Missouri and the World
Scientists say increasingly common heatwaves could be causing serious damage to bee populations – not necessarily by killing the insects outright, but by severely harming their ability to reproduce.
New research published in the Journal of Thermal Biology found that extreme heat dramatically reduced fertility in red mason bees, an important pollinator species common in British gardens and orchards. [Read more…] about Heatwaves may be quietly devastating bee populations, scientists warn
For years, most climate discussions have focused on replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy such as wind and solar power.
But some scientists now argue that the challenge goes far beyond simply generating cleaner electricity.
According to analysis published by The Conversation, a significant share of fossil fuels are never burned for energy at all. Instead, they become part of the physical materials used throughout modern life – including plastics, fertilizers, insulation, synthetic fabrics and construction products. [Read more…] about Why ‘decarbonizing everything’ may be impossible – and what comes next
For decades, Antarctica appeared to behave differently from the rest of the warming planet.
While Arctic sea ice declined rapidly as global temperatures rose, the frozen sea surrounding Antarctica seemed surprisingly resilient. In some years, Antarctic sea ice even expanded slightly, leading scientists to believe the southern polar region might respond more slowly to climate change than other parts of the world.
But that assumption may now be breaking down. [Read more…] about Scientists thought Antarctica would resist global warming for longer – now they’re worried
As artificial intelligence systems continue expanding across the global economy, environmental researchers and analysts are warning that the AI boom may be creating an increasingly serious – and often overlooked – problem: water consumption.
Much of the public discussion surrounding AI infrastructure has focused on electricity demand and carbon emissions. But the giant data centers powering AI systems also require enormous quantities of water to cool servers and generate electricity.
An investigation published by Proof News argues that water usage linked to AI development is rising rapidly as major technology companies race to build larger and more powerful AI systems. [Read more…] about AI’s rapid growth is putting increasing pressure on water supplies
While fossil fuels still dominate much of the global economy, new data suggests the transition toward renewable energy is accelerating rapidly – and the United States risks falling behind Europe and China in the race to build the next generation of energy systems.
A new analysis published by The Better News argues that the global energy transition is already well under way in the electricity sector, with the European Union and China leading large-scale expansion of renewable power generation.
The article, based on analysis by economist Nikolaus Kowall and originally published by Austrian outlet Kontrast.at, says the shift toward renewable electricity is progressing faster than many people realize. [Read more…] about EU and China are pulling ahead of the US in the global energy transition
As governments around the world continue debating how to tackle climate change, some environmental advocates and researchers argue that Indigenous communities should play a much larger role in shaping global conservation and climate policy.
A viewpoint article published by Analyst News argues that Indigenous knowledge systems and traditional land stewardship practices are being overlooked despite their importance in protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
The article was written by Nana Kwesi Osei Bonsu, a Ghanaian land custodian and founder of Land Rights Defenders Inc. [Read more…] about Why some climate experts say Indigenous leadership is essential to protecting biodiversity
