Trump administration moves to slash environmental protections while appointing climate skeptics, threatening endangered species and clean energy investments as El Niño strengthens global extreme weather risks.

Trump's EPA announced plans to open habitats of endangered species to logging and mining, with critics calling it a 'death sentence' for species protection. Habitat destruction is the strongest driver of species loss, though current legislation has kept 99% of listed species from extinction.

Pacific gray whales face a 'catastrophic' die-off as climate change disrupts their food supply, prompting calls for the Trump administration to relist the species under the Endangered Species Act.

The Trump administration has spent $2.7 billion in taxpayer money to kill clean energy initiatives and keep coal alive, with critics warning this will force higher energy bills for working Americans.

Trump appointed climate skeptic Matthew Wielicki to run the US government's flagship climate report. Wielicki frequently criticizes established climate science online, including in videos for conservative outlet PragerU.

Models show an overwhelming chance that this year's El Niño will rank among the largest since 1950, with potential to supercharge extreme weather globally.

The USDA is yanking funding for small farming programs, citing 'DEI' and wasteful spending concerns, disappointing farmers who say Trump turned his back on campaign promises.

Deep-sea mining threatens unique ecosystems around hydrothermal vents, with mollusks specially evolved for extreme conditions facing potential extinction from mineral extraction activities.

El Niño is already disrupting Pacific fisheries by sending warm water across the eastern region, with some fishing areas suffering severe declines while others see temporary windfalls.

China successfully recovered its first reusable rocket, marking progress in reusable space technology and emerging as the US's main competitor for space supremacy.

Increased drone surveillance technology detected more shark sightings at US beaches, but experts say the rise in detections may not reflect an actual increase in shark populations or threat to swimmers.