The WMO released its (now) annual state of the climate report this week. As well as the (now) standard set of graphs related to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, rising temperatures, reducing glacier mass, etc., Zeke Hausfather and I wrote up a short synthesis on the contributions to recent …
The WMO released its (now) annual state of the climate report this week. As well as the (now) standard set of graphs related to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, rising temperatures, reducing glacier mass, etc., Zeke Hausfather and I wrote up a short synthesis on the contributions to recent …
The WMO released its (now) annual state of the climate report this week. As well as the (now) standard set of graphs related to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, rising temperatures, reducing glacier mass, etc., Zeke Hausfather and I wrote up a short synthesis on the contributions to recent …
No matter where you live, extreme weather can hit your area and change your life. Whether it’s a hurricane, winter storm, flash flood, tornado, wildfire, or heat wave, disasters can damage or destroy your home and property, cause lengthy power outages, and stall civic services. Grist created a compr…
What can be done to address the growing problem of pollution caused by plastic in Great Lakes water? Watch our conversation with Great Lakes policy experts, researchers, and legislators about […]
The post Webinar: Reducing Plastic Pollution in the Great Lakes appeared first on Alliance for the Great…
Here are the types of extreme weather you may face — from tornadoes to floods to snow storms — and the officials who determine how severe it is and how financial assistance is distributed.
The Arctic Council’s Arctic Monitoring and assessment Programme (AMAP) recently released a Summary for PolicyMakers’ Arctic Climate Change Update 2024. It is one of several stock taking exercises on the regional and global states of Earth’s climate. The other reports include the 2024 European State…
Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) is a remarkable species that defines much of the Southeastern Coastal Plain of North America. However, this species isn't restricted to coastal habitats. In a small portion of its range, longleaf pines make it into more mountainous habitats. So-called mountain longlea…
Many of us are familiar with Darwin's finches and the impact animals made on his work, but what about his obsession with plants? Indeed, plants were an instrumental part of Darwin's life, helping him understand how organisms adapt and evolve. Darwin's relationship with plants are the subject of a be…
CHICAGO, IL (June 26, 2025) – Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced its prediction for the size and scope of the now-annual Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB). […]
The post Toxic Algal Blooms Should Not Be the New Normal appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CHICAGO, IL (May 9, 2025) – Today, President Donald Trump signed and issued a memo directing his administration to take steps to block invasive carp from reaching […]
The post White House Issues Invasive Carp Memo appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.
Bark beetles may be small, but they can have major impacts on forests around the globe. It may be easy to think of these insects as always a bad thing, but what if they aren't? Simple stories rarely apply in ecology and nowhere is that more apparent than in the work of scientists like Dr. Seth Davis…
Your guide to the biggest health consequences of extreme weather — from mosquito-and tick-borne illnesses to mental health issues — and how to best prepare for them.
A new scientific study has unearthed compelling insights into how the UK’s iconic kelp forests are responding to climate change — by revisiting seaweed surveys first conducted over 80 years ago by legendary MBA marine biologist Dr Mary Parke FRS. Published in the journal Diversity and Distributions,…
Join Dr. Sarah Allen and me as we journey back in time to the Eocene. Earth was a very different planet some 49 million years ago. Though we may recognize some Eocene flora, the combination of various plant lineages would be enough to make your head spin. Earth was experiencing a warming period and …
Healthy wetlands are vital to maintaining biodiversity and a healthy way of life for us. Sadly, we haven't always treated wetlands like the essential habitats that they are. While protecting natural wetlands is a must, we also need to understand how to restore them and plants play a major role in su…
Competition for nutrients is a major driver of plant evolution, especially in nutrient-poor soils. As such, plants have evolved myriad ways of getting a "root up" on the competition. Dr. Jim Dalling joins us to discuss two recent discoveries related to two species with distinct and incredible root a…
Plant defense compounds are great for the plants that produce them as they can ward off herbivore attacks. But what happens when a group of specialists evolves a way to utilize said compounds? Such is the case for milkweeds (Apocynaceae) and milkweed butterflies (Danaina). A long evolutionary histor…
Litter trapping plants don't worry about soil, they make their own! Because so many species in the tropics grow either epiphytically or in nutrient poor soil, some of them have turned to alternative solutions. Their anatomy is such that they collect everything from dead leaves to bird droppings. A d…
Variegation among leaves is a fascinating phenomenon. Though plant breeders have accentuated this trait in a variety of cultivated plants, variegation does occur naturally as well. Its function isn't well understood for most species either. Such is the case for two species of wild ginger in the genu…
Islands are hotbeds for unique biodiversity. Strange and unique island plants form the foundation of strange and unique ecosystems. Sadly, the human hand has not been kind to Earth's island ecosystems, especially in recent times. The introduction of invasive species like rats, cats, and goats have b…
The Adirondack Mountains are home to a remarkable diversity of plant species. Situated in northern New York, these mountains are harsh enough that they foster a thriving alpine community. Despite their ability to handle some of the worst weather conditions, alpine plants can be quite sensitive to hu…
While there have been some recent set-backs within science and climate research and disturbing news about NOAA, there is also continuing efforts on responding to climate change. During my travels to Mozambique and Ghana, I could sense a real appreciation for knowledge, and an eagerness to learn how …
Invasive species reduce native biodiversity and hinder an ecosystem's ability to support life, including our own. Managing invasive species can be very challenging, but that doesn't intimidate people like Dr. Mike Schuster. Learn how he and his colleagues are using the ecological principal of biotic…
Grasslands and fire are essentially inseparable. For the most part, grassland can't exist without periodic burns. But, are the beneficial effects of fire the same for all plants? How do the effects of fire change across scales? These are the kinds of questions Dr. Jared Beck and his colleagues are t…
Plants cannot run away from the herbivores that eat them, therefore plants have evolved numerous strategies to defend themselves from being consumed. Plant defenses are as varied as the plant kingdom and the ways in which they operate will blow your mind. We are joined by Dr. Rupesh Kariyat who stud…
Coral reefs are powerful, resilient ecosystems supporting 25% of all marine list and over a billion people globally. But these ecosystems are fragile and pollution is one of the most immediate threats they face. While climate change grabs headlines (and is still very important), local pollution is d…
The following op-ed was originally published on March 15, 2025 in BridgeDetroit. The author, Erin Kanzig (she/her) is a resident of Detroit, MI. She is the Drinking Water Program Director at River Network, where she works on water infrastructure, affordability, and contamination issues nationally. …
The following op-ed was originally published on March 15, 2025 in BridgeDetroit. The author, Erin Kanzig (she/her) is a resident of Detroit, MI. She is the Drinking Water Program Director at River Network, where she works on water infrastructure, affordability, and contamination issues nationally. …