Why ‘Tipping Points’ Are the Wrong Way to Talk about Climate Change
A new paper warns the concept of “tipping points” doesn’t do much to encourage climate action from laypeople and policymakers
Chelsea Harvey covers climate science for Climatewire. She tracks the big questions being asked by researchers and explains what's known, and what needs to be, about global temperatures. Chelsea began writing about climate science in 2014. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Popular Science, Men's Journal and others.
Why ‘Tipping Points’ Are the Wrong Way to Talk about Climate Change
A new paper warns the concept of “tipping points” doesn’t do much to encourage climate action from laypeople and policymakers
Trump’s NASA Pick Is a Climate Mystery
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, is a major supporter of human-crewed space exploration, but his views on the climate science that the agency does are unclear
The Arctic Could Be Functionally Ice-Free in Just a Few Years
The Arctic is likely to become “ice-free” by midcentury—and could pass that grim milestone much sooner—unless much more is done to combat climate change
Wildfire Smoke Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia
The particles that make up wildfire smoke may raise the risk of dementia even more than similar airborne pollutants from other sources
Scientists Scramble to Save Climate Data from Trump—Again
Federal climate databases remained largely intact during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term. Scientists say the threats are bigger this time
Climate Change Amplified the Winds in Every Hurricane in 2024
Every Atlantic hurricane that formed this year had higher wind speeds because of climate change. Two likely would have remained tropical storms without its influence
Trees Alone Can’t Stop Climate Change
Forests absorb planet-warming pollution, but world leaders shouldn’t include them in plans to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, a new study recommends
All the Ways Hurricane Milton Made History
Never-before-seen rainfall, record-breaking tornado outbreaks and wild wind acceleration defined Hurricane Milton
The ‘Big One’ Takes Aim at Tampa after Years of Warnings
A 2013 report from the World Bank placed the Tampa Bay area seventh on a list of the top 10 global cities facing the costliest damage from coastal floods
Hurricane Helene Signals the End of the ‘Climate Haven’
Experts say the effects of global warming are playing a greater role in where people decide to move
Conservative Project 2025 Would Leave Hurricane Helene Survivors with Little Aid
The conservative Project 2025 playbook for a possible Trump presidency calls for cutting aid for disasters such as Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene’s Devastation Shows No Region Is Safe from Climate-Fueled Disaster
Hurricane Helene fueled catastrophic flooding from Florida to Appalachia, leaving millions without power
U.S. Deaths from Heat Are Dangerously Undercounted
By vastly understating the number of heat-related deaths, medical officials make it harder to improve heat safety and save lives
Far-Flung Trash Can Reach Remote Antarctica, Threatening the Vulnerable Ecosystem
New research suggests that remote Antarctica is more vulnerable to trash and invasive species washing up from longer distances than previously thought
Climate Change Made 2023’s Wildfire Season So Much Worse
Global warming made hot, dry weather that fuels wildfires more likely in places such as Canada, Greece and the Amazon rainforest last year, new research says
Cleaned Up Shipping Emissions Have Revealed Additional Global Warming
New shipping regulations set limits on sulfur in maritime fuel, reducing harmful pollution but inadvertently ceasing a cooling effect on Earth’s climate
Hurricane Debby Slams Florida Region That’s Still Recovering from Last Year’s Hit
Hurricane Debby flooded the Big Bend region of Florida a year after it was pounded by Category 4 Hurricane Idalia
Thunderstorms Have Caused $45 Billion in Damages in the U.S. in Just Six Months
Damage from high-frequency storms is rising faster than losses from major disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires
Extreme Heat Is the Deadliest Weather Disaster
Hundreds of thousands of people die from extreme temperatures every year, more than any other type of weather disaster
How Heat Combined with Hurricane Beryl to Cause Misery in Houston
Hurricane Beryl exposed the dangers of what happens when a storm cuts off power and a heat wave follows in its wake
Facing Scorching Heat Waves, Cities Call on Scientists to Understand How People Respond
Miami and New York City officials say they need more insight into how searing temperatures affect homeless people and other vulnerable populations
The Wild History—And Even Wilder Future—Of Hurricane Forecasting
Scientists, pilots and even a Jesuit priest have tried over decades to understand some of the most ferocious storms on Earth, but climate change is making such efforts to avert damage more difficult
Should Heat Waves Be Named like Hurricanes?
California is launching a heat wave ranking system, but it’s unclear how well such efforts actually inform people about heat risks
Giant Viruses Discovered in Arctic Ice Could Slow Sea-Level Rise
Scientists recently discovered giant viruses infecting algal blooms that dot the Greenland ice sheet