Climate

Tech

Training AI to be really smart poses risks to climate

As artificial intelligence models grow larger and consume more energy, experts have begun to worry about their impact on Earth’s climate.

Climate

Scientists Say: Weather

The state of the atmosphere in a specific place and time is weather. Over a long time, the weather conditions in an area will reveal its climate.

Climate

Can wildfires cool the climate?

Severe wildfires are becoming more common. Science is showing that the tiny particles they release into the air can alter Earth’s temperature — sometimes cooling it.

Climate

2020 was warmest year on record for Earth’s oceans

2020 continued the trend of record-breaking heat for the world’s oceans. The three previous warmest years on record were 2019, 2017 and 2018.

Earth

Let’s learn about snow

Snow is more than just frozen water vapor. Scientists are studying everything from its shape to other planets where snowflakes fall.

Climate

Analyze This: 2020 ties with 2016 for hottest year on record

Last year capped the warmest decade on record. It coincided with a growing increase of warming greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere.

Chemistry

A new catalyst turns greenhouse gas into jet fuel

The catalyst is an improvement over its predecessors. Made of cheap materials like iron, it produces jet fuel in a single step.

Environment

Surprising long-haul dust and tar are melting high glaciers

Dust and tar blown onto high mountains, like the Himalayas, boost the melting of snow and ice far more than scientists had realized. Here’s why.

Climate

Let’s learn about solar power

Solar power is a way to harness energy from the sun, and lessen our reliance on fossil fuels.

Climate

Student scientists work to help all of us survive a warmer world

From glaciers in the refrigerator to a rover in the field, here’s how young scientists are looking to help us adapt to climate change.

Plants

The faster trees grow, the younger they die

As climate change spurs forest tree growth, it also shortens trees’ lives. That results in a quicker release of climate-warming carbon back into the atmosphere.

Ecosystems

Scientists Say: Desert

Deserts are ecosystems that get less than 250 millimeters (10 inches) of precipitation per year.