Will Taal Volcano Explosively Erupt? Here’s What Scientists Are Watching
The seismic rumblings of the Philippines’ second most active volcano hold clues to what it might do
Stories by Andrea Thompson
Australia’s Bushfires Have Likely Devastated Wildlife—and the Impact Will Only Get Worse
The large, intense fires have threatened more than 800 million animals in the state of New South Wales alone, according to one estimate
What Happens to White Christmases as the World Warms?
Although more winter precipitation will fall as rain because of climate change, don't say goodbye to snow just yet
Switching to Renewables Can Hurt Vulnerable Groups—Unless Utilities Plan Ahead
Charging more for electricity during peak hours could strain finances and negatively affect health for some disadvantaged populations
New Zealand Eruption: The Inherent Risk in Visiting Volcanoes
The event shows that even geologically minor eruptions can endanger people
Warming Will Cost Rich and Poor Countries Alike
Limiting global temperature rise will substantially reduce the economic toll of climate change
Kicking Climate Change: Wins for Health, the Economy and Security
Former EPA administrator Gina McCarthy talks with Scientific American’s Andrea Thompson about the widespread benefits of taking action against climate change.
Are We at a Climate Change Turning Point? Obama’s EPA Chief Thinks So
Gina McCarthy talks about the intersection of climate and health and the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks
Airborne Plastic Is Blowing All the Way to the Arctic
Tiny plastic particles have turned up in samples of Arctic snow, pointing to their ubiquity in the environment
Humans Have Significantly Interrupted the Free Flow of Rivers
Dams are the single biggest impediment to river connectivity, which is crucial to maintaining healthy ecosystems
Medicine in Space: What Microgravity Can Tell Us about Human Health
Astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor discusses her experience in microgravity and doing biological experiments in space
Tropical Storm Barry’s Dangers Will Reach Far Inland
Rains from the system will prolong the already historic flooding along the Mississippi
Utility-Scale Energy Storage Will Enable a Renewable Grid
A roadblock to sustainable energy solutions is coming unstuck
Minorities Breathe More Than Their Share of Polluted Air
Blacks and Hispanics in the U.S. are exposed to more emissions than whites and consume less from the industries responsible
U.N. General Assembly President Sets Her Sights on Plastic Pollution
María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés is pushing internal action as well as changes within the U.N.
Microplastics Are Blowing in the Wind
Atmospheric currents are transporting plastic pollution into remote, pristine areas, showing the global nature of the problem
Radioactive Glass Beads May Tell the Terrible Tale of How the Fukushima Meltdown Unfolded
The microscopic particles unleashed by the plant’s explosions are also a potential environmental and health concern
Here's How Much Ice Antarctica Is Losing—It's a Lot
The world’s southernmost continent is jettisoning six times more ice now than it was four decades ago
Another Casualty of the Government Shutdown: Hurricane Preparedness
Weather models are not being updated and training sessions might be canceled during the budget standoff
Western Drought Ranks among the Worst of the Last Millennium
As temperatures warm, it becomes more likely the drought will match past “megadroughts” for length as well
