Scientists say they have invented a “carbon-negative” alternative to sand that could be used to build homes more sustainably. Made from seawater, the material invented by US scientists is described as a greener way of making cement and concrete, which typically contain sand. Researchers say the new material is as strong and can “permanently” lock […]
Brazil, which is hosting the Cop30 climate conference in the city of Belem later this year, knows all too well that all eyes will be on deforestation. The South American nation, which recently committed to slash greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 67 per cent by 2035 based on 2005 levels, says it is making […]
Climate change may lead to more precipitation and more intense floods. A new study shows that to understand the details of this relationship, it is important to distinguish between different types of rainfall and flood events — namely, between short-term events that occur on a time scale of hours, and longer-term events that last several […]
Since the satellite recording of ocean height began in 1993, the rate of annual sea level rise has more than doubled. Global sea levels rose faster than expected in 2024 as the world experienced its hottest year on record, a new study has found. This was due to an unusual amount of ocean warming combined […]
Atmospheric rivers can bring much needed rain to drought-struck places, but may be dangerous when they are strong and last long. As extreme weather events have hit the world hard in recent years, one meteorology term – atmospheric rivers – has made the leap from scientific circles to common language. Particularly in places that have […]
Flooded by the Nile for thousands of years, Cairo is facing increasingly severe drought as the world’s most extreme example of a phenomenon called “climate flip”. Riyadh, Jeddah and Khartoum are also in the grip of “drying trends” as the Middle East and North Africa take a pounding from climate change, a major study has found. Scientists working for the charity […]
Levels of a major pollutant in the UAE’s air have dropped significantly in a year, according to a report that ranks countries by air quality. While concentrations of the smallest type of particulate matter remain above levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the 2024 World Air Quality Report from Swiss company IQAir reveals that they have […]
Satellites could collide in space due to climate change shrinking part of the atmosphere, scientists have warned. Space junk could get stuck in orbit due to humans damaging a layer called the thermosphere, according to MIT engineers. That would leave less room for new satellites that provide internet, navigation and weather forecasting to our planet. Overcrowding in orbit could lead […]
The last time a cyclone struck so far south along Australia’s east coast was in 1974. For the first time in more than five decades, a tropical cyclone is on track to hit Australia’s relatively temperate east coast. Slow-moving Cyclone Alfred is barrelling toward Brisbane – Australia’s third biggest city – and the nearby tourist […]
The warming waters of the Arabian Gulf mean fish must adapt to survive – but new research suggests local marine life might be particularly good at it. Scientists at NYU Abu Dhabi found reef fish in the harsh Arabian Gulf conditions had developed a higher “thermal tolerance” than in the milder Gulf of Oman. However, the Arabian Gulf had […]
