Wildfires Used to Be Helpful. How Did They Get So Hellish?
Fires are supposed to reset ecosystems, paving the way for new growth. But human meddling and climate change have turned them into monsters......»»
Mountain fires burning higher at unprecedented rates
Forest fires have crept higher up mountains over the past few decades, scorching areas previously too wet to burn, according to researchers from McGill University. As wildfires advance uphill, a staggering 11% of all Western U.S. forests are now at r.....»»
New models predict fewer lightning-caused ignitions but bigger wildfires by mid century
Human-caused wildfire ignitions in Central Oregon are expected to remain steady over the next four decades and lightning-caused ignitions are expected to decline, but the average size of a blaze from either cause is expected to rise, Oregon State Uni.....»»
How an Army of Goats Could Help Prevent California Wildfires
An anonymous reader quotes a report from VICE News: California has unleashed an army of goats to munch away at overgrown brush and grass throughout the state in hopes of reducing the risk of wildfires this summer. State agencies have deployed the ani.....»»
How to use cut, copy, and paste keyboard shortcuts in Windows
In need of some convenient Windows keyboard shortcuts? Cut, copy, paste, and undo -- they're four of the easiest and most helpful commands for any application......»»
Weather-Ready Nation: Whatever your local risk, here"s how to be prepared for the storm ahead
The approach of summer in the U.S. means that it's time to be ready for hurricanes and wildfires. The incidence of weather and climate disasters is increasing in the U.S., a trend due partly to climate change but also to human decisions......»»
OroraTech’s space-based early wildfire warnings spark $7M investment
With wildfires becoming an ever more devastating annual phenomenon, it is in the whole planet’s interest to spot them and respond as early as possible — and the best vantage point for that is space. OroraTech is a German startup building a co.....»»
Drought-hit "tinderbox" California braces for fires in months ahead
"Now, when there's smoke here, everybody panics," said Steve Crowder, mayor of the small town of Paradise that was almost wiped off the map by California's deadly 2018 wildfires......»»
Newly identified atmospheric circulation enhances heatwaves and wildfires around the Arctic
Scientists have uncovered a summertime climate pattern in and around the Arctic that could drive co-occurrences of European heatwaves and large-scale wildfires with air pollution over Siberia and subpolar North America......»»
California wildfires disproportionately affect elderly and poor residents, study finds
California's wildfire burn area has increased by more than 23,000 acres per year over the past two decades, and the number of people who have been adversely affected has nearly doubled. In a paper published recently in the International Journal of En.....»»
Drones and Sensors Could Spot Fires Before They Go Wild
To detect wildfires earlier on, some researchers are proposing a novel solution that harnesses a network of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and a fleet of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). IEEE Spectrum reports: The researchers tested thei.....»»
As drought intensifies, California seeing more wildfires
As California sinks deeper into drought it already has had more than 900 additional wildfires than at this point in 2020, which was a record-breaking year that saw more than 4% of the state's land scorched by flames......»»
New research examines why some firms prepare for natural disasters and others don"t
Despite the increasing frequency and severity of floods, storms, wildfires and other natural hazards, some firms in disaster-prone areas prepare while others do not......»»
It"s California wildfire season. But firefighters say federal hotshot crews are understaffed
As another wildfire season looms over California, the U.S. Forest Service is running short of the most experienced and elite firefighters in the country—the forestry crews known as hotshots, who travel the nation putting out wildfires, according to.....»»
Dorothy is a startup that offers faster cash post-disaster
When disaster strikes, costs pile up quickly. Flood waters can wipe out the foundation of a home or building, just as much as wildfires can burn down the walls or the entire structure. For residents and business owners, rebuilding and rebuilding quic.....»»
Fire officials aim to squelch blazes fast, avoid megafires
U.S. officials said Thursday that they will try to stamp out wildfires as quickly as possible this year as severe drought tightens its grip across the West and sets the stage for another destructive summer of blazes......»»
Climate Change Is Making Big Problems Bigger
New data compiled by the E.P.A. shows how global warming is making life harder for Americans in myriad ways that threaten their health, safety and homes. From a report: Wildfires are bigger, and starting earlier in the year. Heat waves are more frequ.....»»
Earliest forest fires evidence of ancient tree expansion
The Earth's first forest fires appear to have occurred earlier than previously thought, pointing out a link between widespread wildfires and ancient tree evolution, according to researchers at The University of Alabama......»»
Lichens slow to return after wildfires
Lichen communities may take decades—and in some cases up to a century—to fully return to chaparral ecosystems after wildfire, finds a study from the University of California, Davis, and Stanford University......»»
Adults are more generous in the presence of children, new research shows
Most of us assume that we tend to be kinder towards children than we are to adults. Past research confirms this assumption, showing that we're more caring towards children, and that this effect even extends to being more helpful and empathic towards.....»»
The Apple Watch proves helpful during surprise mid-flight birth
As if giving birth on a flight isn't unusual enough, Lavinia Mounga didn't even realize she was pregnant, making her trip from Salt Lake City to Honolulu on April 28 particularly memorable. AppleInsider reports that Mounga was lucky in that a physici.....»»