In two recent studies, scientists have looked into the future and into the past to see what might happen to the global climate if we fail to curb greenhouse gas emissions in time. The results are frightening. A study published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examined how, once a certain threshold […]
The European Court of Justice ruled Wednesday that organisms obtained by mutagenesis, or gene editing, are considered genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which mean they fall under the same strict EU rules that govern GMOs. The decision is a victory for organic farming associations and environmentalists wary of “GMO 2.0” techniques such as CRISPR gene editing […]
By Daisy Dunne Scientists studying the troposphere—the lowest level of the atmosphere—have found “powerful evidence” that climate change is altering seasonal temperatures. A study published in Science finds that climate change has caused an increase in the difference between summer and winter temperatures across North America and Eurasia over the past four decades. This could […]
By Sara Novak You can’t protect an animal that you don’t know exists. Tapanuli orangutans, for example, are found only in the Tapanuli region of Sumatra; they were only identified as a species last year, when scientists found them to be genetically different from other Bornean and Sumatran orangutans. With just 800 left, this newly […]
By Angela Dassow Love them or hate them, wolves are vital members of natural ecosystems and the health of a wolf population can be an important factor in maintaining balance among species. Wolf populations are growing in North America—the Great Lakes region in particular now supports more than 3,700 individuals. Keeping track of wolf pack […]
A new Trump administration protocol requires U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists to run interview requests with the Department of the Interior, its parent agency, before speaking to journalists, the Los Angeles Times reported. The move is a departure from past media practices that allowed government scientists to quickly respond to journalists’ inquiries, according to unnamed […]
After last week’s disturbing news that ice melt in Antarctica has tripled in the last five years, another study published Thursday offers some surprising good news for the South Pole and its vulnerable West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). The study, published in Science by an international research team, found that the bedrock below the WAIS […]
If you tune in to a TV weather report on today’s Northern hemisphere summer solstice, you might notice the meteorologist wearing a unique striped tie or necklace that begins in blue and changes to red. This isn’t just a fun summer style. The design is actually University of Reading climate scientist Ed Hawkin’s “Warming Stripes” […]
Climate science marks a troubling anniversary this week: in June of 1988, NASA scientist James Hansen told Congress that global warming had already begun to affect the world and would only get worse. A sweeping AP analysis finds that in the decades since Hansen’s testimony, global temperatures have risen nearly 1 degree F, while the […]