PHYSorg · Page 7

As the population grows and urbanization and agro-industrial activity increase, the demand for freshwater is expected to rise by 55% by 2050. Experts project that this increase in demand will strongly impact a scenario already characterized by scarce and…

June 8 was UN World Oceans Day, and this year's theme is "Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us." One researcher who has spent years exploring these wonders is Vicki Ferrini, a marine geophysicist and a senior research scientist and geoinformatics expert at…

The American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific leadership group and think tank within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and the American Geophysical Union (AGU) have released a new report, Water, Waterborne Pathogens and Public Health:…

As the global climate continues to warm, fire seasons have intensified, and large-scale wildfires have become more frequent in many parts of the world. Factors such as vegetation type, land use patterns, and human activity all affect the likelihood of…

History has a way of repeating itself. But unlike science, built on general principles and testable theories about the natural world, history examines past events and human actions using evidence and interpretation. This delineation is critical when predicting…

The high seas treaty could become law by the end of the year, affording protection to marine life in the vast swaths of ocean that belong to no one.

Would commuters be more likely to ride a bike if they had the option to ride in a protected lane? New research led by a University of New Mexico School of Engineering faculty member says yes.

As wildfire season begins, the destructive impacts of climate change are being felt across Canada. Several communities in northern Saskatchewan have been issued evacuation orders due to wildfires. In Manitoba, Pimicikamak Cree Nation worked to evacuate…

Mud is messy. For some, it's a plaything. To many, it can mean real hardship. Mud, though, is often overlooked, particularly when it lies out of sight. Deep down at the bottom of the sea, it is one of the most important natural archives of Earth's…

New research led by IIASA reveals a surprising link between two major climate-tipping elements: the Southern Amazon rainforest and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). While the study finds that a weakening AMOC may buffer dry season…

The Tampa Bay region is still recovering from the 2024 hurricane season when it was battered by Hurricanes Milton and Helene. The state of Florida had it even worse in 2004 when it was pummeled by four, back-to-back storms—Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.

Data that has been lost in the weeds—or more accurately the turfgrass—could help improve estimates of carbon dioxide emissions from urban areas, according to a team led by scientists at Penn State.

In September 2017, Hurricane Maria ripped through the Caribbean, devastating the small island nation of Dominica in the Lesser Antilles, between Guadeloupe and Martinique. Université de Montréal professor Patrick Cloos saw the destruction first-hand when he…

Tsunamis pose a risk to the entire California coast. But should a major one strike, how bad could it be?

A global summit on the dire state of the oceans kicks off Monday in France, with calls to ban bottom trawling and bolster protections for the world's overexploited marine areas.

France is hosting world leaders this week to confront what the United Nations calls a global "emergency" in the oceans—but what is expected, and can the summit make a difference?

With careful planning and a little luck, researchers found a surprising upside to hurricanes after a Category 4 storm disrupted their expedition off the coast of Mexico.

Methane emissions from Canada's non-producing oil and gas wells appear to be seven times higher than government estimates, according to a new study led by researchers at McGill University. The findings spotlight a major gap in the country's official greenhouse…

Brazil's environmental goals suffered a major setback in May as deforestation in the Amazon surged 92% compared to the same month last year, according to official monitoring data released Friday.

Antarctica could see a doubling of extreme weather events—such as atmospheric rivers—by 2100, with implications for future sea level rise.