Heat, drought, fires threaten Lebanon"s northern forests
Heat waves, low rainfall and the threat of wildfires are compounding the woes of people in the forested north of Lebanon, a country where economic pain has long taken prominence over environmental concerns......»»
The latest crocodile attack is tragic—but the Northern Territory doesn"t have a croc problem, says researcher
Late last week, the remains of a missing 12-year-old girl were found after she was taken by a saltwater crocodile in the Northern Territory......»»
Wildfire smoke kills thousands of Californians a year: It doesn"t have to be so deadly, say researchers
When wildfires rage, the immediate threat is obvious—but smoke from the fires actually kills far more people than the flames do. It doesn't have to be so deadly......»»
This new ransomware scam will hassle you with phone calls until you pay up
Since there is no dedicated data leak site, the operators call the victims on the phone and threaten them......»»
California fires spread in July 4 weekend heat wave
California firefighters battled multiple blazes in record heat Friday, with a new fire breaking out near the famous Yosemite National Park even as a larger inferno further north came under control......»»
Painting roofs white helps lower city heat, studies say
White or reflective paint is more effective at cooling cities than covering roofs in solar panels or greenery, scientists say, and could offer some relief on extremely hot summer days......»»
Pear-derived discovery: A genetic mechanism to fortify crops against drought
A recent study has shed light on a critical genetic mechanism that boosts plants' ability to withstand drought. The research uncovers the role of the transcription factor PbERF3, native to wild pears, which works in concert with the protein PbHsfC1a.....»»
Novel 2D device for quantum cooling converts heat to voltage at ultra-low temperatures
EPFL engineers have created a device that can efficiently convert heat into electrical voltage at temperatures lower than that of outer space. The innovation could help overcome a significant obstacle to the advancement of quantum computing technolog.....»»
Study reveals human degradation of tropical forests is greater than previously estimated
Tropical forests are essential to sustain high biodiversity and mitigate climate change. They suffer from deforestation, the cutting and converting of forests for agriculture, mining, or infrastructure purposes. However, significant human impacts on.....»»
Thousands told to flee raging California wildfire
Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate as a wildfire rages out of control in northern California, with a swathe of the United States in the grip of a "record-breaking and dangerous" heat wave that was complicating firefighting efforts......»»
Fires in Brazil"s Pantanal push wetlands community to limit
A riverside community in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands narrowly escaped raging wildfires last month, but some say the record-setting blazes—still burning nearby—are compounding threats to their way of life......»»
India is likely undercounting heat deaths, affecting its response to increasingly harsh heat waves
Months of scorching temperatures sometimes over 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in parts of India this year—its worst heat wave in over a decade—left hundreds dead or ill. But the official number of deaths listed in government reports barely.....»»
Experimental bermudagrasses show varied drought response
In a new study, researchers at Oklahoma State University have unveiled significant variations in drought response among advanced turf-type Bermudagrass experimental genotypes. The study aimed to evaluate the drought tolerance of various Bermudagrass.....»»
Two asteroids whipped past Earth last week, and researchers snapped images
The last week saw not one but two asteroids whip by Earth at close distances - not so close as to threaten the planet, but close enough to get a good view......»»
The hunt for the most efficient heat pump in the world
A new generation of engineers has realized they can push heat pumps to the limit. Enlarge (credit: FHM/Getty Images) Outside a 100-year-old house on the edge of the Peak District in northern England, a heat pump’s fan.....»»
Can we make "citizen science" better?
During a stifling heat wave in August 2021, 80 volunteers from Massachusetts communities along the Mystic River fixed sensors to their car windows and bicycles, traveling along 19 predetermined routes recording ambient temperature and humidity levels.....»»
To save spotted owls, US officials plan to kill hundreds of thousands of another owl species
To save the imperiled spotted owl from potential extinction, U.S. wildlife officials are embracing a contentious plan to deploy trained shooters into dense West Coast forests to kill almost a half-million barred owls that are crowding out their small.....»»
Rising risks of climate disasters mean some communities will need to move—Australians need to plan for relocation
Many Australians live in areas increasingly exposed to climate change and associated extreme weather such as floods, fires, coastal erosion, cyclones and extreme heat. If we wait for disasters to happen, hundreds of thousands of people could be force.....»»
New study challenges drought theory for Cahokia exodus
Nine hundred years ago, the Cahokia Mounds settlement just across the Mississippi River from present-day St. Louis bustled with roughly 50,000 people in the metropolitan area, making it one of the largest communities in the world. By 1400, however, t.....»»
Extreme heat waves highlight climate injustice while western countries fail to act—how governments can help
Average global air temperatures breached 1.5°C for the first time at the start of 2024—at least five years earlier than predicted. So, while developing countries burn, global climate injustice persists......»»
Some birds win and some lose with sea level rise, expert says
Global sea level rise is accelerating every year due to climate change, and it could threaten the very existence of some coastal bird species......»»