Mosquitoes are a growing public health threat, reversing years of progress

Don't miss this compelling global health series by The New York Times: The fight against mosquitos has never been more urgent as climate change and the rapid evolution of the insect have thwarted efforts to combat devastating diseases like malaria and dengue. Scientists are innovating, reports Stephanie Nolen, pursuing new strategies to protect public health.

Nolen traveled to five countries in Africa and Latin America to cover multiple aspects of this growing global challenge:

Mosquitoes are a growing public health threat, reversing years of progress

Climate change and the rapid evolution of the insect have helped drive up malaria deaths and brought dengue and other mosquito-borne viruses to places that never had to worry about them.

An invasive mosquito threatens catastrophe in Africa

A malaria-carrying species that thrives in urban areas and resists all insecticides is causing outbreaks in places that have rarely faced the disease.

The gamble: Can genetically-modified mosquitos end disease?

Working on a remote island, scientists think they can use genetic engineering to block a malaria-carrying species of mosquito from spreading the disease — and do it in just a few months. But governments are wary.

One village, two houses and a new tactic to win the war on mosquitos

A different way of thinking about mosquito-borne diseases could save billions of dollars and end them for good, some health experts believe.

Unleashing a new weapon on the mosquito: a mosquito

What if, instead of killing the mosquitoes, you could disarm them? Even if you couldn’t keep them from biting people, what if you could block them from passing on disease? What if you could use one infectious microbe to stop another?

Insecticides can't stop the mosquitos. Now what?

Old weapons like bed nets and insecticides don't work well anymore: Mosquitos have evolved to resist and evade them. The world needs to ways to fight mosquitos.

A view of the exterior of the National Academy of Sciences building in Washington, DC

Inside the campaign to discredit a key climate science report

An emerging field of research that can measure how much climate change has worsened individual disasters is under attack by friends of the fossil fuel industry.

Colorful electrical thunderstorm activity

Why the media keep quoting the same climate scientist

Daniel Swain has a knack for breaking down the complexities of climate and weather into precise but accessible ideas.
Two men drilling a geothermal well for a residential geothermal heat pump.
Credit: RGtimeline/BigStock Photo ID: 208821436

Want a job drilling for geothermal? A Northeast training hub is coming

A worker shortage threatens to hold up America’s buildout of geothermal networks. These groups have a plan to address the problem, starting in Massachusetts.

Oil pump jacks at night with a starry sky in the background

Mark Carney adviser says AI data centres ‘provide markets’ for gas

Boosting energy production is one of the top ‘public policy benefits to Canada’ of data centers, says internal government document.

Vehicular entrance to Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida

Opinion: Feds order a Florida power plant to keep burning dirty coal

Instead of shutting down, the Orlando, Florida, plant must continue polluting the air and driving power bills higher.

Chinese coal-fired power plant emitting pollution from four stacks

Despite record renewable growth, China is still betting on coal

China’s power-sector emissions fell in 2025 for the first time in a decade, but a rebound in coal-fired generation raises doubts about whether the decline will last.
Wildland firefighters managing  a controlled burn

Can controlled burns reduce California’s air pollution?

A new Stanford University study finds that annual prescribed burning could substantially reduce smoke pollution during California’s worst wildfire years.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

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