All Environment
The ExplainerTastes like chicken? ‘Cultured meat’ arrives on menus.“Cultured chicken” is approved for sale in the U.S. Supporters tout environmental benefits, and critics raise concerns over cost and practicality.
Points of ProgressEnvironment watch: From Indigenous lands to water recycling at the officeProgress roundup: Water recycling goes extreme and in-house for San Francisco’s biggest buildings. And worldwide, Indigenous peoples control more lands.
First LookOn thin ice: How climate change is transforming Antarctica’s landscapeAntarctica’s exposure to extreme weather from climate change has led to ice shelf collapses and habitat shifts, a new study reveals. Scientists emphasize that continued global warming could result in dire global impacts if it continues to melt.
First LookJuly was the hottest month ever, scientists say. Is this the future?It’s official, according to Europe’s scientists: July was the hottest month ever recorded – by far. It broke the old record, set in 2019, by six-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit, an unusually wide margin.
Oceans heat up. So does concern for protecting fish.Scientists say marine life is increasingly at risk from climate change. Cooperative efforts to protect fish are one possible answer – and they are growing.
Unlikely partners restore watersheds in Dominican RepublicFrancisco Núñez has spent 20 years restoring the Dominican Republic’s watersheds in the face of severe drought and natural disasters.
First LookEPA’s plan to curb emissions from cars: Could it actually work?The Environmental Protection Agency has an ambitious new plan to cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions produced by passenger vehicles. But critics question both how realistic the plan is and whether it goes far enough.
First LookEndangered Species Act at 50: Is it facing its own extinction?Fifty years after the U.S. Endangered Species Act took effect, officials say 99% of the animals and plants it protects have survived. Yet scientists and activists fear the act itself is in trouble as lawmakers try to weaken the law and its protected list.
As extreme heat rises, so do concerns for worker safetyRecord-breaking extreme heat in the U.S. is casting renewed attention on how the country manages the risks workers face.
First LookBrazil’s golden monkeys swing from near extinction to thousandsAfter the number of golden lion tamarins fell to 200 in the 1970s, conservationists successfully brought the species back up to nearly 5,000. Anti-poaching, disease control, and reconnecting forest cover are all thought to be behind the rebound.
FocusAs sea levels rise, so does erosion. Hawaii offers lessons.The Hawaiian Islands are a test case for how island communities – and coastlines worldwide – must increasingly adapt to erosion as sea levels rise.
Points of ProgressChildren of adoption: How families from Chile to Taiwan are made wholeProgress roundup: Adults “stolen” from Chile during dictatorship are finding birth families. And in Taiwan, LGBTQ+ couples are granted adoption rights.
First LookKlamath River dam removal has begun. Next, comes restoring its banks.The largest dam removal project in the history of the U.S., which includes four dams from the Klamath River, has begun along the California-Oregon border and will be finished in 2024. Restoring its natural flow and habitat, however, will take decades.
From heat czars to tree planting, relief for urban heat islandsWith record-setting temperatures and greater awareness, cities ramp up to deal with heat, especially in marginalized communities.
First LookFlorida can't beat the heat. Seawaters swelter to hot tub temps.Florida recorded perhaps the hottest seawater ever measured. Manatee Bay recorded an unofficial 101.1 degrees Monday evening and nearby scientists saw devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding Florida, such as coral bleaching.
Points of ProgressSnakes, bats, and rocks, anyone? New species and a deep dig into Earth.Progress roundup: Scientists delve below the ocean floor and across the terrestrial hot spots of Southeast Asia, using words like “dream” and “wonder.”
First LookClimate change is responsible for the intense heat, new study saysThis summer, a string of heatwaves has struck countries across the globe – in Europe, North America, and China. A new study says that climate change is very likely responsible for the unprecedented and dangerous heat
First LookDo clean energy incentives work? One-year effort in U.S. says yes.The Inflation Reduction Act passes its first year in August. The climate legislation boosted the U.S. transition to renewable energy, accelerated green domestic manufacturing, and made it more affordable for consumers to make climate-friendly purchases.
‘Spectacular’ wildflower season blooms in ColoradoWith the backdrop of a two-decade megadrought in the American West, an especially wet water year has produced a stunning wildflower show on the Western Slope of Colorado.
In charts: Amid searing heat, the hottest day ever?A claim that July 6 was the hottest ever deserves scrutiny. But regardless, it can be a useful wake-up call for the world to consider how thoroughly the abnormal is becoming normal – and what should be done.
