
28 August 2023
How the 'Blob' left a lasting mark on ocean life in California
Six years on, a prolonged ocean heat wave known as the Blob has altered the makeup of marine life off the coast of California, new research shows.
Six years on, a prolonged ocean heat wave known as the Blob has altered the makeup of marine life off the coast of California, new research shows.
A dry spring across northwestern Europe coupled with new climate data showing the second-warmest May on record has fueled fears of worsening drought and crop losses.
In short:
Key quote:
“May 2025 breaks an unprecedentedly long sequence of months over 1.5C above pre-industrial. Whilst this may offer a brief respite for the planet, we do expect the 1.5C threshold to be exceeded again in the near future due to the continued warming of the climate system.”
— Carlo Buontempo, director of C3S at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
Why this matters:
Europe is especially vulnerable to drought as climate shifts strain aging water infrastructure and push farmers to the brink. When rainfall vanishes and heat intensifies, crops can fail before midsummer, forcing more irrigation from already stressed aquifers. These patterns also amplify energy demands, risking blackouts as rivers run too low to cool power plants. At a global scale, the warm seas and drying soils connect to broader disruptions, from supply chains to migration patterns. And while the 1.5°C target remains a long-term climate benchmark, the persistent monthly overshoots act as early sirens warning of a world inching deeper into crisis.
Related: EU bank to invest billions in clean water and drought resilience across Europe
President Donald Trump’s top energy adviser says the administration will sideline renewables and prioritize fossil fuels, aiming to fast-track drilling projects and reduce federal oversight.
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Key quote:
“The president is not focused on wind and solar. They haven’t proven that they can get off the ground.”
— Jarrod Agen, executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council
Why this matters:
The Trump administration’s deepening embrace of fossil fuels comes as scientists warn that time is running out to curb emissions driving climate change. While solar and wind power are breaking records in capacity and price competitiveness, federal energy policy now pivots toward oil, gas, and coal. By accelerating permits, opening untouched lands, and sidelining renewables, the U.S. risks locking in decades of greenhouse gas emissions just as global efforts aim to phase them out. Communities near drilling and pipeline projects often face increased air and water pollution. The council’s secrecy and lack of public oversight raise concerns about accountability in decisions with long-term environmental and health consequences.
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A historic internal letter signed by over 300 National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists is challenging their director and the Trump administration over sweeping cuts, politicized grant terminations, and a perceived assault on science.
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Key quote:
“We’re just becoming a weapon of the state. They’re using grants as a lever to punish institutions and academia, and to censor and stifle science.”
— Anonymous NIH official
Why this matters:
At the National Institutes of Health, the old ideal of "science above politics" is getting dragged through the mud — and the scientists are done keeping quiet. When science is manipulated to fit an agenda, it’s not just researchers who suffer. Patients, parents, and public health officials are left in the dark, without trustworthy data to make life-or-death decisions. And when America’s leading science agency is cracking under political pressure, the impacts touch everything from cancer research to climate science.
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Republican efforts to slash clean energy tax credits could stall new power projects and strain the electric grid as artificial intelligence data centers ramp up demand, energy leaders told POLITICO’s Energy Summit.
In short:
Key quote:
“We can’t possibly win the AI race and keep energy reliable and affordable with only fossil fuels. We need every available electron.”
— Neil Chatterjee, former chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Why this matters:
The U.S. power grid is under pressure from extreme weather, aging infrastructure, and now, a surge in demand from AI data centers. Clean energy sources like wind and solar, once considered supplemental, are now central to meeting this load without triggering blackouts or higher bills. Rolling back tax incentives risks chilling investment just as utilities and developers scale up projects to match the pace of new tech. It also signals uncertainty to markets already wary of abrupt policy shifts. And if federal agencies like FERC lose independence, regulatory whiplash could stall infrastructure decisions for years.
Learn more: Trump’s clean energy rollback puts U.S. manufacturers on edge
With wildfires already burning more land than the annual average, Canada braces for another intense fire season fueled by extreme heat and climate-driven changes in its boreal forests.
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Why this matters:
As Canada burns again, the fires reflect a growing crisis where climate change turns the country’s vast boreal forests into tinderboxes. Longer summers, less snow, and warming temperatures — traced to human activity — are extending fire seasons and intensifying their behavior. The consequences stretch far beyond scorched earth: toxic smoke drifts into communities, worsening respiratory problems and triggering public health emergencies. What’s happening in Canada also poses cross-border risks, as smoke plumes can drift into the U.S., clouding skies and lungs hundreds of miles away. The 2025 season may not yet match 2023’s catastrophic scale, but it’s already sending an urgent signal that extreme fire seasons are becoming the norm, yet creating conditions that make life far from normal.
Read more: Wildfire smoke from Canada continues to choke U.S. cities as climate patterns worsen
State Sen. Doug Mastriano has proposed legislation to ban solar geoengineering in Pennsylvania, citing conspiracy theories about chemical-laced jet trails despite scientific consensus that such technologies remain untested and undeployed.
In short:
Key quote:
"To be clear, there is no geoengineering going on. There’s no solar radiation modification going on."
— Joshua Horton, project manager, Harvard Solar Geoengineering Research Program
Why this matters:
Geoengineering — particularly solar radiation modification — is a controversial but increasingly discussed strategy for countering global warming as the world fails to adequately curb greenhouse gas emissions. The science remains mostly theoretical, and no government has authorized deployment. Yet false claims linking the field to harmful “chemtrail” plots have gained traction in some political circles. Banning climate research on unfounded grounds could not only derail legitimate scientific inquiry but also confuse the public.
It's worth noting that mis- and disinformation about climate change was also prevalent in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, when false claims about the government controlling or creating hurricanes led to increased harassment, including death threats, toward meteorologists working to deliver lifesaving weather forecasts. The spread of conspiracy theories can undermine trust in both research and relief efforts, putting lives and communities at greater risk.
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A volunteer-driven effort to map uncharted areas of the Caribbean island of St. Lucia aims to improve disaster response in a region hit hardest by climate change.
In short:
Key quote:
“The problem is the governments of the developed countries, they still believe that there’s time or that this is not as serious as we make it out to be.”
— James Fletcher, former St. Lucia minister of public service, sustainable development, energy, science, and technology
Why this matters:
Climate change is accelerating more rapidly in small island nations like St. Lucia than in much of the world. Rising sea levels, extreme heat, and intensified hurricanes pose existential threats to communities with limited infrastructure and emergency preparedness. In places where conventional maps fall short, humanitarian aid can be delayed or misdirected, worsening the impact of natural disasters. The HOT initiative brings a grassroots solution: empowering residents to create dynamic, accurate maps of their own communities. These maps are intended to provide lifelines in moments of crisis, identifying where people live, which roads are passable, and where relief efforts should be directed.
Related:
One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.
“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”
"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”
A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations
“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”
“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.