Climate Change

As greenhouse gas emissions rise, so does the intensity and weirdness of our climate system. This is what you need to know.

Latest in Climate Change

Polar Bears Might Survive Ice Melting By Hunting New Prey

Environment

Polar Bears Might Survive Ice Melting By Hunting New Prey Polar Bears Might Survive Ice Melting By Hunting New Prey

By Grennan Milliken

What companies really mean when they say they’re ‘net-zero’

Environment

What companies really mean when they say they’re ‘net-zero’ What companies really mean when they say they’re ‘net-zero’

By Sara Kiley Watson

The mystery of Greenland’s icy history could help us survive climate change

Environment

The mystery of Greenland’s icy history could help us survive climate change The mystery of Greenland’s icy history could help us survive climate change

By Mary Beth Griggs

Science

Global Warming Could Be The Best Way To Terraform Mars Global Warming Could Be The Best Way To Terraform Mars

By Mary Beth Griggs

Here’s how wind turbines stay afloat during storms

Environment

Here’s how wind turbines stay afloat during storms Here’s how wind turbines stay afloat during storms

By Angely Mercado

baby birds in a nest

Technology

Many animals climate-control their homes. Global warming could mess with that. Many animals climate-control their homes. Global warming could mess with that.

By Philip Kiefer

Physical depictions of digital cryptocurrency "coins" like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Zcash, and others.

Technology

Renewable energy can’t cure Bitcoin’s environmental woes Renewable energy can’t cure Bitcoin’s environmental woes

‘Forever chemicals’ could be lurking in your lipstick

Environment

‘Forever chemicals’ could be lurking in your lipstick ‘Forever chemicals’ could be lurking in your lipstick

By Angely Mercado

Ford F-150 Pickup truck

Technology

Scott Pruitt wants to roll back the EPA’s requirements for clean vehicles. It’s going to be a fight. Scott Pruitt wants to roll back the EPA’s requirements for clean vehicles. It’s going to be a fight.

By Jordan Golson

What you need to know about the heatwave and drought scorching the western US

Environment

What you need to know about the heatwave and drought scorching the western US What you need to know about the heatwave and drought scorching the western US

By Sara Kiley Watson

A person wearing a baseball cap and tan jacket holds a pair of green, silver, and yellow pruning shears up to a tree branch, read to cut.

Science

Humans have become the biggest selection force in evolution Humans have become the biggest selection force in evolution

By Lauren Leffer

Did the dip in carbon emissions during the pandemic really help the atmosphere?

Health

Did the dip in carbon emissions during the pandemic really help the atmosphere? Did the dip in carbon emissions during the pandemic really help the atmosphere?

By Sara Kiley Watson

Salt marshes keep score on humanity’s plastic problem

Health

Salt marshes keep score on humanity’s plastic problem Salt marshes keep score on humanity’s plastic problem

By Ellie Shechet

Take it from a former park ranger: No one is going rogue

Environment

Take it from a former park ranger: No one is going rogue Take it from a former park ranger: No one is going rogue

By Mark D. Kaufman

coal covered man in Linfen China

Environment

The World’s 10 Worst Cities The World’s 10 Worst Cities

By Popular Science Team

Environment

The Future of the Environment The Future of the Environment

By Popular Science Team

Water is poured into a short, clear glass from above against a blue background.

Environment

Worsening droughts could increase arsenic exposure for some Americans Worsening droughts could increase arsenic exposure for some Americans

By Lauren Leffer

This tiny, laser-powered RoboFly could sniff out forest fires and gas leaks

Environment

This tiny, laser-powered RoboFly could sniff out forest fires and gas leaks This tiny, laser-powered RoboFly could sniff out forest fires and gas leaks

By Marlene Cimons

Chinese man shrimp fishing from his boat at Lake Hong

Environment

“Water Stories” Is A Haunting Document Of Global Water Issues “Water Stories” Is A Haunting Document Of Global Water Issues

By Meaghan Lee Callaghan

Unites states climates

Environment

What a Green New Deal would look like in every state What a Green New Deal would look like in every state

Result of wooden project

Environment

REsilient Charging Hub REsilient Charging Hub

Environment

Why The Paris Climate Agreement Can’t Save The Planet Why The Paris Climate Agreement Can’t Save The Planet

By Jen Schwartz

Environment

A Bright Solar Future Will Be Flawed and Imperfect A Bright Solar Future Will Be Flawed and Imperfect

By Jeremy Deaton

Science

This Mud Could Revolutionize How Scientists Study The Past This Mud Could Revolutionize How Scientists Study The Past

By Rebecca Boyle

Patrick Leger illustration

Environment

The secret to curbing farm emissions is buried in the Stone Age The secret to curbing farm emissions is buried in the Stone Age

Why These 15 Scientists Marched For Climate Change Action

Environment

Why These 15 Scientists Marched For Climate Change Action Why These 15 Scientists Marched For Climate Change Action

Environment

Live-Blogging The United Nations Climate Summit Live-Blogging The United Nations Climate Summit

How a wildfire kicked up a 45,000-foot column of flames

Environment

How a wildfire kicked up a 45,000-foot column of flames How a wildfire kicked up a 45,000-foot column of flames

By Kyle Dickman

19 schemes to survive climate change

Environment

19 schemes to survive climate change 19 schemes to survive climate change

By Lois Parshley

Giant crack in Antarctic ice

Environment

A crack in Antarctica is forming an iceberg the size of Delaware A crack in Antarctica is forming an iceberg the size of Delaware

By Sara Chodosh

Tiananmen Square

Environment

Beijing’s Epic Smog Alert Shows Why Environmental Policies Matter Beijing’s Epic Smog Alert Shows Why Environmental Policies Matter

By Mary Beth Griggs

Environment

Are We Doomed To Arctic Winters In America? Are We Doomed To Arctic Winters In America?

By Rafi Letzter

The Battle Over Climate Science

Environment

The Battle Over Climate Science The Battle Over Climate Science

power plant smoke stack

Environment

John Kerry got slammed for a statement on carbon cutting tech. Is he right? John Kerry got slammed for a statement on carbon cutting tech. Is he right?

Where does your paper come from? The good and the bad news.

Environment

Where does your paper come from? The good and the bad news. Where does your paper come from? The good and the bad news.

By Shaena Montanari

street in new orleans louisana with power lines

Environment

Louisiana is making bold climate goals, but still wants its fossil fuels Louisiana is making bold climate goals, but still wants its fossil fuels

By Philip Kiefer

a large globe held up at a protest

Environment

We can still slash emissions and survive climate change, but we’re running out of time We can still slash emissions and survive climate change, but we’re running out of time

It’s not just methane—meat production fills the air with noxious particulate matter too

Environment

It’s not just methane—meat production fills the air with noxious particulate matter too It’s not just methane—meat production fills the air with noxious particulate matter too

By Shaena Montanari

Trees need wind to reproduce. Climate change is messing that up.

Environment

Trees need wind to reproduce. Climate change is messing that up. Trees need wind to reproduce. Climate change is messing that up.

By Ellie Shechet

Estimated temperatures for the year 2090

Environment

These beautiful, terrifying maps show how hot we’ll get in 2090 These beautiful, terrifying maps show how hot we’ll get in 2090

By Sara Chodosh

flooded house with cows on the porch

Environment

Homes in flood-prone areas should be getting cheaper. They’re not. Homes in flood-prone areas should be getting cheaper. They’re not.

By Philip Kiefer

Pollution from power plant.

Health

Car, factory, and power plant pollution can be damaging to kids’ mental health Car, factory, and power plant pollution can be damaging to kids’ mental health

By Shaena Montanari

Tiny air pollutants may come from different sources, but they all show a similar biased trend

Environment

Tiny air pollutants may come from different sources, but they all show a similar biased trend Tiny air pollutants may come from different sources, but they all show a similar biased trend

By Ellie Shechet

Oil refinery owner by Chevron next to a river

Environment

Chevron just got hit with an official greenwashing complaint. Here’s what that means. Chevron just got hit with an official greenwashing complaint. Here’s what that means.

By Shaena Montanari

mendenhall-glacier

Environment

We can avoid the worst effects of climate change, but we’re still in for a fight We can avoid the worst effects of climate change, but we’re still in for a fight

A brewing storm with dark clouds and a lighthouse in Michigan.

Environment

The average hurricane season is officially more intense The average hurricane season is officially more intense

Super-white paint could cut air conditioning bills by 80 percent

Environment

Super-white paint could cut air conditioning bills by 80 percent Super-white paint could cut air conditioning bills by 80 percent

By Shaena Montanari

Why forests in the Andes are crucial to fighting climate change

Environment

Why forests in the Andes are crucial to fighting climate change Why forests in the Andes are crucial to fighting climate change

By Ellie Shechet

iceberg floating in southern ocean

Environment

Eddies in the ocean might affect sea level rise Eddies in the ocean might affect sea level rise

Loud industrial noise hurts neighboring trees

Environment

Loud industrial noise hurts neighboring trees Loud industrial noise hurts neighboring trees

By Ellie Shechet

manatee underwater

Environment

The US is tropicalizing, and you’ve probably already noticed the change The US is tropicalizing, and you’ve probably already noticed the change

By Philip Kiefer

A fox sitting in some grass.

Environment

We have no clue how climate change will affect most land mammals We have no clue how climate change will affect most land mammals

A plume of smoke following a volcanic eruption.

Environment

Is blocking out the sun a good solution to the climate crisis? Is blocking out the sun a good solution to the climate crisis?

By Charlie Wood

Corroded munitions with sea life grown over.

Environment

The ocean is a giant dump for chemical weapons. Can we clean it up before it’s too late? The ocean is a giant dump for chemical weapons. Can we clean it up before it’s too late?

By María Paula Rubiano A.

‘Ghost forests’ are spreading across US coastal regions

Environment

‘Ghost forests’ are spreading across US coastal regions ‘Ghost forests’ are spreading across US coastal regions

By Ellie Shechet

bolt of lightning

Environment

Lightning strikes could double in the Arctic this century, setting the tundra on fire Lightning strikes could double in the Arctic this century, setting the tundra on fire

By Philip Kiefer

san francisco bay area golden gate bridge

Environment

Living in the same city doesn’t mean breathing the same air Living in the same city doesn’t mean breathing the same air

By Ellie Shechet

Temperature scarf hanging from a tree

DIY

Turn climate data into a knitted accessory and a crafty conversation starter Turn climate data into a knitted accessory and a crafty conversation starter

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Narwhal tusks are full of illuminating secrets

Environment

Narwhal tusks are full of illuminating secrets Narwhal tusks are full of illuminating secrets

By Ellie Shechet

cranes on the waterfront

Science

6 key ways Biden’s new job plan tackles climate, health, tech, and more 6 key ways Biden’s new job plan tackles climate, health, tech, and more

grassy area burning in a forest fire

Environment

Forest fires leave behind charcoal—and it might be toxic for years Forest fires leave behind charcoal—and it might be toxic for years

By Philip Kiefer

Brown cow at a mountain farm.

Environment

Putting cows on a seaweed diet helps curb their methane burps Putting cows on a seaweed diet helps curb their methane burps

By Shaena Montanari

A monarch butterfly caterpillar.

Environment

As the planet warms, tropical plants and animals are moving northward As the planet warms, tropical plants and animals are moving northward

By Ellie Shechet

Environment

Almost half of all air pollution deaths are caused by out-of-state emitters Almost half of all air pollution deaths are caused by out-of-state emitters