Climate

    Congo basin blackwater lakes are releasing ancient carbon into the atmosphere
    02 Mar 2026

    Tropical swamps and peatlands are critical players in Earth’s carbon cycle and, by extension, the global climate. In regions such as the Amazon Basin, the Congo Basin, and the wetlands of Southeast Asia, thick layers of partially decomposed plant material build up over time. Together, these ecosystems lock away roughly 100 gigatonnes of carbon. At […]

    ‘The world remains unprepared’: Why scientists are calling for a global assessment of climate change
    28 Feb 2026

    A group of experts is pushing for a global assessment of avoidable climate risks to help inform governments and citizens. The world remains “unprepared” for the risks of climate change, despite overwhelming evidence that the planet is heading towards irreversible damage. A group of experts has published a paper in the science journal Nature, warning that […]

    Could glacier melt slow climate change? Scientists thought so – until now
    27 Feb 2026

    Iron fertilisation has long been touted as a glimmer of hope amid rising emissions – but a new study has seemingly debunked the theory. A “long-standing silver lining” to the wrath of climate change has been put under scrutiny, as scientists find a huge flaw in the theory. As heat-trapping emissions continue to bake the […]

    ‘Groundbreaking’ model can calculate true impact of climate change and it’s bad news for Europe
    25 Feb 2026

    Researchers have created a new mathematical solution to analyse how emission-intensive actors are responsible for increasing climate damage. A “groundbreaking” study has lifted the lid on just how much human-made climate change is impacting extreme weather across Europe. Climate researcher Gottfried Kirchengast and his team at the University of Graz in Austria have developed a […]

    ‘Irreversible on any human timescale’: Scientist reveals best and worst-case scenario for Antarctica
    21 Feb 2026

    Despite being far away from civilisation, a melting Antarctic’s “disastrous” consequences will ripple across the world, researchers warn. Scientists have highlighted just how high the stakes are as human-made climate change continues to rapidly warm Antarctica. A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science, models the best- and worst-case scenarios for global warming […]

    Iceland saw record temperatures last year. So why are scientists predicting a ‘deep freeze’?
    19 Feb 2026

    Scientists have expressed growing concern over a major Atlantic current that could collapse and send northern Europe into the next Ice Age. Like much of Europe, Iceland witnessed its hottest year in 2025 – as heat-trapping gases continue to warm the planet. According to the Icelandic Met Office, the national average temperature last year was 5.2°C. This […]

    Caspian Sea faces ‘triple planetary crisis’: Can new cross-border rules save it?

    Azerbaijan has highlighted rising environmental threats to the Caspian Sea as UN introduces cross-border environmental assessments. The Caspian Sea is suffering falling water levels and biodiversity loss. Azerbaijan recently highlighted these growing environmental risks at the United Nations in Geneva, as new international rules governing large infrastructure projects around the region come into force. During […]

    Why this rust-like mineral is one of Earth’s best carbon vaults
    14 Feb 2026

    Scientists have known for years that iron oxide minerals help store vast amounts of carbon by keeping it out of the atmosphere. A new study from Northwestern University now explains the chemistry behind that ability, revealing why these minerals are especially effective at locking carbon in place. By closely examining ferrihydrite, a common iron oxide […]

    Forests are changing fast and scientists are deeply concerned
    13 Feb 2026

    Trees are essential to life on Earth. They absorb and store CO2, support animals, fungi, and insects, hold soil in place, manage water cycles, and provide people with vital resources such as wood, food, and cooling shade during hot weather. Despite their importance, forests around the world are undergoing a major shift. New research shows […]

    UAE explained: How and why fog forms in a desert
    12 Feb 2026

    It’s that time of year again. The cooler winter months bring frequent fog, which envelopes skyscrapers on the coast as well as sand dunes deep in the desert. But why, and how, does fog form in the arid climate of the UAE, where the annual rainfall is so low? The National explains. What is fog? Technically, […]