Of course, no long-range forecast can predict when individual storms will arise or the paths they will take, but DaSilva cautions that those who live in areas prone to hurricanes, especially around the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, should prepare.“If a tropical storm system comes into this area, it could rapidly intensify, potentially close to …
Why the 2024 hurricane season could be especially active Read More »
(Is there a better way to get rid of old clothes?)While larger companies hope to use fungi to generate wholly new environmentally friendly materials at scale, independent designers are exploring their potential to modify or break down the planet’s extant heaps of discarded fabric. Helena Elston, a New York–based designer, was studying fashion in London …
Mushroom leather? The future of fashion is closer than you think. Read More »
Spark of hopeImproved fire management could also play an important role in protecting animals in the Pyrocene. “Preventing accidental fires is important,” Jones says, “but fire is a natural part of many ecosystems. So creating conditions where fire can burn in a safe way, and using controlled burns to remove some of the fuel can prevent …
How animals are adapting to the rise of wildfires Read More »
Editor’s note: This story was originally published on April 10, 2023. It has been updated. This story appears in the April 2024 issue of National Geographic magazine.
Less water will impact farmers and create a rift between those relying on agriculture for their livelihoods and communities who need this water to live. There could be mass migration, too. “If the water isn’t there, people have to move to where it is,” says Schwartz.It’s vital to measure and understand the effects of a …
You’re not imagining it—winters are getting warmer Read More »
At least five storms over the past decade would fit a new classification beyond Category 5—and engineers are working to figure out how to withstand them. When Florida International University turns on the “Wall of Wind” inside its airplane hangar turned engineering lab, the 12 enormous fans recreate the strength of a major hurricane. Within …
Should we be preparing for Category 6 hurricanes? Read More »
Climate change is upping the odds that a disastrous flood with up to 10 feet of water might actually happen in California. The ARkStorm may not be real yet, but it’s scientifically plausible. If it happens, it will be relentless—sheets of rain streaming down on California over the course of weeks, totaling up to 10 …
What is the ARkStorm? California’s worst nightmare, potentially Read More »
Greenhouse gasses are making the planet hotter, but some scientists argue focusing on temperature overlooks a more visible danger. For decades, environmental advocates have urged governments, companies, and individuals to take drastic actions to limit climate change and prevent the Earth’s average temperature from exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial times. Now, …
Have we been talking about climate change all wrong? Read More »
Crystal mining can fuel worker exploitation and even armed conflicts, but there are steps consumers can take to make more ethical purchasing decisions. Martina Gutfreund knew it could be hard to make a living mining crystals. Still, she was shocked to discover, on a recent trip to Namibia’s mineral-rich Erongo region, that her purchase of …
How to buy crystals that don’t harm people or the planet Read More »