Earth
- Environment
More than 4 billion people may not have access to clean water
The new estimate, based on data from 135 low- and middle-income countries, is more than double the World Health Organization’s official count.
- Health & Medicine
Your medications might make it harder for you to beat the heat
Chronic illnesses and the medications that treat them may make it harder to handle extreme heat. It’s even harder to study how.
- Climate
Extraordinary heat waves have readers asking how A/C affects greenhouse gas emissions
Air conditioning is responsible for nearly 4 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions but that will climb along with rising temperatures.
- Earth
Why Japan issued its first-ever mega-earthquake alert
After a magnitude 7.1 temblor jolted southern Japan, the chances of a subsequent, larger quake occurring in the next week had slightly increased, experts said.
- Earth
Squall line tornadoes are sneaky, dangerous and difficult to forecast
New research is revealing the secrets of these destructive twisters, which dodge radar scans and often form at night.
- Climate
Zigzag walls could help buildings beat the heat
A corrugated exterior wall reflects heat to space and absorbs less heat from the ground, keeping it several degrees cooler than a flat wall.
- Animals
A frog’s story of surviving a fungal pandemic offers hope for other species
Evolving immunity to the Bd fungus and a reintroduction project saved a California frog. The key to rescuing other species might be in the frog’s genes.
- Earth
Earthquakes added to Pompeii’s death toll
Broken bodies found at the archaeological site indicate that earthquakes played a role in the legendary tragedy.
- Climate
Record-breaking Coral Sea temperatures threaten the Great Barrier Reef
Near-annual extreme heat in the Coral Sea, including in 2024, is causing back-to-back mass bleaching events in the iconic Great Barrier Reef.
- Climate
Climate change is driving the extreme heat baking France’s Olympics
In this week’s Extreme Climate Update, we look at record-breaking temps around the world and explain what the heat index is.
- Health & Medicine
Some ‘forever chemicals’ may be absorbed through our skin
PFAS, which are found in common products such as cosmetics, food packaging and waterproof gear, have been linked to health problems.
- Climate
Earth’s jet stream helps create the seeds of clouds
The newly discovered process for making aerosols might also be the most productive.
