Scientists have shed new light on the ‘self-cleaning’ capacity of the atmosphere. This process of self-cleaning is essential to remove gaseous pollutants and regulate greenhouse gases such as methane from the atmosphere. Researchers were already aware that the atmosphere had this ‘self-cleaning’ ability, but in a new study from the University York, experts have now … Read more
The Issue: The Post’s report on the prevalence of marijuana odor in New York City since its legalization. Thank you for the article on the foul odor in the city caused by marijuana smoke (“City that always reeks,” Jan. 18). It’s just as bad at lunchtime as it is in the morning. You can’t walk … Read more
Carbon dioxide removal is key to meeting the climate goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. A new study analyzes what fair and equitable burden-sharing means for nature-based carbon dioxide removal in developing countries. To have a chance to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5-2°C compared to pre-industrial levels, it is … Read more
Vast amounts of plastic debris accumulate on beaches across the Seychelles and other small island developing states. Observational analysis (for instance, plastic bottle labels) suggest that much of this waste originates from distant sources and not from the islands themselves. But until now, the likely sources of this debris have not been quantified. A new … Read more
With only a small percentage of plastics recycled, determining the best way to recycle and reuse these materials may enable higher adoption of plastics recycling and reduce plastic waste pollution. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) examined the benefits and trade-offs of current and emerging technologies for recycling … Read more
A new study shows that global atmospheric dust — microscopic airborne particles from desert dust storms — has a slight overall cooling effect on the planet that has hidden the full amount of warming caused by greenhouse gases. The UCLA research, published today in Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, found that the amount of desert … Read more
The largest terrestrial carbon sink on Earth is the planet’s soil. One of the big fears is that a warming planet will liberate significant portions of the soil’s carbon, turning it into carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, and so further accelerate the pace of planetary warming. A key player in this story is the microbe, the … Read more
US tennis star Taylor Fritz had fans both laughing and scratching their heads with his on-camera drawing after winning his round-one match at the Australian Open. Fritz defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili from Georgia 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-5 at John Cain Arena on Tuesday. It is tradition for winning players to write a message on the camera at … Read more
Tropical forests are crucial for sucking up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But they’re also subject to intense storms that can cause “windthrow” — the uprooting or breaking of trees. These downed trees decompose, potentially turning a forest from a carbon sink into a carbon source. A new study finds that more extreme thunderstorms from … Read more
Researchers at North Carolina State University found in a recent study that ants did not adjust their behavior in response to warming temperatures and persisted in sub-optimal microhabitats even when optimal ones were present. The finding suggests ants may not be able to adjust their behavior in response to warming ecosystems. Ants are ectotherms — … Read more