Climate
- Paleontology
New computer analysis hints volcanism killed the dinosaurs, not an asteroid
Scientists take a creative approach to investigating what caused the mass extinction 66 million years ago, but the debate is far from settled.
- Climate
‘Our Fragile Moment’ finds modern lessons in Earth’s history of climate
Michael Mann’s latest book, Our Fragile Moment, looks through Earth’s history to understand the current climate crisis.
- Climate
What’s driving an increasing number of hurricanes to rapidly intensify?
Hurricane Lee is just the latest storm to explode in power in only hours. The phenomenon is linked to a warming world.
- Earth
How thunderstorms can spawn damaging ‘downbursts’
Powerful winds called downbursts are not the same as a tornado, but the damage they cause can be similar — and can hit with little warning.
- Climate
Arctic sea ice may melt faster in coming years due to shifting winds
A complex dance between Arctic wind patterns and the Atlantic has limited the flow of warmer water north in recent years. That may be about to change.
- Climate
Emperor penguins lost thousands of chicks to melting ice last year
In 2022, groups of emperor penguins in western Antarctica lost almost all their chicks to receding sea ice, signaling the threat of climate change.
- Climate
How one device could help transform our power grid
As coal-fired power plants are retired, grid-forming inverters may be key to a future that relies on solar and wind power.
- Climate
Some leaves in tropical forests may be getting too hot for photosynthesis
Climate change may be forcing some tropical leaves to stop photosynthesis and die. It’s still unclear what effect this will have on entire forests.
- Climate
Nature’s changing colors makes climate change visible
The world’s color palette is shifting in response to climate change. Seeing these changes in nature firsthand is a powerful communication tool.
- Plants
The fastest-evolving moss in the world may not adapt to climate change
The genus Takakia has the largest number of fast-evolving genes of any moss, a study finds. But it’s losing ground in the warming Himalayas.
- Climate
Extreme ocean heat off Florida has ebbed. But for marine life, the danger remains
After the recent heat wave, corals have received too much heat too early in the summer, and other sea life could see lingering effects too.
- Climate
Extreme heat taxes the body in many ways. Here’s how
Climate change is bringing longer, humid heat waves and hotter nights. Here's how our bodies try to beat the heat and what happens when they can't.
