Will 2020 Be the Hottest Year on Record?
It will certainly place in the top five—a marker of how much the world has warmed
Stories by Andrea Thompson
Zoos Find Creative Ways to Cope with Coronavirus Lockdowns
The institutions are turning to various solutions, including livestreams and fundraisers, to connect with would-be visitors and continue caring for their animals
Black Birders Call Out Racism, Say Nature Should Be for Everyone
Co-organizers of the first Black Birders Week talk about the joy of the natural world and the work outdoor-focused groups need to do to reduce racism and promote inclusion
Heat and Humidity Are Already Reaching the Limits of Human Tolerance
Events with extreme temperatures and humidity are occurring twice as often now as they were 40 years ago
How the Environment Has Changed since the First Earth Day 50 Years Ago
These charts show that while progress has been made in some areas, humanity still has a major impact on the planet
Rooftop Wind Power Might Take Off by Using Key Principle of Flight
A new device could open more areas to wind production by using stationary airfoils instead of twirling turbines
What Happens When Other Disasters Hit during a Pandemic?
Emergency management experts are concerned about everything from evacuations to public messaging
Paris Climate Agreement Architects Make a Case for “Stubborn Optimism”
It is possible for the world to cut emissions enough to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But tenacious belief will be needed to achieve that goal
Yes, Climate Change Did Influence Australia’s Unprecedented Bushfires
Such an extreme fire season is at least 30 percent more likely because of global warming, a new analysis finds
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
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
