
We’re About to See a Rare and Record-Setting May Heat Wave
A potentially record-setting heat wave is headed for the Pacific Northwest and western Canada, a sign of the shift to hotter—and earlier—summers
Andrea Thompson is senior desk editor for life science at Scientific American, covering the environment, energy and earth sciences. She has been covering these issues for nearly two decades. Prior to joining Scientific American, she was a senior writer covering climate science at Climate Central and a reporter and editor at Live Science, where she primarily covered earth science and the environment. She has moderated panels, including as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Media Zone, and appeared in radio and television interviews on major networks. She holds a graduate degree in science, health and environmental reporting from New York University, as well as a B.S. and an M.S. in atmospheric chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Follow Thompson on Bluesky @andreatweather.bsky.social

We’re About to See a Rare and Record-Setting May Heat Wave
A potentially record-setting heat wave is headed for the Pacific Northwest and western Canada, a sign of the shift to hotter—and earlier—summers

Deadly African Drought Wouldn’t Have Happened without Climate Change
A severe drought that has led to near-famine conditions in the Horn of Africa would not have happened without the influence of climate change, a new analysis finds

Renewable Energy Is Charging Ahead
Renewable energy has seen considerable growth in recent years, but there is a long way to go to achieve a clean energy future that averts the worst effects of the climate crisis

What Makes People Act on Climate Change, according to Behavioral Science
To get people to shift to more climate-friendly behavior, what works best? Education? Payments? Peer pressure?

Wealthy Countries Have Blown Through Their Carbon Budgets
Some countries have used up far more of the world’s carbon budget—the amount we can emit and still avoid more extreme climate disruption—than others

Fast, Deep Cuts in Emissions Are Needed to Avoid ‘Climate Time Bomb’
To keep warming below levels that scientists say will bring extreme climate impacts, nations must act quickly to make deep cuts in carbon emissions, according to the final installment of the IPCC’s latest climate report

‘Toxic Forever Chemicals’ in U.S. Drinking Water to Be Regulated for the First Time
The EPA has proposed the first nationwide limits for toxic chemicals called PFASs in the U.S. water supply

Why a Blizzard Is Hitting Southern California
A massive storm shocks southern California with cold temperatures, strong winds and abundant moisture, causing extremely rare blizzard conditions and potentially unprecedented snowfalls

How to Engineer Buildings That Withstand Earthquakes
Though deadly quakes can’t be prevented, science does have some ways to protect buildings—and the people inside them

Why the Earthquake in Turkey Was So Damaging and Deadly
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Turkey is a rare occurrence and underscores the importance of setting and enforcing building codes

6 Fascinating Things We Learned about Pet Dogs and Cats in 2022
This year we learned why dogs come in so many sizes, that puppy dog eyes are a real thing and that cats don’t deserve their aloof rap

As the World Scrambles to Halt Biodiversity Loss, ‘Things Are Getting Worse’
More than one quarter of the more than 150,000 species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species are threatened with extinction

6 Weird and Wild Animal Behaviors Revealed in 2022
Octopus outbursts, spiders evading sexual cannibalism and a human-cockatoo arms race—here are strange animal behaviors we learned about in 2022

Twitter Chaos Endangers Public Safety, Emergency Managers Warn
Twitter is a crucial communication tool during disasters, but impersonators and other problems under Elon Musk’s leadership have emergency managers on edge

How Rare Are November Hurricanes?
November hurricanes and tropical storms such as Nicole are relatively rare, but they can—and do—form

World Edges Closer to Meeting Climate Targets but Not Fast Enough
As the COP27 climate summit begins, emissions reduction pledges are still far behind where they need to be to meet the goals to limit global warming

See How Much Climate Change Has Cost Different Countries
Low-income nations bear the brunt of costs from climate change

The Most Urgent Science, Health and Climate Issues in the 2022 Midterm Elections
The midterm elections have high stakes for issues such as abortion rights, pandemic funding, climate change and other fundamental policies

How Hurricane Season Went from Quiet to a ‘Powder Keg’
For nearly two months, the Atlantic had no hurricane activity. Then September arrived with a flurry of storms

This Hot Summer Is One of the Coolest of the Rest of Our Lives
Heat waves broke temperature records around the world this past summer, but it will still be one of the coolest summers of the next few decades

What Scientists Say about the Historic Climate Bill
Climate experts praise the Inflation Reduction Act for focusing on emissions, clean energy and environmental justice but caution that much work remains

Meet the Giant Sequoia, the ‘Super Tree’ Built to Withstand Fire
Mammoth redwood trees have evolved along with fire, but humans are disrupting that delicate balance

Global Warming Causes Fewer Tropical Cyclones
But those that do form have a greater chance of becoming intense storms

Common Drugs Pollute Rivers on Every Continent
A global look reveals contamination by antibiotics, antidepressants and other medications