Departing U.N. chief calls this ‘a moment of truth’ in fight to curb global warming
2026-11-08
Outgoing United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has a forceful message on the eve of climate talks in Turkey.Continue Reading
The Unrelenting Ordeal of Wildfire Recovery
2026-11-08
A Maui family lays the foundation for a new home three years after it was destroyed by the deadliest U.S. wildfires in a century. Story and photos by Keerti Gopal Second of two stories about the effort to support Lahaina fire survivors’ health in the long, hard aftermath. Read theContinue Reading
Ancient Siberian tomb reveals surprising secrets of cannabis use 2,800 years ago
2026-11-08
Scientists investigating a 2,800-year-old Siberian tomb discovered roughly 1,000 cannabis seeds and chemical evidence suggesting ancient Scythians used the plant for its intoxicating effects. The remarkable find, surrounded by evidence of elaborate burial rituals and animal sacrifices, offers the oldest directly dated archaeological evidence of psychoactive cannabis use., Read MoreContinue Reading
Global Science Panel Hits Roadblocks Ahead of COP31 Climate Summit
2026-11-07
Scientists working on new reports for the IPCC, the U.N.’s climate science panel, warn about a funding crunch and report timelines in an open letter. By Bob Berwyn As global climate negotiators and government officials convene for the annual United Nations climate summit, the scientific organization they rely on toContinue Reading
Scientists discover Europe’s ancient forests were nothing like we imagined
2026-11-07
Scientists have uncovered evidence that Europe was dominated for more than 20 million years by open woodlands, colorful meadows, and large grazing animals, not the dense forests long considered its natural state. The surprising discovery challenges modern reforestation strategies, suggesting that planting thick forests could actually harm the biodiversity conservationistsContinue Reading
A UC Riverside scientist skied deep into the Sierra to track microplastics in snow
2026-11-07
Storm events spread microplastics across the environment, even to places that are nearly unreachable. A UC Riverside scientist skied into wilderness far off the beaten path, and found the polluting particles everywhere she looked.Continue Reading
Climate Change Is Bringing Dengue Fever to the High Himalayas
2026-11-07
As Nepal’s mountains warm, mosquitoes are spreading dengue, once strictly a lowland disease, to higher-elevation, densely-populated areas. Story by Avery Schuyler Nunn, photos by Yuri Segalerba The warming of Nepal’s mountains is dramatically transforming some of the grandest landscapes on Earth, leading melting glaciers to collapse, thawing permafrost that canContinue Reading
Human bodies produce 2 billion metric tons of CO2 a year just by staying alive
2026-11-07
Humans collectively produce more than 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually just by turning food into energy, a 74% increase over three decades largely driven by population growth. Unlike fossil fuel emissions, however, the CO2 we exhale is part of the natural carbon cycle, and scientists say measuring itContinue Reading
A US Senator’s Push to Fast-Track Pipelines Would Benefit His Former Company
2026-11-07
Alan Armstrong pushed for a provision in a bipartisan permitting bill that would limit states’ power to block gas pipelines. He could stand to gain financially. By Nicholas Kusnetz, Lauren Dalban Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma entered the U.S. Senate to fill a vacancy in March with a clear priority: passContinue Reading
Chronicling the West’s hidden springs before they’re gone
2026-11-06
A photographer travels the Southwest to capture the rare lifelines of these hidden waters. The post Chronicling the West’s hidden springs before they’re gone appeared first on High Country News.Continue Reading
From a ship frozen into Arctic ice, a warning to world leaders: Trust the science
2026-11-06
Drifting through the polar darkness, a team of scientists is documenting a rapidly changing Arctic. As sea ice retreats and oil tankers move in, a conversation with the UN chief reveals why the battle for climate science matters far beyond the North Pole.Continue Reading
Global Campaign Seeks to Curb Emissions of World’s Most Potent Greenhouse Gas
2026-11-06
China, the source of more than half the world’s sulfur hexafluoride emissions, will be key to the pledge’s success. By Phil McKenna The German government has launched an international initiative to curb emissions of sulfur hexafluoride, an exceptionally potent greenhouse gas that it says has long been overlooked in effortsContinue Reading
Five-inch-long beetle larvae are quietly destroying blueberry roots
2026-11-06
Scientists have solved a mystery surrounding destructive beetles attacking blueberry bushes in North Carolina, identifying a species whose massive larvae can grow up to five inches long and destroy plant roots. Although farmers have reported damage for more than a decade, the insects responsible remained unidentified until researchers used DNAContinue Reading