Climate Change
We’re About to See a Rare and Record-Setting May Heat Wave
A potentially record-setting heat wave is headed for the Pacific Northwest and western Canada, a sign of the shift to hotter—and earlier—summers
Stories by Andrea Thompson
Climate Change
Deadly African Drought Wouldn’t Have Happened without Climate Change
A severe drought that has led to near-famine conditions in the Horn of Africa would not have happened without the influence of climate change, a new analysis finds
Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy Is Charging Ahead
Renewable energy has seen considerable growth in recent years, but there is a long way to go to achieve a clean energy future that averts the worst effects of the climate crisis
Behavior
What Makes People Act on Climate Change, according to Behavioral Science
To get people to shift to more climate-friendly behavior, what works best? Education? Payments? Peer pressure?
Climate Change
Wealthy Countries Have Blown Through Their Carbon Budgets
Some countries have used up far more of the world’s carbon budget—the amount we can emit and still avoid more extreme climate disruption—than others
Weather
Tornadoes at Night and in the Southeast Are Especially Deadly
Population density and a prevalence of mobile homes make the region a hotspot for tornado deaths
Climate Change
Fast, Deep Cuts in Emissions Are Needed to Avoid ‘Climate Time Bomb’
To keep warming below levels that scientists say will bring extreme climate impacts, nations must act quickly to make deep cuts in carbon emissions, according to the final installment of the IPCC’s latest climate report...
Pollution
‘Toxic Forever Chemicals’ in U.S. Drinking Water to Be Regulated for the First Time
The EPA has proposed the first nationwide limits for toxic chemicals called PFASs in the U.S. water supply
Weather
Why a Blizzard Is Hitting Southern California
A massive storm shocks southern California with cold temperatures, strong winds and abundant moisture, causing extremely rare blizzard conditions and potentially unprecedented snowfalls
Natural Disasters
How to Engineer Buildings That Withstand Earthquakes
Though deadly quakes can’t be prevented, science does have some ways to protect buildings—and the people inside them
Natural Disasters
Why the Earthquake in Turkey Was So Damaging and Deadly
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Turkey is a rare occurrence and underscores the importance of setting and enforcing building codes
Climate Change
Double Disaster: Wildfires Followed by Extreme Rainfall Are More Likely with Climate Change
These events can cause devastating landslides and flash floods
Animals
6 Fascinating Things We Learned about Pet Dogs and Cats in 2022
This year we learned why dogs come in so many sizes, that puppy dog eyes are a real thing and that cats don’t deserve their aloof rap
Endangered Species
As the World Scrambles to Halt Biodiversity Loss, ‘Things Are Getting Worse’
More than one quarter of the more than 150,000 species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species are threatened with extinction
Animals
6 Weird and Wild Animal Behaviors Revealed in 2022
Octopus outbursts, spiders evading sexual cannibalism and a human-cockatoo arms race—here are strange animal behaviors we learned about in 2022
Natural Disasters
Twitter Chaos Endangers Public Safety, Emergency Managers Warn
Twitter is a crucial communication tool during disasters, but impersonators and other problems under Elon Musk’s leadership have emergency managers on edge
Weather
How Rare Are November Hurricanes?
November hurricanes and tropical storms such as Nicole are relatively rare, but they can—and do—form
Climate Change
World Edges Closer to Meeting Climate Targets but Not Fast Enough
As the COP27 climate summit begins, emissions reduction pledges are still far behind where they need to be to meet the goals to limit global warming
Climate Change
See How Much Climate Change Has Cost Different Countries
Low-income nations bear the brunt of costs from climate change
Policy
The Most Urgent Science, Health and Climate Issues in the 2022 Midterm Elections
The midterm elections have high stakes for issues such as abortion rights, pandemic funding, climate change and other fundamental policies
