The clear signs of human-induced climate change reached new heights in 2024, which was likely the first calendar year to be more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era, with a global mean near-surface temperature of 1.55 ± 0.13 °C above the 1850-1900 average. This is the warmest year in the 175-year observational record. The State…
Tiny, cold-blooded animals like flies depend on their environment to regulate body temperature, making them ideal “canaries in the mine” for gauging the impact of climate change on the behavior and distribution of animal species. Yet, scientists know relatively little about how insects sense and respond to temperature. Using two species of flies from different…
Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a critical link between rising temperatures and declines in a species’ population, shedding new light on how global warming threatens natural ecosystems. The study, published in Ecology and led by Volker Rudolf, revealed that rising temperatures exacerbate competition within populations, ultimately leading to population crashes at higher temperatures. It…
Greek farmers are experimenting with exciting new crops for some not-so-exciting reasons, according to Greek Reporter. What’s happening? Subtropical crops that tend to be more heat-resistant — like papayas, avocados, mangoes, dragon fruit, passion fruit, and guava — are seeing rising popularity among farmers in Crete as average temperatures continue to increase across the globe. …
Plants play a key role in regulating Earth’s climate, but recent research suggests that rising temperatures could disrupt this balance, because plants are leaking more water than previously thought. UBC assistant professor Dr. Sean Michaletz, a newly minted Sloan Research Fellow in the department of botany, studies how plants respond to heat. His findings challenge…
Environmental Degradation, Climate Change and Infectious Diseases: What’s the Link? Anthropogenic changes in global landscapes and the climate increase the risk of infectious diseases by altering the environmental niche of the disease vector or animal reservoir hosts and the adaptation of some pathogens to a warming planet. — The One Health approach, developed by the…
Around the world, huge swathes of fertile land are turning into arid wastelands at alarming rates, threatening ecosystems, agriculture, and humanity. This process is known as desertification, and it is closely linked to the effects of climate change. Desertification is accelerating due to rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and human activities. The consequences of desertification…
There is a critical link between reduced river flow into the Mediterranean and the health of the Mediterranean marine ecosystems. New research underscores the urgency of integrating water resource management to properly safeguard the rich biodiversity of seas and ocean and the economies it supports. Climate change impacts such as more frequent and more severe…
Imagine a pastoral scene.. Cows grazing on lush green grass, a vigorous vegetable garden, and sugar maple trees dominating a distant hill. Now imagine a feedlot with thousands of cows trampling in the dirt, the smell of rotten eggs wafting from a manure lagoon, and a couple dead cow carcasses waiting to be hauled away….
Agrivoltaic farming, which integrates agriculture and solar energy production on the same land, presents a novel experience for eco-conscious tourists. Visitors can witness the fusion of technology and nature during sunrise seed-sowing excursions. Such visits not only educate tourists about cutting-edge farming techniques but also offer the opportunity to actively participate in food production while…