Earth’s Global Warming Trend Continues: 2020 Tied for Warmest Year on Record
Earth’s average temperature has risen more than 1.2°C (2°F) since the late 19th century. Earth’s global average surface temperature in 2020 tied with 2016 for…
Climate Change
Ancient Oceans Were Surprisingly Resilient to Climate Change – But Things Are Different Today
Oxygen levels in the ancient oceans were surprisingly resilient to climate change, new research suggests. Scientists used geological samples to estimate ocean oxygen during a…
Alarming New Climate Research: Earth to Reach Critical Temperature Tipping Point in 20–30 Years
Earth’s ability to absorb nearly a third of human-caused carbon emissions through plants could be halved within the next two decades at the current rate…
Humans Face a “Ghastly Future” Unless Extraordinary Action Is Taken Soon on Sustainability
Global team of scientists, including UCLA’s Daniel Blumstein, points to environmental, population and political challenges. Without immediate and drastic intervention, humans face a “ghastly future”…
Upper Ocean Temperatures Hit Record High in 2020 – Poses “A Severe Risk to Human and Natural Systems”
Even with the COVID-19-related small dip in global carbon emissions due to limited travel and other activities, the ocean temperatures continued a trend of breaking…
Native Biodiversity Collapse in the Eastern Mediterranean – Most Native Species Are Going Locally Extinct
Most native species are going locally extinct, while introduced tropical species thrive. The coastline of Israel is one of the warmest areas in the Mediterranean…
Climate Change Reduces the Abundance and Diversity of Wild Bees
Wild bees are more affected by climate change than by disturbances to their habitats, according to a team of researchers led by Penn State. The…
New Climate Change Research: Future Too Warm for Baby Sharks
New research has found as climate change causes the world’s oceans to warm, baby sharks are born smaller, exhausted, undernourished, and into environments that are…
Reshaping Coastal Louisiana: Barataria Bay Is Slowly Slipping Away
While there are efforts to reinforce its beaches and marshes, some of Barataria Bay is slowly slipping away. Sandwiched between the Mississippi River and Bayou…
Sea Stars May Be “Drowning” – Organic Matter, Bacteria Doom Starfish to Oxygen Depletion
For more than seven years, a mysterious wasting disease has nearly killed off sea star populations around the world. Some of these species stand at…
It’s Not Too Late! 102 Species at Risk of Extinction Can Be Saved
Co-governance model for implementing conservation management plan gives species their best chances of survival. The Fraser River estuary in British Columbia is home to 102…
Researchers Turn Coal Powder Into Valuable Nano-Graphite in Microwave Oven
Using copper foil, glass containers and a conventional household microwave oven, University of Wyoming researchers have demonstrated that pulverized coal powder can be converted into…
Will Global Warming Bring a Change in the Winds? Dust From Ancient, Deep Sea Sediments Provides a Clue
Westerlies moved poleward in the past, as they are doing now. The westerlies — or westerly winds — play an important role in weather and…
The Long, Troubling Decline of Arctic Sea Ice
Throughout 2020, the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas endured several notable weather and climate events. In spring, a persistent heatwave over Siberia provoked the rapid…
Climate-Change-Induced Conflict? Rare Footage Captured of Jaguar Killing Ocelot at Waterhole
In what may be a sign of climate-change-induced conflict, researchers have captured rare photographic evidence of a jaguar killing another predatory wild cat at an…
High Temperatures From Climate Change Threaten the Survival of Insects
Insects have difficulties handling the higher temperatures brought on by climate change, and might risk overheating. The ability to reproduce is also strongly affected by…
Surprising News: Drylands Are Not Getting Drier As Predicted by Climate Scientists
New Columbia Engineering study — first to investigate the long-term effect of soil moisture-atmosphere feedbacks in drylands — finds that soil moisture exerts a negative…
New Smart Thermostat Algorithm Can Learn Optimal Temperature Thresholds Within a Week
A smart thermostat quickly learns to optimize building microclimates for both energy consumption and user preference. Buildings account for about 40 percent of U.S. energy…