Many organizations are taking actions to shrink their carbon footprint, such as purchasing electricity from renewable sources or reducing air travel. Both actions would cut greenhouse gas emissions, but which offers greater societal benefits? In a first step toward answering that question, MIT researchers found that even if each activityContinue Reading
EO Science Earth Observatory Islands of Fire and Ice Veiled… Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of ChangeContinue Reading
New Jersey has a renewed plan for a cleaner, cheaper grid. The catch: it relies on a regional market in turmoil, offshore wind on life support and climate policies Washington is now trying to unravel. By Rambo Talabong In the waning days of Governor Phil Murphy’s tenure, state officials unveiledContinue Reading
Everyone in Southern California knows La Niña winters are typically dry. Yet this year has seen an unusual, surprisingly wet start to the rainy season. What gives?Continue Reading
A century-old North Atlantic cold patch is now linked to a long-term slowdown in the AMOC, the climate-regulating conveyor belt of ocean water. Only weakened-AMOC models match observed temperature and salinity patterns, overturning recent model trends. This slowdown affects weather systems, jet streams, and marine life throughout the Northern Hemisphere.Continue Reading
Nuevo Laredo was dumping millions of gallons of sewage a day into the Rio Grande. The U.S. and Mexico worked together to find a solution. By Martha Pskowski, photos by Brenda Bazán For years, raw sewage has flowed into the Rio Grande from a beleaguered wastewater treatment plant in NuevoContinue Reading
Researchers have uncovered a new species of wolf snake on Great Nicobar Island and named it Lycodon irwini in tribute to Steve Irwin. The glossy black, non-venomous snake grows up to a meter and appears confined to a small area. Scientists warn its limited habitat makes it vulnerable. The findContinue Reading
The class-action lawsuit is the first of its kind to target Big Oil over rising home insurance costs. By Dana Drugmand Two homeowners in Washington state who have seen sharp increases in their home insurance premiums in recent years have brought a new lawsuit against major oil and gas companies—theContinue Reading
With global power demand from data centers expected to more than double by 2030, the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) in September launched an effort that brings together MIT researchers and industry experts to explore innovative solutions for powering the data-driven future. At its annual research conference, MITEI announced the Data CenterContinue Reading
Older buildings let thousands of dollars-worth of energy go to waste each year through leaky roofs, old windows, and insufficient insulation. But even as building owners face mounting pressure to comply with stricter energy codes, making smart decisions about how to invest in efficiency is a major challenge. Lamarr.AI, bornContinue Reading
Private cleanup crews were dispatched to the scene at the San Ardo Oil Field, which was ‘contained to the immediate area,’ according to reports from field operator Aera Energy.Continue Reading
Scientists have discovered that complex life began evolving much earlier than traditional models suggested. Using an expanded molecular clock approach, the team showed that crucial cellular features emerged in ancient anoxic oceans long before oxygen became a major part of Earth’s atmosphere. Their results indicate that early complexity developed slowlyContinue Reading
The Family Forest Carbon Program pays landowners not to timber their trees, then sells the additional growth as carbon credits. But critics question whether it leads to overall emissions reductions. By Theo Peck-Suzuki David Funk has spent decades working to restore the native forest ecosystems of southeast Ohio. Now, he’sContinue Reading