Tag: Science
Climate Emergency persists as 2020 ties for earth’s hottest year on record
“It took over 200 years for [atmospheric CO2] levels to increase by 25%, but now just over 30 years later we are approaching a 50% increase.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, January 8, 2021 Highlighting…
Wildfire smoke changes dramatically as it ages, and that matters for downwind air quality – here’s what we learned flying through smoke plumes
Wildfire smoke is far more complex and dynamic than meets the eye. It contains thousands of different compounds, most of which are molecules containing various amounts of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen atoms. by Brett B….
About this year’s winter solstice and the great conjunction
by William Teets, Vanderbilt University Editor’s note: Dr. William Teets is the director of Vanderbilt University’s Dyer Observatory. In this interview, he explains what does and doesn’t happen during the winter solstice on Dec. 21. Another…
Climate movement takes on big oil at the Hague
‘Historic Moment’ Friends of the Earth vs. Shell “This is actually ‘the People versus Shell,’ a company that has got away with greenwashing for too long.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Tuesday, December 1, 2020 Representing…
Clots, strokes and rashes: is COVID a disease of the blood vessels?
by Will Stone Friday, November 13, 2020 Whether it’s strange rashes on the toes or blood clots in the brain, the widespread ravages of COVID-19 have increasingly led researchers to focus on how the novel coronavirus…
Renewables on track to be largest source of global electricity in five years
“Renewable power is defying the difficulties caused by the pandemic, showing robust growth while others fuels struggle,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Wednesday, November 11 The International Energy Agency on…
‘It’s science, stupid’: A school subject emerges as a hot-button political issue
Victoria Knight October 30, 2020 At the top of Dr. Hiral Tipirneni’s to-do list if she wins her congressional race: work with other elected officials to encourage mask mandates and to beef up COVID-19 testing…
New study shows 50% coral decline on Great Barrier Reef
‘No Time to Lose’ “We expect this decline to continue,” predicted one of the study’s authors, who said that unless urgent climate action is taken, “the reef will be unrecognizable.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Wednesday,…
Signs of an ‘October Vaccine Surprise’ alarm career scientists
Liz Szabo, Kaiser Health News and JoNel Aleccia, Kaiser Health News September 21, 2020 President Donald Trump, who seems intent on announcing a COVID-19 vaccine before Election Day, could legally authorize a vaccine over the objections…
Trump spits climate denialism right in California’s face: “It’ll start getting cooler, you just watch”
“I thought I’d find it funny watching this, but instead it’s just chilling: as the West Coast faces a climate catastrophe, the president laughs at them and denies the problem exists.” by Jon Queally, staff writer…
New study finds Planet heading toward temperature threshold not seen in 34 million years
Researchers behind the comprehensive study of Earth’s atmospheric record over tens of million of years say “immediate and stringent action” could prevent most dire outcomes. by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Monday, September 14 A newly published…
Coping with Western wildfires: 5 essential reads
As wildfire smoke turns Western skies orange and red, millions of people face serious health risks from inhaling it, even many who are far from active fires. Wildfire smoke creates an orange glow over San Francisco,…
Fossil fuel lease sales in California amid historic wildfires
“More oil wells mean more greenhouse gases, more air pollution, and more destroyed habitat.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, August 28 In the midst of wildfires ravaging the region, conservationists sounded alarm Thursday in response…
What’s in that wildfire smoke, and why is it so bad for your lungs?
The health impact of wildfire exposure depends in part on on the fire itself and how much smoke a person breathes in, how often and for how long. by Luke Montrose, Boise State University If I…
Wildfires can poison drinking water – here’s how communities can be better prepared
The Camp Fire inferno spread at a speed of one football field per second, chasing everyone – including water system operators – out of town. The 2018 Camp Fire north of Sacramento burned everything in its…
Test positivity rate: How this one figure explains that the US isn’t doing enough testing yet
by Ronald D. Fricker, Jr., Virginia Tech The U.S. has performed more coronavirus tests than any other country in the world. Yet, at the same time, the U.S. is notably underperforming in terms of suppressing COVID-19….
How — and when — can the coronavirus vaccine become a reality?
It is likely we’ll eventually have a coronavirus vaccine — but perhaps not as quickly as some expect. From development, to clinical trials and distribution, ProPublica reporter Caroline Chen explains the tremendous challenges that lie ahead….
Coronavirus deaths and those of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery have something in common: Racism
In Minneapolis, the memorial near the spot where George Floyd died while in police custody. Getty Images / Kerem Yucel by April Thames, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences The…
Decades-long campaign forces Nevada Board to kill huge Las Vegas groundwater pipeline
by Meteor staff The Center for Biological Diversity announced late last week that a 31-year struggle to stop a massive groundwater pipeline development came to a stunning conclusion when the Southern Nevada Water Authority board voted…
Scientist has ‘Invisible Enemy’ in sights with microscopic portraits of coronavirus
by Markian Hawryluk May 21, 2020 From her laboratory in the far western reaches of Montana, Elizabeth Fischer is trying to help people see what they’re up against in COVID-19. Over the past three decades, Fischer,…
COVID-19 is eroding scientific field work – and our knowledge of how the world is changing
Collecting data on invasive plants, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California. Connar L’Ecuyer/NPS by Richard B. Primack, Boston University and Casey Setash, Colorado State University Editor’s note: Summer is prime time across much of…
What is the ACE2 receptor, how is it connected to coronavirus and why might it be key to treating COVID-19? The experts explain
A molecular model of the spike proteins (red) of SARS-CoV-2 binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein, the receptor (blue) which is its the entry route to the target cell. Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library …
You’re not going far from home – and neither are the animals you spy out your window
Is it that same busy squirrel you’re watching every day? Julian Avery, CC BY-ND Julian Avery, Pennsylvania State University Watching the wildlife outside your window can boost your mental well-being, and it’s something lots of people…
EPA decides to reject the latest science, endanger public health and ignore the law by keeping an outdated fine particle air pollution standard
Diesel emissions are a major source of fine particle pollution by H. Christopher Frey, North Carolina State University May 1, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown have temporarily produced clearer skies across the U.S. Meanwhile,…
