Scientists, experts say, need to help protect democracy, “the system of government in which science, health and humanity are most likely to thrive.” By Bob Berwyn As autocratic regimes around the world increasingly step up attacks on scientists and academic freedom, a team of researchers has published a new anti-autocracyContinue Reading
During summer heat, some turn to “super cooling” their homes by turning the thermostat way down in the morning, and raising it during electricity peak hours, to be energy efficient. But does it work?Continue Reading
Scientists are striving to discover new semiconductor materials that could boost the efficiency of solar cells and other electronics. But the pace of innovation is bottlenecked by the speed at which researchers can manually measure important material properties. A fully autonomous robotic system developed by MIT researchers could speed thingsContinue Reading
An unprecedented whale surge in Alaska waters has changed how humans interact with a vital yaaw fishery. The post In Sitka, Łingít fishers share herring harvests with a surprise influx of grey whales appeared first on High Country News.Continue Reading
Cleanup crews contracted by the Army Corp of Engineers dumped asbestos-tainted wildfire debris in landfills that they shouldn’t have, according to government records.Continue Reading
Heat and other climate impacts like floods and storms affect voters, candidates and poll workers in different ways at different times, and can even tip election results, researchers and officials report. By Chad Small Election Day in New York City was a scorcher. Temperatures at Kennedy Airport reached 102 degreesContinue Reading
Tropical trees are dying faster than ever, and it’s not just heat or drought to blame. Scientists have uncovered a surprising culprit: ordinary thunderstorms. These quick, fierce storms, powered by climate change, are toppling trees with intense winds and lightning, sometimes causing more damage than drought itself. The discovery isContinue Reading
Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere efficiently is often seen as a crucial need for combatting climate change, but systems for removing carbon dioxide suffer from a tradeoff. Chemical compounds that efficiently remove CO₂ from the air do not easily release it once captured, and compounds that release CO₂ efficientlyContinue Reading
Happy Independence Day, Short Wavers! Do you have plans outdoors this weekend and want to figure out just how swampy it’s gonna feel? For that kind of mental preparation, we’re revisiting an episode in which some meteorologists are telling us to pay more attention to dew point temperature, not relativeContinue Reading
An advisory opinion from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights also concluded that governments have special obligations to protect and support environmental defenders. By Bob Berwyn, Katie Surma Governments’ existing human rights obligations require them to do all they can to mitigate the harms of the climate crisis, the Inter-AmericanContinue Reading
Breathing polluted air—even at levels considered “safe”—may quietly damage your heart. A new study using advanced MRI scans found that people exposed to more air pollution showed early signs of scarring in their heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure over time. This damage showed up in both healthyContinue Reading
Temperatures across lower South America have plummeted – falling as low as -15° Celsius or 5° Fahrenheit in some places – as a rare polar cold wave grips the region, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on Thursday. Continue Reading
Frustration with the silos’ owner boiled over during a public meeting. It’s not clear yet how the riverfront site would be used. By Charna Albert CHICAGO—Southwest Side residents implored city health and planning officials last week to reconsider the future of two century-old towering grain elevators, empty for years, thatContinue Reading