Earth

Climate Change Costing US $250 Billion Annually

A recent report from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) shows that the U.S.’s economy will suffer worse from climate change than nearly any other country in the world. This groundbreaking research marks the first time scientists have measured the economic harm carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions pose on individual countries. The researchers calculated each… Read More
Beyond Plastic Straws: Any Piece of Plastic Can Kill a Sea Turtle

Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans poses considerable dangers for the marine life that inhabits those waters. Two recent studies suggest that ocean plastic pollution could threaten the survival of entire populations of sea turtles. The findings come in a year that saw a campaign to ban single-use plastic straws blossom into a global movement,… Read More
Climate Change Has the World Underwater

Floods are destructive, devastating and the most common natural disaster. All year round they storm through cities and crop fields tearing up trees, destroying buildings, causing millions of dollars in damage, and killing people and animals. The number of floods worldwide have quadrupled since 1980 and doubled since 2004. In 2017, alone, flooding caused more… Read More
10% Of Frogs and Toads Face Extinction From Climate Change in Brazil

As climate change threatens to reorder the world as we know it, species across the world will lose their habitats and be subject to new climate conditions. Many of these species will be forced to adapt or face extinction. How significant the impact will be is not yet known, but it could be severe. In… Read More
How Is Climate Change Impacting Hurricanes?

With four of the five costliest hurricanes in U.S. history occurring in the past 6 years, scientists and people everywhere are pointing the finger at climate change. And with good reason. Hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma, which rank second, fourth and fifth on that list, all occurred in 2017. The cost of damage from Hurricane… Read More
A Game Crosses Political, Cultural Lines to Spur Climate Action

A new study shows that a simple role-playing game is all it takes to motivate complete strangers to take action on climate change despite their political affiliation, cultural identity, age or gender. By the end of the game, participants leave knowing that they are a part of the solution. The paper is published in the… Read More
How Climate Change Could Stunt Growth of Aquatic Farming Industry

Aquaculture — the cultivation of fish and other marine animals for consumption — is poised to become a major food sector over the course of the next century. However, a new study finds that the industry can expect to be hit hard by warming water temperatures and extreme weather. This study, conducted by researchers from… Read More
Why This Solar Device Could Be the Most Promising Renewable Energy Tool Yet

Carbon pollution is continuing to pile up in the atmosphere. Time is of the essence with finding an effective, sustainable energy alternative for fossil fuels. Now, new research from Hokkaido University in Japan could catapult a widespread transition to solar energy. The Hokkaido scientists have developed a photoelectrode that can harvest 85 percent of all… Read More
Climate Change Forces Beloved Bird Species From Their Homes

Bird species in the cloud forests of Honduras are losing their habitats and forced to move to higher elevation because of climate change and deforestation, a new study suggests. This 10-year study signals a real possibility of extinction for some of the world’s most unique species. The paper is published in the journal Biotropica. Situated… Read More
Californians Can Expect Flooded Winters and Fiery Summers

A recent study led by Robert Allen, an earth scientist at the University of California, Riverside, sheds new light on how climate change may impact weather patterns in California, and the results may not be what you would expect. Despite fears that climate change could result in persistent, year-round droughts across the state, Allen’s research… Read More
How Social Media Can Help Us All Agree on Climate Change

It is not breaking news that the U.S. is polarized. While many factors have played into the separation of American ideas, the finger is often pointed at social media. But now, new research from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) proves that social media can effectively reduce polarization on key issues like climate change. The Penn… Read More
Semi-Artificial Photosynthesis: A New Way to Turn Sunlight Into Fuel

Scientists at St. John’s College, University of Cambridge, have developed a new process of converting sunlight into fuel. The team’s “semi-artificial photosynthesis” method utilizes sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen in a lab setting. Their process uses both biological components — an enzyme from algae — as well as man-made technologies, differentiating it… Read More
Friendly Competition Could Eliminate Campus Waste

Sometimes the best way to motivate people is through a little bit of friendly competition. The University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) is preparing to install touch-screen monitors on dorm buildings that alert students, faculty and staff about how much solid waste they are producing, while encouraging dorms to compete. The screens will feature a… Read More
Why Do College Students Waste So Much Food?

A recent study found that college students may have a higher tendency to waste food than other age groups because food-management behaviors haven’t been necessary or learned yet in this stage of life. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois as a means to understand perceptions and behaviors associated with food… Read More
How Universities Are Helping Us Go Solar

Renewable energy is growing. So far in 2018, 70 percent of net global power capacity additions were renewables, according to the 2018 Global Status Report by REN21. A fifth of the world’s energy already comes from renewable sources — a figure that’s only rising. In this transition, solar power stands up front as one of… Read More