All Environment
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.
First LookWarming world: How are Europeans staying cool in massive heatwave?A heat wave grips the Mediterranean as wildfires hit Spain, Switzerland, and Greece – symptoms of a warming globe. Officials have warned residents and tourists to stay indoors during the day’s hottest hours.
FocusWhen the floods surged, a focus on readiness helped VermontBack in 2011, Tropical Storm Irene gave flooded Vermont a wake-up call. Efforts since then to build resiliency – alongside a humanitarian spirit – are helping this week.
Points of ProgressIsland hopping: LGBTQ+ rights in the Caribbean, climate funds in IndonesiaProgress roundup: More Caribbean nations decriminalize same-sex relations. And Indigenous Indonesians have new funds to take climate control into their own hands.
First LookWhy large-scale global flooding could become new normalMany countries are experiencing deadly flooding this week and climate scientists say this is par for the course in a warming world. Climate pollutants, mainly carbon dioxide and methane, are holding more heat in the atmosphere.
First LookHeatwave inequality? Cities should protect vulnerable, experts say.Many cities have long had plans about how to deal with intense heat waves – systems to alert their citizens and connect them with resources. But amid record-setting heat globally, some experts say more needs to be done.
Cover StoryPlastics have shaped nearly every aspect of society. Now what?The wonder material of the 1950s has become so ubiquitous that communities are finding it hard to live without it.
Points of ProgressFairy circles and electricity from air: Inclusive and innovative scienceProgress roundup: In Australia, a research collaboration incorporated Indigenous expertise. In the U.S., engineers found a secret to harvesting energy from air – nanopores.
First LookEarth’s daily temperature reached a record high for two days. Why?After the planet set a record-high average temperature on Tuesday, Earth’s average temperature remained the same on Wednesday. With heat waves from Peru to Canada, climate experts caution against an ever-warming world.
Could battery boom change South’s views of green energy?Alabama could be the buckle of a new manufacturing “battery belt” across the South. The economic activity is putting green energy in a new light.
Proposed power plant emission cuts: Can US keep the lights on?A debate over how fast to transition to clean energy is gaining urgency, as a proposed EPA emissions rule stirs concerns about electric grid reliability.
Cover StoryExtinct or elusive? Why birders aren’t giving up on the ivorybill.Experts say the ivory-billed woodpecker is probably extinct. Others think they’re wrong – and that the natural world still holds some surprises.
First LookSmoky haze: Air quality warnings persist as Canada's fires continueCanada’s wildfires have yet to be contained, and cities across the United States are seeing hazy skies as a result. Experts say Americans from the Midwest to the Southeast should remain prudent in poor air quality conditions.
In Thailand, conservation drive and Indigenous traditions collideResidents of Thailand’s Ban Sop Lan village are pushing back against efforts to expand the boundaries of a nearby national park.
