Solutions

Scheme to 'pull electricity from the air' sparks debate.

Tiny charges gathered directly from humid air could be harnessed to generate electricity, researchers say. Tests had shown that metals could be used to gather the charges, opening up a potential energy source in humid climates. BBC 31 Aug

Uncovering a new chlorophyll.

For the first time in more than 60 years, researchers have found a new kind of chlorophyll, the pigment used by both plants and bacteria to catch sunlight and convert it into energy by means of photosynthesis. Chemical & Engineering News 26 Aug

Scientists create 'dry water.'

The substance resembles powdered sugar and could revolutionise the way chemicals are used. Scientists believe dry water could be used to combat global warming by soaking up and trapping the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. London Daily Telegraph 26 Aug

Clean energy technologies dominate Obama's view of innovation.

Renewable energy and genomics research appear to rule the roost at the White House, and the sexier the technology, the better. Science 26 Aug

Consequences

Billionaire funding sequoia study.

An unconventional experiment is underway high above the ground near Kings Canyon National Park. San Francisco KGO TV 31 Aug

Disgusting algae's spread perplexes scientists in California.

On a sunny stretch of the Bear River near Colfax, the cool water carries a nasty surprise for swimmers and fishermen. Sacramento Bee 30 Aug

Arctic ice: Less than meets the eye.

The ice may not retreat as much as feared this year, but what remains may be more rotten than robust. New Scientist 31 Aug

Colorado scientists study ptarmigans as bellwethers of climate change.

Amid concerns that climate change will reshape Colorado's high country, Colorado State University ecologist Greg Wann is on a tough mission: tracking ptarmigans, the elusive mountain birds known for their camouflage. Denver Post 30 Aug

Other News

Editorials

Climate of uncertainty.

Our understanding of how our climate works is still evolving. Is it too much to ask the climate establishment to acknowledge as much? Wall Street Journal 02 Sep

The road to rebuilding trust in climate science.

Couched though it is in the most measured language, Monday's report by the Inter-Academy Council into errors contained in the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is extremely damaging. Vancouver Sun 02 Sep

A federal judge puts a damper on Mr. Cuccinelli's U-Va. witch hunt.

The overblown critique of climate science that emerged early this year continues to underwhelm. But that hasn't dampened Mr. Cuccinelli's zeal, at least so far. But we hope he rethinks his course. Washington Post 31 Aug

Three degrees is at least one too many.

The heat rises inexorably yet the world dithers and looks away. None of the excitement that surrounded the opening stages of the climate summit at Copenhagen last year looks like materialising this November at Cancun in Mexico. London Independent 31 Aug

Climate debate: Time to move on.

Climategate has succeeded in demonstrating that scientists are not infallible and that they can be idiosyncratic and petty. But the clear weight of scientific evidence and the expert consensus show that global warming is undeniably getting worse. Toronto Star 31 Aug

Climate change: The facts of life.

Reminders of the reality of climate change are now reported almost every week. Political action – real, determined and concerted action – seems again improbable. But it also remains more urgent than ever. London Guardian 31 Aug

More trust needed in climate change panel.

A scientific panel requested by the UN delivers a blow to the credibility of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The advice: remove conflicts of interest and review the data on global warming better. Christian Science Monitor 31 Aug

Flawed science.

Couched though it is in the most measured language, yesterday's report by the Inter-Academy Council into errors contained in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is extremely damaging. London Daily Telegraph 31 Aug

Opinion

75 months and counting ....

Twenty five months ago I decided to find out how long it would take before, on the best data available, we would begin to cross red lines where climatic instability and extremes were concerned. A quarter of that time has now passed. London Guardian 02 Sep

Bjørn Lomborg's missing questions.

Since we are already at 390ppm and since a 2C plus rise is a near certainty, how does Lomborg's appeal to forgo sharp reductions in CO2 emissions reflect climate science? He argues that there are "smarter solutions to climate change" than a focus on reducing CO2. This is hardly smart: it's insanity. London Guardian 31 Aug

Blame lies with sun, not global warming.

Millions are suffering and thousands have died from flooding in Pakistan and China. An extraordinary heat wave in Russia sparked fires that caused dreadful pollution and wiped out swathes of the wheat crop. Are these weather-related disasters caused by global warming? Moscow Times 30 Aug

On Harvard misconduct, climate research and trust.

A prime problem with climate science — related to peer review — is that it is implicitly done by very small tribes (sea ice folks, glacier folks, modelers, climate-ecologists, etc) so real peer review — avoiding confirmation bias — is tough, for sure. New York Times 27 Aug

How James Lovelock introduced Gaia to an unsuspecting world.

Once in a generation, perhaps, you get to read a book that will change the world. But it might take a whole generation or so to realize how much it changed the way we see the world. London Guardian 27 Aug

Something in the water.

The astronomer Arthur Eddington once pointed out that where most people see a coffee table, physicists see an area of empty space criss-crossed by ghostly subatomic particles. Climate scientists are similar. London New Statesman 26 Aug

From climate science to climate activism - the sequel.

Is there a way to reconcile the personal and the professional sides of life as a scientist working on consequential, urgent questions? New York Times 26 Aug

A Republican's take on Republican climate skeptic rhetoric.

Here's how to debunk the three most common claims questioning the science of global warming. Daily Green 26 Aug

Researchers study link between climate, wildfire.

Scientists from universities in Montana, Colorado and Idaho announced today the start of a 5-year, $3.85 million research project into how a changing climate will influence wildfires. Associated Press 02 Sep

Report: Climate change could wipe historic Jamestown off the map.

Jamestown, Va., the site of the first permanent English colony in what became the United States, could be wiped off the map by climate change, researchers warned today. AOL News 02 Sep

Overhaul of UN climate change body 'could lead to more mistakes.'

A major overhaul of how the UN advises the world on climate change could lead to more mistakes on the impacts of global warming, an Oxford academic has warned. London Daily Telegraph 02 Sep

Climate change gets wet.

One of the most important gases affecting the global climate is both incredibly familiar and persistently mysterious—water vapor. Discover 02 Sep

Report confirms rapid glacier melting.

The United States Geological Survey, in its report published in collaboration with 39 international scientists, says that glaciers throughout the Asia region are retreating. Himalayan Times 02 Sep

Ancient coral reef uncovered in South Pacific.

New light on what may happen to coral when sea temperatures rise. BBC 02 Sep

Warmer temperatures in China to reduce crop yields.

With the climate set to get warmer from greenhouse gases, Chinese scientists have predicted that freshwater for agriculture will shrink further in China, reducing crop yields in the years ahead. Reuters 02 Sep

Nanaimo Estuary has strong potential for carbon storage.

The Nanaimo Estuary is one of the most important estuaries in the province for carbon storage, deemed critical for slowing climate change and absorbing spent carbon. Nanaimo News Bulletin 02 Sep

Change of heart from climate sceptics.

Two of the world's most influential climate sceptics appear to have had a change of heart. Sydney ABC News 02 Sep

Stern warning for climate sceptics.

One of the world's leading climate change experts, Sir Nicholas Stern, has warned that countries such as Australia will face future trade barriers unless they move to a low-carbon economy. Melbourne Age 02 Sep

Climate panel must adapt to survive,

A long-awaited report has recommended an overhaul of the IPCC. The proposals were met with a largely favourable response from climate researchers who are eager to move on after the media scandals and credibility challenges that have rocked the UN body during the past nine months. Nature 02 Sep

Tiny hint at sea level rise.

Tiny marine creatures found on the seabed on opposite sides of the vast West Antarctic ice sheet give a strong hint of the risks of sea level rise caused by climate change, scientists said Tuesday. Reuters 01 Sep

The East roasts, the West shivers.

People along the West Coast from Seattle to San Diego, who have shivered through an unusually cool summer, can be forgiven for being just a little bit jealous of residents of the East Coast, where warm temperature records have repeatedly been smashed this summer. Climate Central 01 Sep

Study: Marine life at risk in CO2 rise.

A "natural laboratory" in the Mediterranean revealing effects of carbon dioxide levels in oceans paints a bleak picture for future marine life, researchers say. United Press International 01 Sep

Climate report should 'reassure.'

The public should be reassured by a report criticising the UN body charged with collecting scientific evidence about climate change, Irish commentators have said. Dublin Irish Times 01 Sep

Rajendra Pachauri: IPCC chief under scrutiny.

Rajendra Pachauri, under scrutiny as head of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is a 69-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner with a sideline in writing steamy novels. Agence France-Presse 01 Sep

Scientists defend UN climate panel probe.

The country's leading climate researchers have endorsed the findings of an independent investigation into the IPCC, the United Nations global warming body, which found that its scientific findings were sound but that its structures needed to change and become more transparent. Sydney Morning Herald 01 Sep

UN climate change experts 'overstated dangers.'

UN climate change experts have been accused of making 'imprecise and vague' statements and over-egging the evidence. A scathing report into the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change called for it to avoid politics and stick instead to predictions based on solid science. London Daily Mail 01 Sep

IPCC report raises fresh questions over Dr Rajendra Pachauri's leadership.

The UN's climate change panel must introduce a structure to prevent conflicts of interest, according to a report by the world's top science group that raised fresh questions over the leadership of the body. London Daily Telegraph 01 Sep

IPCC 'must avoid playing politics.'

A group of leading scientists from around the world said on Monday that the leaders of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had left themselves open to the accusation that they had "gone beyond IPCC's remit". London Daily Telegraph 01 Sep

Judge rejects Ken Cuccinelli's probe of U-Va. global warming records.

A Virginia judge on Monday dismissed a civil subpoena issued by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II to the University of Virginia that had sought documents related to the work of a global warming scientist and former university professor. Washington Post 31 Aug

Bjørn Lomborg: $100bn a year needed to fight climate change.

The world's most high-profile climate change sceptic is to declare that global warming is "undoubtedly one of the chief concerns facing the world today" and "a challenge humanity must confront," in an apparent U-turn that will give a huge boost to the embattled environmental lobby. London Guardian 31 Aug

North Woods landscape is under attack.

Minnesota's celebrated North Woods won't be nearly so woodsy -- and may not even stay in Minnesota -- according to a new study by University of Minnesota researchers. Minneapolis Star Tribune 31 Aug

Increased carbon in atmosphere may explain bumper crop of poison ivy.

According to a report in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives last year, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has grown by 22 percent since 1960, which may not be so good for humans but is great for poison ivy and other vines. Washington Post 31 Aug