Climate

Climate

Here’s what happened to the Delaware-sized iceberg that broke off Antarctica

The powerful pull of currents in the Southern Ocean probably pulled apart the largest remnant of a massive iceberg that split off Antarctica in 2017.

Environment

Heat waves in U.S. rivers are on the rise. Here’s why that’s a problem

In recent years, heat waves in U.S. rivers have gotten more frequent, causing trouble for fish, plants and water quality.

Climate

Climate change could turn some blue lakes to green or brown

As temperatures rise, more than 1 in 10 of the world’s blue lakes could change color, reflecting holistic shifts in lake ecosystems.

Climate

Gas flares are leaking five times as much methane than previously thought

The flares burn off methane at 91 percent efficiency. Achieving 98 percent efficiency would be like taking nearly 3 million cars off the road.

Earth

Jacky Austermann looks to the solid earth for clues to sea level rise

Jacky Austermann’s work could help inform practical climate change solutions for at-risk coastal cities.

Planetary Science

Robin Wordsworth re-creates the atmosphere of ancient Mars

Robin Wordsworth studies the climates of Mars and other alien worlds to find out whether they could support life.

Climate

How Kenyans help themselves and the planet by saving mangrove trees

Communities in Kenya took action to restore their coastal mangrove forests, reaping economic and environmental benefits. Others are following suit.

Climate

How to make recyclable plastics out of CO₂ to slow climate change

Companies are turning atmospheric CO2 from smokestacks and landfills into plastics to shrink their carbon footprint.

Climate

A carbon footprint life cycle assessment can cut down on greenwashing

As companies try to reduce their carbon footprint, many are doing life cycle assessments to quantify the full carbon cost of their products.

Climate

A coral pollution study unexpectedly helped explain Hurricane Maria’s fury

Tracking coral reef pollution in Puerto Rico, conservation researchers discovered by chance how the coastal ocean fueled Hurricane Maria.

Animals

Extreme climate shifts long ago may have helped drive reptile evolution

The end-Permian extinction left reptiles plenty of open ecological niches. But rapid climate change may be what kick-started the animals’ dominance.

Earth

The Arctic is warming even faster than scientists realized

The Arctic isn’t just heating up two to three times as quickly as the rest of the planet. New analyses show that warming is almost four times as fast.