Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Air pollution cloaks eastern US for a second day. Here's why there is so much smoke
Intense smoke blanketed the northeastern United States for a second day Wednesday, turning the air a yellowish gray and prompting warnings for people to stay inside and keep windows closed....
Brazilian Amazon deforestation falls 31% under Lula
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by 31 percent in the first five months of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration versus the same period last year, officials said...
Greenhouse gas emissions at 'all-time high' causing unprecedented rate of global warming, warn scientists
Human-caused global warming has continued to increase at an "unprecedented rate" since the last major assessment of the climate system published two years ago, say 50 leading scientists.
Philippines on alert as volcano spews ash
Philippine scientists said that a "hazardous eruption" of a volcano in the archipelago could be days or weeks away, and urged the evacuation of nearby residents from their homes.
US haze from Canada fires rare and extreme event: expert
The air pollution swamping the northeast United States this week from smoke spewed by fires in Canada is "exceptionally rare" and "extreme", said Ryan Stauffer, a NASA scientist specializing in...
Air India: U.S.-bound passengers stranded in Russia back in the air
Hundreds of U.S.-bound passengers who were stranded in Russia where their flight made an emergency diversion due to engine problems landed early Thursday in San Francisco, Air India said.
On This Day, June 8: USS Liberty attacked off Egypt
On June 8, 1967, the USS Liberty, an intelligence ship sailing in international waters off Egypt, was attacked by Israeli jet planes and torpedo boats.
Dozens of Chinese aircraft enter Taiwan air defense zone
Taiwan detected 37 sorties by Chinese military aircraft into its air defense identification zone Thursday, the island's Defense Ministry said.
Citizen scientists have taken photos of this boulder every year for three decades
In 2022, rockweed was flourishing again. Photo by David Janka/NOAA This article was originally featured on Hakai Magazine, an online publication about science and society in coastal ecosystems. Read more stories like this at hakaimagazine.com. David Janka...
Pathways to global sustainability revealed through a worldwide survey of experts
The majority of sustainable development researchers believe that in affluent countries, it is necessary to look beyond economic growth to achieve sustainable development, a recent study from the University of...
How to Use the Air Quality Index
Wildfire smoke from Canada is causing poor air quality along the East Coast. Here’s what those air quality alerts mean
How to Protect Yourself from Smoky Wildfire Air
As giant plumes from fires in Canada billow over the U.S., experts explain what smoke does to your health—and how to protect yourself
Postdocs and staff researchers go on strike at the University of Washington
After months of negotiations, 2400 postdocs and staff researchers at the University of Washington (UW) went on strike today, arguing that the university’s proposed contract terms don’t amount to a fair wage. The...
Where have all the petrels gone? Long-term study shows 90% population decline
To understand the effects of environmental changes on seabird populations, long-term studies are essential but rare. Biologists from Germany, Poland and Argentina have compiled data on the population dynamics and...
Despite major progress nationally, two mercury emissions hotspots remain
Missing from partisan political debates over regulations affecting the energy sector is the stunning success of the federal government's signature environmental laws. A prime example: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's...
Improving the quality of recyclate films by additivation
The quality of recyclate materials of plastics significantly affects their application. With the exception of slightly damaged production waste, recycled plastics cannot be used in their original form. Usually, they...
How Long Will Wildfire Smoke Last, and Where Will It Spread?
Smoke from record-setting wildfires in Canada has blanketed parts of the eastern U.S., but shifting summer weather patterns should bring relief
Watch snow flies amputate their own legs to avoid freezing to death
Snow flies patrolling the frozen mountains of North America in search of mates have developed a unique adaptation to their hostile environment. When temperatures plummet below 7°C and ice crystals begin to form...
Watch: Bear attracted by smell of dog food destroys interior of truck in Colorado
Wildlife officers in Colorado came to the rescue of a black bear that closed itself in a pickup truck and spent hours destroying the interior.
Chicken feed made of food waste could slash costs and emissions
New research from Australia's University of New England (UNE) has revealed using food waste to create commercial chicken feed would not only save the Australian poultry industry an estimated $500...
Canada's Quebec expects thousands more to flee wildfires
Canada's Quebec province, now the epicenter of a devastating wildfire season that has ravaged the country, expects thousands more people to be forced to flee advancing fires, its leader said...
Poland, Germany discuss avoiding repeat of deadly river pollution but ready for all scenarios
The environment ministers of Poland and Germany met on the border of the two countries on Wednesday to discuss protection of a river against a repeat of deadly pollution that...
Study shows where professionals want to migrate within the European Union
Eastern Europe is the region in the European Union that is least appealing to professionals as a place to settle. A study led by researchers from the Max Planck Institute...
New study demonstrates wild sea otters could help generate millions of dollars for local communities
A new study led by researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Middlebury Institute of International Studies' Center for the Blue Economy finds that sea otters attract recreational visitors to...
New study highlights importance of brown carbon in global climate change
Researchers led by Prof. Zhang Weijun from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have found that a decrease of about 35% of...
What to do when wildfire smoke fills the air
Wildfire smoke can be a little scary, especially when you're not used to it. Dave Hoefler / Unsplash Wildfires are an annual occurrence along the West Coast, igniting anywhere from Alaska down to...
Watch ULA test-fire new Vulcan Centaur rocket on the launch pad today
United Launch Alliance plans to conduct a crucial test-firing of its next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket today (June 7), and you can watch it live.
Satellite photos show US East Coast engulfed by smoke from Canadian wildfires
The U.S. Northeast woke up to a "horribly smoky day" on Wednesday (June 7) as a low-pressure system funnels toxic smoke from wildfires in Canada across the Atlantic Coast.