Climate Change

New research is finding ways to turn living cells into mini-factories for materials

By Wil Srubar, The Conversation

Researchers are turning microbes into microscopic construction crews by altering their DNA to make them produce building materials. The work could lead to more sustainable buildings.

UBS Bank won't fund new offshore Arctic oil, gas projects

By Associated Press

The world's largest asset manager BlackRock urged companies in January to emphasize steps they are taking to combat climate change. Some have argued the new policies could hurt projects that Alaska relies on for future revenue.

Hotter climate increased risk of Australia's record fires by 30 percent

By Christina Larson, Associated Press

The researchers used high-resolution computer models to pinpoint how much an altered climate influences the likelihood of specific extreme wildfires, floods, droughts and heatwaves. This growing field of research is called climate change attribution. …

EU commission unveils climate law amid criticism

By Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press

With its proposals, which will need to be approved by lawmakers and member states, the EU's executive arm wants to transform its ambition of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to zero by mid-century into biding law. Climate activists and Green members…

How ash and debris are choking Australia's rivers

By Adam Welz, Yale Environment 360

The devastating bushfires that raged through southeastern Australia for months burned millions of acres. In the wake of the fires, a new threat has emerged – massive amounts of ash and debris being washed into rivers and waterways, killing fish…

Half of the world's sandy beaches are at risk from climate change

By Frank Jordans, Associated Press

Nations such as the Gambia, Pakistan and the Comoros islands could lose more than half their beaches. Big countries like Australia, the United States and China will lose the most in absolute terms.

Pioneering theoretical physicist Freeman Dyson dies at 96

By Justin Stabley

In popular culture, Dyson is most famous for his thought experiments on space travel and future civilizations.

Feds won't allow Oregon dams to be removed to aid salmon recovery

By Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press

A federal report said such removing the dams would destabilize the power grid, increase overall greenhouse emissions and more than double the risk of regional power outages.

UK court blocks Heathrow expansion over climate concerns

By Danica Kirka, Associated Press

Heathrow Airport's plans to increase its capacity by over 50% were stalled when a British court said the government failed to consider the impact on climate change when it approved the project.

JPMorgan cuts back lending to coal companies and Arctic drillers

By Ken Sweet, Associated Press

The bank will only lend to power companies to build coal power plants when the design includes carbon capture technology and will not finance new projects involving oil and gas development in the Arctic.