ENVIRONMENT

Nov 14 2024ENVIRONMENT

Earth Data Dilemma: Boosting Climate Research with EIFFEL Ontology

Climate change is a hot topic, and Earth Observation (EO) datasets play a big role in understanding it. These datasets, available from open satellite portals, offer a vast amount of historical data. When combined with local data, they help improve our ability to predict and understand trends. Howeve

reading time less than a minute
Nov 14 2024ENVIRONMENT

Assessing Urban Cyclists' Exposure to PM2. 5 in Mendoza, Argentina

In a bid to curb carbon emissions, many cities have been pushing folks to ditch cars and hop on bikes instead. Unfortunately, pedaling through traffic might not be as healthy as it sounds. Cyclists often breathe in more polluted air than others, especially in congested cities. To shed some light on

reading time less than a minute
Nov 13 2024ENVIRONMENT

Exxon's CEO Wants Trump to Stay in Paris Climate Pact

Exxon Mobil's CEO, Darren Woods, has a piece of advice for President-elect Donald Trump: stick with the Paris Climate Agreement. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Woods shared his thoughts on Trump's plan to withdraw from the accords for the second time. He pointed out that this back-and

reading time less than a minute
Nov 13 2024ENVIRONMENT

Weather Woes Drive Immigration: A Closer Look

Extreme weather events, like droughts and storms, are pushing people from Mexico to cross the border into the U. S. illegally. As climate change worsens, these weather patterns are making life tougher for farmers and anyone dependent on agriculture. Also, those who have migrated are less likely to r

reading time less than a minute
Nov 13 2024ENVIRONMENT

Secret Climate Talks Without Top Polluters

The annual UN climate conference is happening in Azerbaijan, but the world's biggest polluters and strongest economies aren't sending their top leaders. China, the US, India, and Indonesia—countries responsible for over 70% of global heat-trapping gases—are notably absent. Climate scientist Bill Har

reading time less than a minute
Nov 13 2024ENVIRONMENT

The Metal-Munching Pistia Plant

Meet Pistia stratiotes, a common water plant with an extraordinary ability. Unlike most plants, it doesn't shy away from manganese, a metal that's typically harmful. Scientists have exposed it to high levels of manganese, and the plant just keeps thriving. It stores this metal mainly in its shoots a

reading time less than a minute
Nov 12 2024ENVIRONMENT

East Coast on Fire: Unusual Drought and Wildfires

Over the weekend, a small fire ignited in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. This 2-acre blaze needed around 100 firefighters and warned residents to stay away. Simultaneously, the Jennings Creek wildfire in New Jersey burned thousands of acres, causing smoke to drift across New York City and tragically claim

reading time less than a minute
Nov 12 2024ENVIRONMENT

Shell's Climate Case: A Turning Point in the Courtroom

Imagine a courtroom drama where the stakes are nothing less than the future of our planet. In a surprising turn of events, a Dutch appeals court has overturned a groundbreaking climate ruling against Shell. Back in 2021, a lower court had ordered Shell to cut its global carbon emissions by a signifi

reading time less than a minute
Nov 12 2024ENVIRONMENT

A New Storm Brews: Philippines Braces for Another Hit

It's been a rough few weeks for the Philippines, with four major storms already battering the country. Now, there's a fifth one on the way, and it's picking up speed. Tropical Storm Usagi is headed straight for Luzon, the country's largest island, and it's expected to make landfall in just two days.

reading time less than a minute
Nov 12 2024ENVIRONMENT

Extreme Weather: A Costly Decade's Impact

Over the last ten years, our planet has faced over 4, 000 harsh weather events costing a stunning $2 trillion globally. The United States led this list, suffering a massive $935 billion loss, with China following at $268 billion. These numbers cover all damaging weather conditions, not just those li

reading time less than a minute