Across the US, people don’t want data centers coming to their communities
Opposition to data centers is widespread across the US, uniting people despite other differences on political and environmental issues.
Americans are stressed about grocery prices, so why do they toss or overlook so much ‘misfit’ food?
Quality, rather than discounts or environmental benefits, is what’s needed to encourage shoppers to consider odd-shaped produce.
300 glaciers have disappeared from the American West since the mid-20th century – the survivors have a few things in common
A new study compared the glaciers in the Lower 48 states today against historical data from the mid-20th century. The results show the region’s vulnerabilities as temperatures rise.
California is taking a beating from an unusually destructive 2026 Pacific hurricane season
Tropical storms rarely survive in the cool water off California, but waves from storms far to the south can still damaged coastal areas. And flooding rain can sweep in.
Physics Nobel highlights Antarctica’s role in exploring the cosmos
For more than a century, scientists have treated Antarctica’s environments as windows into worlds beyond Earth.
How much rain can a hurricane make, and does the storm size matter?
Storms big and small can produce a lot of rain. What matters most is how fast they’re moving, as an atmospheric scientist and educator explains.
How Hurricane Isaias broke through to become the first Atlantic hurricane in an extremely quiet 2026 season
An atmospheric scientist explains what’s been going on in the atmosphere, and how El Niño and the jet stream both play important roles.
My Testimony Opposing the EPA’s Proposal to Stop Regulating Power Plant Global Warming Pollution
Last week, the EPA held a public hearing on its proposal to entirely remove the agency’s authority to regulate the power sector’s heat-trapping emissions under the Clean Air Act. If finalized, this would be a huge blow to efforts to protect people from the rapidly worsening impacts of climate change. I testified at the hearing,
Audubon Mural Project in Hopkins, MN
Across the city of Hopkins, Minnesota, a flock of bird murals has landed on local businesses. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker greets visitors at the entrance to a brewery; a Field Sparrow perches on the...
Why fall yard care could start with doing less – but not nothing
Fallen leaves provide essential winter habitat for native pollinators and provide natural mulch for the soil. If you have to clear some leaves, don’t get rid of them entirely: Move them out of sight.
How Hurricane Isaias broke through to become the first Atlantic hurricane in an eerily quiet 2026 season
An atmospheric scientist explains what’s been going on in the atmosphere, and how El Niño and the jet stream both play important roles.
We blasted mobile homes with hurricane-force winds to test how they fail – and found clues for making affordable housing safer
Engineers are using a unique test facility called the Wall of Wind to develop housing that’s both affordable and disaster-resistant. Their tests show the magnitude of the challenge.