5,000 year old giant: How long does the world’s oldest tree have left?

The age of the ancient alerce tree is more than 5,000 years.

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Fish off the coast of Florida test positive for pharmaceutical drugs, says study

Bonefish off the coast of Florida have tested positive for a cocktail of pharmaceutical drugs, including anti-depressants and blood pressure medications, according to a new study.

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UN Warns of ‘Total Societal Collapse’ Due to Breaching of Planetary Boundaries

A landmark report by the United Nations concludes that ‘global collapse’ is becoming more likely. But was it watered-down before being published?

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Pebbles, 22, unseats TobyKeith the chihuahua as world’s oldest dog

Terrier’s family contacted Guinness World Records after learning younger dog had received honor

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Can we cut the US’s carbon emissions in half this decade?

There are multiple routes to drop carbon emissions by 50% by 2030.

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Lake Mead water level running well below predictions, could drop another 12 feet by fall

Federal officials have a sobering forecast for the Colorado River Basin: Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir which serves millions of people in the Southwest, will likely drop another 12 feet by this fall. It’s far below what the outlooks were predicting as of last year.

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People in US and UK face huge financial hit if fossil fuels lose value, study shows

Individuals in rich countries face huge financial losses if climate action slashes the value of fossil fuel assets, a study shows, despite many oil and gas fields being in other countries. The researchers estimated that existing oil and gas projects worth $1.4tn (£1.1tn) would lose their value if the world moved decisively to cut carbon emissions and limit global heating to 2C. By tracking many thousands of projects through 1.8m companies to their ultimate owners, the team found most of the losses would be borne by individual people through their pensions, investment funds and share holdings.

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New data reveals climate change might be more rapid than predicted

About 30 massive, intricate computer networks serve the scientists who stand at the forefront of climate change research. Each network runs a software program comprised of millions of lines of code. These programs are computational models that combine the myriads of physical, chemical and biological phenomena that together form the climate of our planet.

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Metal-lifespan analysis shows scale of waste

Metals might be the foundation of the modern economy, but that doesn’t mean they stick around. A study looking at the economic lifetimes of 61 commercially used metals finds that more than half have a lifespan of less than 10 years. The research, published on 19 May in Nature Sustainability1, also shows that most of these metals end up being disposed of or lost in large quantities, rather than being recycled or reused.

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Vanguard refuses to end new fossil fuel investments

The world’s second-largest asset manager Vanguard has refused to stop new investments in fossil fuel projects and end its support for coal, oil and gas production. Chief executive Tim Buckley said the group, which manages $8.1tn for more than 30mn investors and is the largest investor in coal companies globally, was determined to safeguard its clients from climate risks but this would not require it to end new commitments to fossil fuel industries.

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Big Tech is pouring millions into the wrong climate solution in Davos

Alphabet, Microsoft and Salesforce today pledged $ 500 million for new climate technology that is supposed to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to prevent it from warming the planet. It’s Big Tech’s latest move to push emerging technology forward while portraying itself as a global leader when it comes to acting on climate change.

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Physicists just rewrote a foundational rule for nuclear fusion reactors that could unleash twice the power

Future fusion reactions inside tokamaks could produce much more energy than previously thought, thanks to groundbreaking new research that found a foundational law for such reactors was wrong.

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An ocean first: Underwater drone tracks CO2 in Alaska gulf

SEWARD, Alaska (AP) — In the cold, choppy waters of Alaska’s Resurrection Bay, all eyes were on the gray water, looking for one thing only. It wasn’t a spout from humpback whales that power through this scenic fjord, or a sea otter lazing on its back, munching a king crab.

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Reversing climate change with net-zero farming

Regrow is a technology start-up which aims to reverse climate change with agriculture. The tech start-up wants to achieve net-zero emissions in farming using technology and data. Regrow tries to transform agriculture to a net-zero carbon system.

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When Ants Domesticated Fungi

While we’ve been farming for around 10,000 to 12,000 years, the ancestors of ants have been doing it for around 60 million years. So when, and how, and why did ants start … farming?

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Cheap gel film pulls buckets of drinking water per day from thin air

Water scarcity is a major problem for much of the world’s population, but with the right equipment drinking water can be wrung out of thin air. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have now demonstrated a low-cost gel film that can pull many liters of water per day out of even very dry air.

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Genetically modified tomatoes contain more vitamin D, say scientists

Scientists have found a way to edit the genetic makeup of tomatoes to become a robust source of vitamin D. A research team at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK, have been working on the newly designed tomatoes to help people receive appropriate amounts of the vital vitamin.

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Over 500 animal species haven't been seen in 50 years but they're still not officially extinct yet

Some could be lost forever, while others could live in areas difficult to reach

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Welcome to Joe Manchin’s Scorching Summer of Climate Doom

This summer is the last best chance for the U.S. to take climate action, and we’re blowing it.

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Wildfire smoke may ramp up toxic ozone production in cities

A new study reveals how wildfire smoke produces toxic ozone and how urban air pollution could exacerbate the problem.

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How Fast-Growing Algae Could Enhance Growth of Food Crops

A team including Professor Niall Mangan and researchers from Princeton University used computer modeling to identify the necessary features to support enhanced carbon fixation by an organelle called the pyrenoid, found in green algae, providing a blueprint for engineering this structure into crop plants.

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The “Final Stretch Alliance To End Horse Slaughter” Was Just Announced To Permanently Ban The Slaughter Of Horses In The U.S. - World Animal News

A diverse group from the equine industry, along with several animal welfare organizations just announced the “Final Stretch Alliance to End Horse Slaughter”—a collaborative effort to permanently ban the unnecessary slaughter of American horses. In an open letter to congressional leaders, including U.S. Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and U.S. Senators...

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This is just the beginning. Above-normal heat is forecast for most of the U.S. this summer.

The Northeast, from Delaware to Maine, has the highest likelihood of being extra-hot, along with parts of the West.

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Honeybee populations could be wiped out worldwide by wing virus

The global bee population could be endangered by a newly discovered deadly virus, a leading scientist has warned.

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9 Million People Died From Pollution in 2019, Report Finds

Little has been done to reduce the harms of pollution, despite the staggering death toll.

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China's action on air pollution can help restore trust in a greener future

From my window on the 18th floor of a Beijing office building, I can see distant mountains on three sides, standing out against a clear blue sky. The contrast is striking compared to the smog-wrapped city I first visited in the years running up to the 2008 Summer Olympics.

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Happy is an Asian elephant. But is she also a person?

She has four limbs, expressive eyes and likes to stroll through greenery in New York City. Happy, by species, is an Asian elephant. But can she also be considered a person? That question was before New York’s highest court Wednesday in a closely watched case over whether a basic human right can be extended to an animal.

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Black shelter animals weren't getting adopted. A photographer had an idea: glam shots

Maggie Epling was looking for a chance to do something good during her summer break from college. She wanted to find an activity that combined her interests and she found the perfect opportunity at a local animal shelter. "I thought about volunteering and I've always loved animals and photography," she told NPR.

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The banks collapsed in 2008 – and our food system is about to do the same

For the past few years, scientists have been frantically sounding an alarm that governments refuse to hear: the global food system is beginning to look like the global financial system in the run-up to 2008.

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Pollution from SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic's rockets could harm human health as well as Earth's climate, study says

The study found that the concentration of nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere was considered "hazardous to human health" under WHO standards.

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Reducing harmful air pollution has led to a surprising effect — more hurricanes in the North Atlantic

As the US and Europe worked for decades to reduce air pollution for the sake of public health and the planet, scientists found an unintended and challenging consequence: an increase in tropical storms in some regions.

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Carbon Dioxide Pipelines Are Going Dangerously Unregulated

In February 2020, a cloud of gas washed over Sartartia, Mississippi, causing residents to pass out on the spot and sending nearly 50 people to local hospitals. Unbeknownst to the residents, a carbon dioxide pipeline half a mile away from the town had ruptured, sending a cloud of CO2 washing over the community. Rescuers were forced to don protective gas masks as cars stalled, unable to run without oxygen.

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Fighting climate change: We must do obvious, dramatic things to give young people hope

If you are a young person and you know that your whole planet is being destroyed and is collapsing all around you, how can you go on in any sense of normalcy? These feelings of despair can be both A) absolutely unhealthy, and B) completely demotivating. Here's how the world can fight to change this oncoming climate change disaster.

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There’s a Venom For That

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New Zealand to help pay for cleaner cars to reduce emissions

New Zealand’s government said Monday it will help pay for lower-income families to scrap their old gas guzzlers and replace them with cleaner hybrid or electric cars as part of a sweeping plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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Researchers Power an ARM Processor for a Year Using Algae

A team of researchers at the University of Cambridge successfully replaced a battery with algae to provide continuous power to a microprocessor. The tiny system is roughly the same size as an AA battery and runs an ARM Cortex M0+ processor. However, rather than sipping power from a rechargeable battery, the researchers used a non-toxic blue-green algae called Synechoycystis to naturally harvest energy when exposed to the sun through photosynthesis.

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One in three people are infected with Toxoplasma parasite – and the clue could be in our eyes

We looked at eye photos and found one in every 150 Australians might have scarring from a common parasitic disease.

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Insect decline could massively increase food bills, warn scientists

Losing pollinators in the UK alone could add more than € 2.3 billion a year to food bills, warns charity Buglife.

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Caesar’s favourite herb was the Viagra of ancient Rome. Until climate change killed it off

Perfume, tonic – even love potion – silphium was prized by the ancient Romans, but in its success lay the seeds of its own downfall

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A lost dog crept into a couple’s bed overnight. She didn’t want to leave.

The dog, Nala, had made herself at home in Julie and Jimmy Johnson's bed earlier this month. She had snuck in during a storm, the couple said.

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Giant sinkhole with a forest inside found in China

Species unknown to science could be hiding in this gaping hole.

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California just ran on 100% renewable energy, but fossil fuels aren't fading away yet

On a mild Sunday afternoon, California set a historic milestone in the quest for clean energy. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing and on May 8th, the state produced enough renewable electricity to meet 103% of consumer demand. That broke a record set a week earlier of 99.9%.

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NYC wants to take 25% of its street space away from cars in favor of a walkable/bikeable city

Back when COVID-19 ravaged New York City and turned the city’s transportation needs upside down, significant portions of the road space were repurposed for non-car use. From bike lanes to public seating and urban parks, roads that previously saw gridlocked traffic were nearly instantly transformed into public spaces that benefitted a wider group of residents.

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Climate change to make droughts longer, more common, says UN

The frequency and duration of droughts will continue to increase due to human-caused climate change, with water scarcity already affecting billions of people across the world, the United Nations warned in a report Wednesday.

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'The most dumb thing': Elon Musk dismisses hydrogen as tool for energy storage

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reiterated his skepticism about hydrogen’s role in the planned shift to a more sustainable future, describing it as “the most dumb thing I could possibly imagine for energy storage.” During an interview at the Financial Times Future of the Car summit on Tuesday, Musk was asked if he thought hydrogen had a role to play in accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels.

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‘It’s a 50-50 call’: The Earth is close to crossing a key temperature threshold within 5 years

There’s a 50-50 chance of surpassing the critical global heating threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius over the next five years, according to a new study. Climate prediction centers, led by the U.K. Met Office, said in an annual update that the chance of the planet temporarily exceeding the key global temperature limit has significantly increased.

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Australia says most Great Barrier Reef coral studied this year was bleached

More than 90% of Great Barrier Reef coral surveyed this year was bleached in the fourth such mass event in seven years in the world's largest coral reef ecosystem, Australian government scientists said. Bleaching is caused by global warming, but this is the reef's first bleaching event during a La Niña weather pattern, which is associated with cooler Pacific Ocean temperatures, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority said in its an annual report released late Tuesday that found 91% of the areas surveyed were affected.

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Revealed: the ‘carbon bombs’ set to trigger catastrophic climate breakdown

Exclusive: Oil and gas majors are planning scores of vast projects that threaten to shatter the 1.5C climate goal. If governments do not act, these firms will continue to cash in as the world burns

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Why our continued use of fossil fuels is creating a financial time bomb

The numbers are startling. We know roughly how much more carbon dioxide we can put into the atmosphere before we exceed our climate goals—limiting warming to 1.5° to 2° C above preindustrial temperatures. From that, we can figure out how much more fossil fuel we can burn before we emit that much carbon dioxide. But when you compare those numbers with our known fossil fuel reserves, things get jaw-dropping.

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Cat ownership in childhood linked to greater risk of later-life mental illness

They are cute, fluffy and have that wide-eyed glare that few of us can resist; it is no wonder more than 95 million of us own a cat. But there may be a darker side to our four-legged friends. New research claims the animals could increase our risk of mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

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