Drought makes heatwaves hotter but less deadly
During heatwaves, the land dries out. That drought further enhances the rising of heatwave temperatures. However, desiccated soils still make the heatwaves less rather than more deadly to humans, due to a reduction in air humidity......»»
Global heating may breach 1.5°C in 2024—here"s what that could look like
It's official: 2023 was Earth's hottest year ever recorded, beating the previous record set in 2016 by a huge margin. Last year was also the first in which the world was close to 1.5°C (1.48°C) hotter than the pre-industrial average (1850-1900). We.....»»
Ocean temperatures helped make 2023 the hottest year ever recorded
A multi-national team of scientists (China, U.S., New Zealand, Italy, and France) analyzes the temperature of the Earth annually. These scientists have found a fever that increases every year: For the past decade, each year has been hotter than the p.....»»
"Carbon vault" peat suffers greatly from drought, finds study
Peatlands are affected more by drought than expected. This is concerning, as these ecosystems are an important ally in the fight against climate change. Following long periods of drought, peat is able to absorb little to no extra carbon (CO2). Increa.....»»
Deadly storms buffet US, leave hundreds of thousands without power
Severe weather battered the United States Tuesday, spinning off tornadoes and reportedly killing three people in the South as high winds and blizzards buffeted the North and hundreds of thousands lost power......»»
Analyzing the extreme drought in eastern China in 2022 and its future risk
Eastern China was hit by an extreme drought in summer 2022 that caused severe economic and agricultural damage. The event has attracted a great deal of attention not only because of its severe intensity and huge social impacts but also because it is.....»»
Global study finds extreme drought impacts on grasslands and shrublands
A global study organized and led by Colorado State University scientists shows that the effects of extreme drought—which is expected to increase in frequency with climate change—has been greatly underestimated for grasslands and shrublands......»»
Experimental antibiotic kills deadly superbug, opens whole new class of drugs
The relatively large molecule clogs a transport system, leading to lethal toxicity. Enlarge / This Scanning Electron Microscope image depicts several clusters of aerobic Gram-negative, non-motile Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria.....»»
Unlocking the secrets of disease-causing fungus Aspergillus fumigatus
An international team of researchers, led by Professor Gustavo Goldman of the University of São Paulo and Maynooth University's Dr. Özgür Bayram, has unveiled ground-breaking findings on Aspergillus fumigatus, which can cause deadly disease in hum.....»»
Sierra Nevada snowpack at lowest level in 10 years: What it means for California"s water supply
California's statewide Sierra Nevada snowpack—the source of nearly one-third of the state's water supply—is at its lowest level in a decade, a major turnaround from last year when huge storms ended a three-year drought and buried ski resorts in m.....»»
How tomato plants use their roots to ration water during drought
Plants have to be flexible to survive environmental changes, and the adaptive methods they deploy must often be as changeable as the shifts in climate and condition to which they adapt. To cope with drought, plant roots produce a water-repellent poly.....»»
How watching beavers from space can help drought-ridden areas bounce back
An algorithm can spot beaver ponds from satellite imagery. Enlarge / Where beavers set up home, the dams they build profoundly change the landscape. (credit: Troy Harrison) For the first time in four centuries, it’s g.....»»
Ars Technica’s best video games of 2023
2022's relative drought leads to an absolutely packed year of major epics. Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson) It’s been a real period of feast or famine in the video game industry of late. Last year in this space, we lame.....»»
Fleeing drought, vulnerable populations face flood risk in most African countries
In 80% of African countries, human settlements move toward rivers and into cities during drought, increasing the number of people living in flood-risk areas in recent decades, according to a recent study. This resettlement pattern will likely intensi.....»»
Heartbreak in Zimbabwe park: elephants" desperate hunt for water
Storm clouds are finally gathering over Zimbabwe's biggest animal reserve, but it has come too late for more than 110 elephants that have died in a searing, extended drought......»»
New research models critical climate collapse conditions in ecological and biological systems
As humans continue to drive environmental damage through climate change, predicting points of no return becomes more crucial than ever. Worldwide, humanity and nature alike contend with increases in temperature, drought, wildfires, hurricanes, rising.....»»
Hotter weather caused by climate change could mean more mosquitos, according to study
A warmer environment could mean more mosquitos as it becomes harder for their predators to control the population, according to a recent study led by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers......»»
A new tool to better model future wildfire impacts in the United States
Wildfire management systems outfitted with remote sensing technology could improve first responders' ability to predict and respond to the spread of deadly forest fires......»»
Column: 2021"s inventory crunch will become 2024"s CPO drought
When leasing dried up in mid-2021 as inventories fell and demand outstripped supply, it created a knock-on effect that may take until the end of the decade to normalize......»»
Research finds Caribbean islands are uniquely susceptible to flash droughts
The word "drought" typically conjures images of parched soil, dust-swept prairies, depleted reservoirs, and dry creek beds, all the result of weeks or seasons of persistently dry atmospheric conditions......»»
Ancient DNA reveals how a chicken virus evolved to become more deadly
An international team of scientists led by geneticists and disease biologists from the University of Oxford and LMU Munich have used ancient DNA to trace the evolution of Marek's Disease Virus (MDV). This global pathogen causes fatal infections in un.....»»