Dec 21 Here’s why the winter solstice is significant in cultures across the world By Molly Jackson, The Conversation The dead of winter, when the longest night of the year takes place, has traditionally been celebrated as a time of renewal and reverence. Continue reading
Dec 20 UN biodiversity pact is historic, but past deals have fallen short By Michael Casey, Christina Larson, Associated Press A day after a historic biodiversity agreement was reached, countries now face pressure to deliver on the promises. Continue reading
Dec 20 Archaeologists excavate ‘Jesus’s midwife’ tomb in Israel By Associated Press The Israeli antiquities authority says archaeologists are excavating an ancient tomb traditionally associated with Jesus's midwife in the hills southwest of Jerusalem. Continue reading
Dec 20 Pilot races to photograph melting glaciers as climate clock ticks By Nat Castañeda, Associated Press Glaciers aren’t static. In a world that’s getting warmer, they’re getting smaller. Continue reading
Dec 19 Watch 6:54 How effective will UN biodiversity agreement be in saving species at risk? By William Brangham A historic agreement was reached Monday at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Canada that aims to increase protections for the world’s lands and oceans. It comes as the planet continues to experience a staggering decline in biodiversity driven in… Continue watching
Dec 19 United Nations conference reaches historic biodiversity agreement By Michael Casey, Associated Press Negotiators reached a historic deal at a U.N. biodiversity conference early Monday that would represent the most significant effort to protect the world's lands and oceans and provide critical financing to save biodiversity in the developing world. Continue reading
Dec 17 How mistletoes are expected to fare on a warming planet By Nicola Jones, Knowable Magazine Can the famous parasitic plants help animals to survive climate change, or will they be killed off by extreme weather?… Continue reading
Dec 16 U.S. poised to toughen ban on lucrative shark fin trade By Joshua Goodman, Patrick Whittle, Associated Press The U.S. is poised to ban the lucrative trade in shark fins, a move conservationists hope will help protect millions of sharks that are butchered every year to satisfy demand in China and other parts of Asia. Continue reading
Dec 16 U.S.-French satellite launched to map almost all of the world’s oceans, lakes, rivers By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press The predawn launch Friday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California capped a highly successful year for NASA. The satellite will conduct the first global survey of its kind. Continue reading
Dec 14 What a breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology means for the future of clean energy By Carolyn Kuranz, The Conversation The promise of abundant, clean energy powered by nuclear fusion is one big step closer thanks to a new experiment. The results are a historic scientific milestone, but energy production remains a ways off. Continue reading