March has frequently been a month of weather extremes. As winter transitions to spring, contrasting air masses clash within an atmospheric battleground of low-pressure systems and a powerful jet stream. In the past, the month’s notorious unpredictability has earned it a place in popular folklore characterized by catchy proverbs like “in like a lion, out […]
Category: NATURE
It neither bites nor stings, yet somehow the spotted lanternfly has become one of the most harmful insects in our country’s history. What makes this small bug so dangerous isn’t its threat to humans, but rather, the damage it causes to the environment when left unchecked. Since its arrival in the United States, this species […]
Every year, towards the end of June, something unusual can be seen in parks and near water reservoirs all over the country. Flocks of Canada geese are corralled by scientists and volunteers, who slip small metal bands over their legs. To those out of the loop, it may seem like a very bizarre sight. However, […]
Whenever we hear David Attenborough narrate a scene spanning an ecologically rich realm, we typically imagine a lush rainforest like the Amazon. Although these regions deserve their time in the spotlight, we mustn’t forget our equatorial underdog: the Ecuadorian tropical dry forest. This ecoregion along the Pacific coast of Ecuador consists of four to seven […]
The effects of climate change are threatening the world’s coral reefs, prompting scientists and governing bodies to propose a number of approaches to restore and increase the resilience of these vulnerable ecosystems. Warming sea temperatures increasing the risk of coral bleaching, rising carbon dioxide levels causing ocean acidification which hinders coral’s ability to form their […]
After a difficult period combatting the Covid pandemic, the looming fear of another virus potentially terrorizing the globe has left people on edge. Before the bird flu became the topic of the time, there was monkeypox. Visibly, it has become easier to stay in touch with new strains of diseases and their spillover across country […]
In November of 2024, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts announced that a $6 million grant by the Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) would be awarded to support wetland restoration in former cranberry bogs. With Massachusetts cranberry farming on the decline due to economic constraints and climate change, the state’s initiative will fund projects to convert unused […]
With the recent abundance of major weather events, like Hurricane Helene and Oscar, people are understandably concerned about the destruction and death these events cause. They are right to be worried, especially as climate change is causing larger and more frequent major weather events. But one factor that few consider, which is a cause of […]
The mounting pressures of global warming have brought mitigation strategies to the forefront of atmospheric research, but a growing number of experts are searching below the Earth’s surface. Some suggest that the world’s soils can trap and remove enough carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to offset a significant portion of fossil fuel emissions thanks to […]
In 2016, the world experienced the hottest year on record, with average global temperatures nearly exceeding 1°C above pre-industrial levels. The World Health Organization estimated that over 60 million people were affected by drought, heatwaves, and extreme precipitation events that year, leading to devastating food insecurity, outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, and lack of fresh water. […]