Latest science news in Earth & Climate
New research shows Arctic could see ice-free summers by 2030
A paper published Tuesday in the journal Nature has concluded that northern waters could be open for months at a time as early as 2030, even if humanity manages to...
Forest fires could destabilize Quebec wildlife for years to come, say experts
Quebec's boreal forest is not suited to frequent devastating fires, experts warn, and the current blazes could damage the delicate “mosaic” of the habitat.
This 3D-printed fish fillet may not be the reel deal, but it could be a necessary step in sustainable cuisine
A partnership between Steakholder Foods and Umami Meats has created a 3D-printed fish fillet — all without the use of a hook, line or sinker.
On This Day, June 7: White supremacists kill James Byrd Jr.
On June 7, 1998, three white supremacists killed James Byrd Jr. by dragging him for 3 miles behind a pickup truck in Jasper, Texas.
Experts uncover the water and emissions footprint of snowmaking: Can we rely on it in an era of climate change?
The first-ever national study to assess the impact of developing artificial snow shows the pressure the process is putting on the climate, with the equivalent of nearly 17,000 homes' worth...
Order in chaos: Atmosphere's Antarctic oscillation has natural cycle
Climate scientists at Rice University have discovered an "internally generated periodicity" -- a natural cycle that repeats every 150 days -- in the north-south oscillation of atmospheric pressure patterns that...
Cobalt mineralogy at the Iron Creek deposit, Idaho cobalt belt, USA: Implications for domestic critical mineral production
A new study published in Geology evaluates the potential for cobalt extraction from the Idaho Cobalt Belt (ICB) of east-central Idaho, using a detailed study of the Iron Creek deposit....
Measuring greenhouse gas from ponds improves climate predictions
Shallow lakes and ponds emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, but emissions from these systems vary considerably and are not well understood.
Will Brazil’s Supreme Court deal a blow to Amazon protection efforts?
Brazil’s Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling this week that could determine the fate of controversial legislation that conservationists fear will undermine efforts to protect the nation’s forests. Indigenous and environmental...
How much cobalt can be mined in the US? Study examines domestic mining site in Idaho
A new study published in Geology evaluates the potential for cobalt extraction from the Idaho Cobalt Belt (ICB) of east-central Idaho, using a detailed study of the Iron Creek deposit....
Arctic could be ice-free a decade earlier than thought
The Arctic Ocean's ice cap will disappear in summer as soon as the 2030s and a decade earlier than thought, no matter how aggressively humanity draws down the carbon pollution...
Order in chaos: Atmosphere's Antarctic oscillation has natural cycle, discover researchers
Climate scientists at Rice University have discovered an "internally generated periodicity"—a natural cycle that repeats every 150 days—in the north-south oscillation of atmospheric pressure patterns that drive the movement of...
Roadblocks and speed limits: Geoscientists study Alaska's Denali fault
The 1,200-mile-long Denali Fault stretches in an upward arc from southwestern Alaska and the Bering Sea eastward to western Canada's Yukon Territory and British Columbia. The long-lived and active strike-slip...
How well toxic elements leach out of coal ash depends on the ash's nanoscale composition, shows study
Everyone knows that burning coal causes air pollution that is harmful to the climate and human health. But the ash left over can often be harmful as well.
NOAA announces $2.6 billion to protect coastal communities
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced a new $2.6 billion initiative to protect coastal communities.
Canadian wildfires cause unhealthy air conditions across large portion of United States
Several states are facing unhealthy air conditions Tuesday under the haze produced by Canadian wildfires while dry conditions spark more fire concerns.
Illinois environmentalists push for state action to protect wetlands after Supreme Court ruling rolls back federal rules
Across the country, marshes, swamps and bogs quietly soak up flood water and filter pollutants. Ecologists agree they are one of the best natural defenses against climate change.
NOAA announces $2.6 billion to protect coastal communities
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced a new $2.6 billion initiative to protect coastal communities.
Atmospheric scientist Kelvin Droegemeier to join University of Illinois faculty
Research meteorologist Kelvin Droegemeier, who previously held prominent national science and policy leadership roles, will join the Atmospheric Sciences faculty at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on Aug. 16.
Interdisciplinary team tracks the fate of plastic waste in the North Sea
The dispersal pathways of plastic waste in the southern North Sea have been investigated by an interdisciplinary research team led by the University of Oldenburg. A key part of the...
Chesapeake Bay report cites environmental justice disparities
A report on the Chesapeake Bay released Tuesday found strong disparities between communities in different parts of the bay's watershed in terms of health, economics and social justice concerns.
Researchers create tool to improve the forecasting of extreme rain events
Driven by global warming, the emerging climate crisis has in recent years included a rise in the frequency and intensity of extreme rain events, leading to loss of life and...
Watch: Extremely rare orange lobster caught in Maine
A fishing crew off the shore of Maine found an ultra-rare orange lobster and decided to donate the crustacean to the University of New England.
PSG fires coach Christophe Galtier after Ligue 1 title
Paris Saint-Germain fired manager Christophe Galtier after his lone season, which ended with a Ligue 1 title.
Building activity produces 18% of emissions and a shocking 40% of our landfill waste
Architecture, engineering and construction employ 1.2 million people in Australia and account for 9% of GDP. But our biggest services sector also produces roughly 40% of landfill waste and accounts...
Climate: Battle lines harden over how to slash CO2
Banish fossil fuels, capture their emissions, pull CO2 from thin air—diplomats in Bonn for UN-led climate talks agree there's too much planet-warming carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but remain at...
USDA researches New England's ability to be self-reliant in food production
Rarely do we ever know how much food is actually grown, produced, and then circulated from within a sub-national region. But researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural...
How we are contaminating our waters with microplastics and a multitude of chemicals
A plastic sandwich wrapper bobs in the water where the Limmat River flows out of Lake Zurich. The current carries it downstream through Zurich's historic center before eventually depositing it...