Environment

115 articles with this tag

What Is the Green Sahara—and Why Did It Vanish? Science

What Is the Green Sahara—and Why Did It Vanish?

The world's largest hot desert was once a lush landscape of lakes, rivers, and grasslands. Scientists call this era the African Humid Period, and new...

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How Glacier Surges Work—and Why They Threaten Millions Science

How Glacier Surges Work—and Why They Threaten Millions

Surging glaciers can accelerate to 100 times their normal speed, damming rivers, triggering catastrophic floods, and destroying infrastructure. Here i...

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How the Montreal Protocol Works—and Why It Saved the Ozone Science

How the Montreal Protocol Works—and Why It Saved the Ozone

The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987 and ratified by every UN member, phased out over 98 percent of ozone-depleting chemicals. Here is how the treaty...

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What Is the Ocean Methane Paradox—and Why It Matters Science

What Is the Ocean Methane Paradox—and Why It Matters

Scientists have long puzzled over why oxygen-rich ocean surface waters produce methane, a gas normally made only in oxygen-free environments. The answ...

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How AI Data Centers Work—and Why They Drain Power Technology

How AI Data Centers Work—and Why They Drain Power

AI data centers consume vast amounts of electricity and water to run and cool thousands of servers. Here's how they work, why demand is surging, and w...

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How PM2.5 Harms Your Body—From Lungs to Brain Health

How PM2.5 Harms Your Body—From Lungs to Brain

Fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers penetrates deep into lungs, enters the bloodstream, and reaches the brain, contributing to nearly...

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How Super Typhoons Form—and Why They Intensify Science

How Super Typhoons Form—and Why They Intensify

Super typhoons are the most powerful storms on Earth, with winds exceeding 150 mph. Here's how they form, why they intensify so rapidly, and what make...

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How Deep-Sea Mining Works—and Why Scientists Worry Science

How Deep-Sea Mining Works—and Why Scientists Worry

Deep-sea mining targets potato-sized mineral nodules on the ocean floor rich in cobalt, nickel, and manganese. As regulators debate whether to allow c...

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How Glacier Protection Laws Work—and Why They Matter Science

How Glacier Protection Laws Work—and Why They Matter

Glaciers store about 75% of Earth's freshwater and supply water to nearly two billion people. A small but growing number of countries have passed laws...

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How Global Temperature Records Are Measured and Verified Science

How Global Temperature Records Are Measured and Verified

From weather stations and ocean buoys to satellites and statistical algorithms, tracking Earth's temperature is a complex, multi-layered process invol...

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How Carbon Sinks Work—and Why They're Weakening Science

How Carbon Sinks Work—and Why They're Weakening

Earth's forests, oceans, and soils absorb roughly half of humanity's carbon emissions each year, but climate change and deforestation are steadily und...

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How Fishing Quotas Are Set—and Why They Often Fail Science

How Fishing Quotas Are Set—and Why They Often Fail

Fishing quotas are meant to prevent overfishing, but the process that turns scientific advice into catch limits is riddled with political compromise....

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