Climate

Climate

Five portraits of Hurricane Irma’s record-breaking fury

A series of remarkable images capture Hurricane Irma’s power and might — and the lessons they can teach scientists.

Climate

Picturing how many Great Salt Lakes Harvey dropped onto Texas

Harvey’s astounding rainfall shattered records. The numbers are so high that it can be tough to picture what they mean. Here we give it a try.

Climate

Hurricane Harvey proved to be a tornado master

Harvey and other hurricanes have spawned tornadoes — sometimes by the dozens. And these tropical cyclones don’t need the typical recipe to spin those twisters loose.

Microbes

Under Antarctic ice, microbes gobble up greenhouse gas

In a lake far beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, scientists have found bacteria that eat methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

Climate

Hurricane Harvey’s rains set U.S. record

Here are some of the issues that made this storm such an epic rainfall-producer, and why storms like it could become more common.

Science & Society

Analyze This: Seasonal hurricane costs have been rising sharply

Scientists study past hurricanes to help them predict future risks. Better predictions can help communities prepare for monster storms.

Climate

Climate change is shifting when Europe’s rivers flood

Climate change has been shifting when European rivers flood by weeks or even months. This is likely to have been impacts on cities, farms and ecosystems.

Earth

Explainer: Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons

Hurricanes are some of the most destructive forces on the planet. Here’s how they form and why they are so dangerous.

Earth

Scientists Say: Ozone

Ozone is a molecule made of three oxygen atoms. In a layer above the Earth, it protects us from harmful radiation, but too close to home, it can harm our health.

Climate

Hotter air may lead planes to carry fewer passengers

Global warming could force airplanes to carry a lighter load on each flight. This could mean fewer passengers can fly on each plane.

Earth

Antarctic ice shelf sheds Delaware-sized iceberg

Larsen C is a major ice shelf in Antarctica. An iceberg the size of Delaware has just splintered off of it in one of the largest calving events ever recorded.

Health & Medicine

Hunting the mysterious source of a global illness

Doctors and scientists around the world are scouring the environment for the elusive cause of Kawasaki disease, a harmful childhood illness.