/h and is expected to carry around four million passengers a year. Rail operators say the service is designed to compete directly with short-haul flights, offering city-centre to city-centre travel with a fraction of the carbon footprint.

James Webb telescope spots high-altitude clouds on a distant exoplanet

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected silicate clouds floating high in the atmosphere of a gas giant 200 light-years from Earth. The discovery, published in Nature Astronomy, marks the first time researchers have identified the mineral composition of clouds on a planet outside our solar system. Lead author Dr Elena Vasquez said the finding opens a new chapter in understanding how weather systems form on worlds very different from our own.

Colombia coffee harvest breaks records

Colombia's National Federation of Coffee Growers has announced a record harvest for the first quarter of the year, with output up 12 per cent compared to the same period last year. Favourable rainfall and a successful replanting programme in the Huila and Nariño regions drove the gains. Industry analysts expect the bumper crop to ease global supply pressures and bring some relief to wholesale buyers who have faced rising prices for over a year.

Tokyo marathon runners set new personal bests

Ideal spring conditions and a fast, flat course helped thousands of runners achieve personal bests at this year's Tokyo Marathon. The women's race was won in 2:18:42, the second-fastest time ever recorded on the course, while the men's champion crossed the line in 2:04:15. Organisers reported a record 53,000 finishers from 130 countries, cementing Tokyo's place among the world's top six marathon events.

Northern lights dazzle across Scandinavia

A powerful solar storm produced vivid aurora displays visible as far south as Denmark and northern Germany this week. Photographers gathered along the Norwegian coast captured curtains of green, purple, and pink light reflected in still fjord waters. Astronomers say the current solar cycle is near its peak, meaning more frequent and intense aurora events are likely through the rest of the year.