The changing climate is creating challenges for some of the most productive apple growing regions in America. A study by Washington State University analyzed over 40 years of climate conditions that impact the growth cycle of apple trees. Many growing areas face increased climate risk, but the top three apple-producing counties are among the most […

Hydroclimate whiplash is a term that describes rapid swings between intensely wet and dangerously dry weather. Global weather records show that the occurrence of hydroclimate whiplash has increased by 31% or as much as 66% since the mid-20th century. California’s experience is a prime example of this phenomenon. After years of severe drought, dozen…

A decade ago, the ability of utilities to store large amounts of electricity in batteries was basically nonexistent. In the past several years, growth in battery storage systems has exploded. As of the end of November, the US had about 24 gigawatt-hours of storage capacity in place. This is 71% more than just a year […]…

Advances in genomics have created the possibility of bringing back extinct species from the past by making use of recovered DNA from preserved specimens. Companies attempting to “de-extinct” iconic species have received hundreds of millions of dollars from venture capitalists. These companies are trying to bring back iconic species that include ivo…

For many years, scientists have warned that the Great Salt Lake in Utah is headed toward a catastrophic decline. While the size of the Great Salt Lake fluctuates naturally with seasonal and long-term weather patterns, the lake has been experiencing significant and steady declines for decades. In fact, the Great Salt Lake has lost more […]…

The Cambridge Energy Storage Project in Cambridge, Minnesota will be the first commercial deployment of iron-air battery technology. Developed by startup company Form Energy, the battery system will provide 1.5 MW and 150 MWh of multi-day energy storage. Iron-air batteries are based on the principle of reversible rusting. When discharging, the batt…

The most abundant protein on the planet is an enzyme called ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, better known as RuBisCO. Its critical role in photosynthesis makes life as we know it on earth possible. What it does is convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the organic matter contained in plants. Getting plants to take up more c…

The interests of billionaires seldom seem to coincide with our own. In fact, they often seem to be quite the opposite. But there are a number of billionaires who are trying to help the world combat climate change. Yes, they want to make money doing it, but doing it is nevertheless in everyone’s interest. A […]…

The Paris Climate Agreement is a global treaty adopted in 2015 to combat climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while striving to keep it below 1.5°C. But according to recent research, the planet is quickly approaching these critical thresholds. An international research team led by scientists from …

Temperatures in cities are rising around the world and urban heat stress is already a major problem. Extensive surfaces of man-made materials absorb the sun’s energy, and lead to temperatures well above those in the surrounding countryside. This is known as the urban heat island effect, and it can lead to greater energy use, higher […]…

Tourism is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 9% of the global total. Over the past 15 years, its emissions have grown more than twice as fast as those of the rest of the global economy. Unless the tourism industry finds ways to slow down its growing emissions, those emissions […]…

Ammonia is one of the largest-volume synthetic chemicals produced in the world. Globally, manufacturing plants produce about 200 million tons of it each year. About 70% of ammonia is used to produce fertilizers. Most ammonia is produced using the Haber-Bosch process, which converts hydrogen and nitrogen into ammonia. The process is energy-hungry, r…

We are often advised to avoid eating green areas on potatoes. The green comes from chlorophyll that occurs naturally when potatoes are exposed to light. It is harmless but when it is there, it can be accompanied by a natural toxin – a substance called solanine, which is a steroidal glycoalkaloid or SGA. Sunlight can […]…

Hedgerows are lines of different types of bushes and small trees growing very close together typically placed between fields or along the sides of roads in the countryside. The network of hedges throughout rural England dates back to the Bronze Age, or even possibly Neolithic times. As the first farmers began clearing areas of land […]…

The UN climate conference in November approved an official market for large-scale trading of carbon credits. This will allow industrial countries to help meet their emission reduction targets set by the Paris Climate Agreement by paying other nations to protect and restore forests and carbon-rich peatlands. The first major participant in this multi…

Thirty years ago, wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park. Grey wolves had almost disappeared entirely throughout the northern Rockies. They were listed as endangered by the federal government since 1974. The reintroduction was hailed as a wildly successful effort yielding significant benefits to Yellowstone’s ecosystems. Since then…

Most of us have lots of experience with the batteries in phones, computers, and other gadgets. Batteries don’t last forever, and we sometimes have to replace them. It’s a fact of life. These days, it’s becoming more common to drive electric cars and the fundamental principle is the same. However, the battery pack in an […]…

One of the most troubling aspects of global climate change is its potential to severely disrupt the production, distribution, and quality of food. While food security is already challenged by many factors, including population growth, poverty, and changing eating habits, climate change intensifies these issues by altering weather patterns, causing …

Planting lots of trees is one of many strategies being pursued to combat climate change. Trees are storehouses of carbon from the atmosphere and planting more of them helps remove carbon dioxide. But trees do more than that. Trees are natural air conditioners in cities. Trees significantly cool urban environments by providing shade and via […]…

Smoke from wildfires is well known to exacerbate health problems like heart disease, lung conditions, and asthma. People living in the vicinity of where fires occur face these dangers. But a new study at the University of Maryland has found that there are health impacts from wildfires occurring thousands of miles away. During the summer […]…