PolicyMarch 1, 2022
The Pandemic Showed the Promise of Cities with Fewer Cars
Residents learned what was possible. Some politicians fought to keep it that way
Stories by Andrea Thompson
Andrea Thompson is senior desk editor for life science at Scientific American, covering the environment, energy and earth sciences. She has been covering these issues for nearly two decades. Prior to joining Scientific American, she was a senior writer covering climate science at Climate Central and a reporter and editor at Live Science, where she primarily covered earth science and the environment. She has moderated panels, including as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Media Zone, and appeared in radio and television interviews on major networks. She holds a graduate degree in science, health and environmental reporting from New York University, as well as a B.S. and an M.S. in atmospheric chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Follow Thompson on Bluesky @andreatweather.bsky.social
Climate ChangeFebruary 16, 2022
Winter Olympic Sites Are Melting Away because of Climate Crisis
As greenhouse gas emissions rise, more venues will face conditions that professional athletes consider unfair or unsafe
Climate ChangeFebruary 1, 2022
How Climate Change Will Hit Younger Generations
A new analysis shows that people born later will experience vastly more severe weather events
Natural DisastersJanuary 20, 2022
Ash Blanketing Tonga after Volcano Eruption Creates Health Concerns
Short exposure should not be too harmful, but residents should take precautions where they can
EcologyJanuary 14, 2022
Plants Are Stuck as Seed-Eating Animals Decline
Their ability to track climate change is being squeezed on all sides
Climate ChangeDecember 28, 2021
The Five Biggest Climate Stories of 2021
Climate-fueled disasters raged around the globe while international action fell short of ambitions
AnimalsDecember 27, 2021
The Best Fun Science Stories of 2021: Rhythmic Lemurs, a Marscopter and Sex-Obsessed Insect Zombies
Check out the weird and wonderful stories that delighted us this year
WeatherDecember 16, 2021
Tornadoes at Night and in the Southeast Are Especially Deadly
Population density and a prevalence of mobile homes make the region a hotspot for tornado deaths
Climate ChangeOctober 20, 2021
How Airborne Microplastics Affect Climate Change
Like other aerosols, these tiny particles scatter and absorb sunlight, influencing Earth’s temperature
Climate ChangeOctober 14, 2021
Risk of Dangerous Heat Exposure Is Growing Quickly in Cities
Population growth, climate change and the urban heat island effect are combining to put more people at risk
Climate ChangeSeptember 28, 2021
How Climate Change Helped Fires Cross the Sierra Nevada for the First Time
High, rocky peaks are no longer an insurmountable hurdle for ever fiercer flames fueled by heat and drought
AgricultureSeptember 13, 2021
Here’s How Much Food Contributes to Climate Change
Animal-based foods produce about twice the emissions of plant-based ones, a new comprehensive study finds
Climate ChangeJuly 29, 2021
Act on Climate Emergency Now to Prevent Millions of Deaths, Study Shows
The human toll of carbon emissions will vastly magnify climate change’s economic costs
Climate ChangeMay 18, 2021
Climate Change Added $8 Billion to Hurricane Sandy’s Damage
New research shows how much warming is costing society by exacerbating disasters
Climate ChangeJanuary 14, 2021
NASA Says 2020 Tied for Hottest Year on Record
Meanwhile NOAA put the year just behind 2016 in the charts, but it was remarkably hot by either agency’s measure
CultureDecember 29, 2020
From Rapping Robots to Glowing Frogs: Our Favorite Fun Stories of 2020
It has been a tough year, but science still brought us some weird, cool and quirky findings
Natural DisastersDecember 22, 2020
A Running List of Record-Breaking Natural Disasters in 2020
The year has already seen many extremes, from California’s and Colorado’s largest wildfires to a tropical cyclone boom
Climate ChangeDecember 22, 2020
The Top Five Climate Stories of 2020
From raging wildfires to a pending shift on U.S. climate action, the year was a notable one for climate change
BiologyDecember 18, 2020
This Super Speedy Bird Barely Stops to Sleep
Common swifts zoom around at almost 70 miles per hour and may sleep while in flight
Climate ChangeDecember 2, 2020
On Climate, Biden Must Do More Than Undo Trump’s Damage
The new administration cannot just go back to the future on carbon emissions
BiologyNovember 20, 2020
See a Male Seahorse Give Birth
Unlike almost all other animal species, it is male seahorses who become pregnant and birth young
Climate ChangeNovember 12, 2020
Here’s How Scientists Want Biden to Take on Climate Change
Ambitions include promoting electric vehicles and incorporating environmental justice
WeatherNovember 9, 2020
In 2020, Record-Breaking Hurricanes Arrived Early—and Often
A record 30 storms have formed, compared to the previous high of 28; almost all were the earliest on record
Climate ChangeNovember 1, 2020
Neighborhood Wealth Dramatically Impacts Home Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A detailed, nationwide analysis could set the stage for cities to tailor emissions-reducing policies