Climate ChangeNovember 1, 2022
See How Much Climate Change Has Cost Different Countries
Low-income nations bear the brunt of costs from climate change
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
PolicyNovember 1, 2022
The Most Urgent Science, Health and Climate Issues in the 2022 Midterm Elections
The midterm elections have high stakes for issues such as abortion rights, pandemic funding, climate change and other fundamental policies
WeatherSeptember 29, 2022
How Hurricane Season Went from Quiet to a ‘Powder Keg’
For nearly two months, the Atlantic had no hurricane activity. Then September arrived with a flurry of storms
Climate ChangeAugust 31, 2022
This Hot Summer Is One of the Coolest of the Rest of Our Lives
Heat waves broke temperature records around the world this past summer, but it will still be one of the coolest summers of the next few decades
PolicyAugust 12, 2022
What Scientists Say about the Historic Climate Bill
Climate experts praise the Inflation Reduction Act for focusing on emissions, clean energy and environmental justice but caution that much work remains
ConservationJuly 15, 2022
Meet the Giant Sequoia, the ‘Super Tree’ Built to Withstand Fire
Mammoth redwood trees have evolved along with fire, but humans are disrupting that delicate balance
Climate ChangeJune 27, 2022
Global Warming Causes Fewer Tropical Cyclones
But those that do form have a greater chance of becoming intense storms
PharmaceuticalsJune 1, 2022
Common Drugs Pollute Rivers on Every Continent
A global look reveals contamination by antibiotics, antidepressants and other medications
ConservationApril 22, 2022
How Conserving 30 Percent of U.S. Land by 2030 Could Work
Achieving the 30x30 goal, as it is known, requires much more than declaring more national parks
Climate ChangeApril 6, 2022
Climate Report Offers Some Hope, but the Need for Action Is Urgent
Sustained emissions reductions and the rapidly dropping costs of renewables were some positive notes in the latest IPCC installment
Climate ChangeApril 1, 2022
Double Disaster: Wildfires Followed by Extreme Rainfall Are More Likely with Climate Change
These events can cause devastating landslides and flash floods
EnergyMarch 5, 2022
The Risks of Russian Attacks near Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants
Commercial plants have built-in safety systems but aren’t designed with warfare in mind
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
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