Extreme heatwaves in south and south-east Asia are a sign of things to come

Since April 2024, wide areas of south and south-east Asia, from Pakistan to the Philippines, have experienced prolonged extreme heat. Covering some of the most densely...

What is pasteurization? A dairy expert explains how it protects against foodborne illness, including avian flu

Recent reports that the H5N1 avian flu virus has been found in cow’s milk have raised questions about whether the U.S. milk supply is safe to...

Sky-high vanity: constructing the world’s tallest buildings creates high emissions

Since ancient times, people have built structures that reach for the skies – from the steep spires of medieval towers to the grand domes of ancient...

A ‘sponge city’ may be your home in 2050

Your home was probably designed for a climate that no longer exists. As long as humanity continues to burn fossil fuel, padding the heat-trapping blanket of...

Africa dramatically dried out 5,500 years ago – our new study may warn us of future climate tipping points

Around five and half millenia ago, northern Africa went through a dramatic transformation. The Sahara desert expanded and grasslands, forests and lakes favoured by humans disappeared....

Curious Kids: why do trees have bark?

Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of...

The scaling back of Saudi Arabia’s proposed urban mega-project sends a clear warning to other would-be utopias

There is a long history of planned city building by both governments and the private sector from Brasilia to Islamabad. More recently, two trends have come...

Plastic is climate change in a bottle – so let’s put a cap on it

Plastic pollution and climate change have common culprits – and similar solutions. The penultimate round of negotiations for a global pact on plastic ended yesterday in...

Why does it feel so cold in the UK right now – and when will it warm up?

Earth Day 2024: 4 effective strategies to reduce household food waste

The global food system produces enough food for everyone, yet, in 2023, 333 million people worldwide were food insecure and 783 million were chronically hungry. An...