Latest stories, analysis, and insights from the world of earth.
Scientists are working to restore sunflower sea stars, critically endangered marine predators with up to 24 arms, to help save California's kelp forests after 95% have been decimated along the Pacific coast in the past decade.
Nature loss poses urgent threats to global food security, economic resilience, and climate stability, but science shows positive tipping points in energy, food, and finance systems can accelerate transformational change if governments act decisively at COP17 and COP31.
Researchers are working to restore the critically endangered sunflower sea star, a marine predator that once controlled sea urchin populations and maintained kelp forests, after 95% of California's underwater ecosystems have been decimated in the past decade.
A new report shows that seven of 16 planetary vital signs have reached their most extreme state ever recorded, with El Niño poised to push global temperatures even higher and threaten vulnerable ecosystems like coral reefs and the Amazon rainforest.
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Researchers are working to restore critically endangered sunflower sea stars to California's Pacific coast, where 95% of kelp forests have been decimated by disease and rising temperatures over the past decade.
Scientists are working to restore the critically endangered sunflower sea star to save California's kelp forests, which have been decimated by disease and warming ocean temperatures. By reintroducing these 24-armed predators, researchers hope to control invasive sea urchin populations and allow underwater ecosystems to recover.
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A record-breaking El Niño threatens crop losses in the US, but farms using cover crops and perennial plants can build soil resilience to withstand extreme weather. Congress must invest in agricultural programs to support these climate-adaptive practices.
Post-tropical cyclone Isaias made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 2 hurricane on Friday, leaving at least four dead and causing widespread flooding and power outages across the southeastern United States.
More Americans are turning to small "plug-and-play" solar panels on balconies and backyards to cut electricity bills as US residential energy prices surge by 30% since 2020. These affordable systems, already popular in Europe, are gaining legal traction across US states as a way to democratize clean energy access for renters and homeowners.
New research shows that shallow groundwater, crop irrigation, and natural water reservoirs in the U.S. Corn Belt increase the frequency of intense thunderstorm complexes by 24–35%, providing critical insights for weather forecasting and long-term climate prediction.
A University of Michigan study reveals that harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie produce a diverse array of bioactive cyanopeptides beyond the commonly monitored microcystins, with seasonal patterns and overlapping toxins that can amplify toxicity when combined.
As Lake Powell shrinks to just 23% capacity due to drought and climate change, officials face a critical decision between releasing cool water to protect the endangered humpback chub and the economic costs to utilities serving millions of people who depend on hydropower.
Mount Dukono experiences another eruption as volcanic activity continues at the Indonesian volcano.
More Americans are turning to small, affordable plug-and-play solar panels installed on balconies and in backyards to reduce their electric bills as residential energy costs surge. This accessible technology, already popular in Europe, is gaining traction in the US despite regulatory hurdles, with 34 states now considering or passing legislation to support the systems.
Researchers have formally identified and named a tiny blue octopus discovered near Darwin Island in the Galápagos Islands, using advanced CT imaging technology to study the rare specimen without damaging it.
Vermont becomes the latest state to ban paraquat, a controversial herbicide linked to health concerns and environmental damage.
Europe is warming 2.4°C above preindustrial levels—nearly twice the global average of 1.4°C—due to high-pressure weather systems, proximity to the rapidly warming Arctic, reduced snow cover, and decreased aerosol pollution that previously reflected sunlight.
The UK record for the hottest May day has been broken for a second consecutive day, with Kew Gardens in London recording 35.1C on Tuesday, surpassing Monday's 34.8C. The exceptional heat has triggered amber weather alerts, train delays, water shortages in Kent, and multiple drowning incidents.