The ocean keeps gulping up a colossal amount of CO2 from the air, but will it last?

The ocean has proved to be an exceptionally selfless and dependable planetary companion. 
With no benefit to itself, Earth’s vast sea has gulped up around 30 percent of the carbon dioxide humans emitted into Earth’s atmosphere over the last cent…

View More The ocean keeps gulping up a colossal amount of CO2 from the air, but will it last?

16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

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Whoever thinks young people can’t change the world is wrong. For proof, just look at 16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg.

Because of her efforts to combat climate change and save the planet — and inspire young people around the world to do the same — the Swedish teen has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by three Norwegian lawmakers. Should she win, she would become the youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient, as BBC News points out. Education activist Malala Yousafzai won the prize at 17 years old. 

“We have nominated Greta because the climate threat may be one of the most important causes of war and conflict,” Norwegian parliamentary representative Freddy Andre Oevstegaard told local tabloid VGRead more…

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Geoengineering might not be so ludicrous an idea — if we gave Earth the right dose

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Solar geoengineering is widely viewed as risky business. 

The somewhat sci-fi concept — to use blimps, planes, or other means to load Earth’s atmosphere with particles or droplets that reflect sunlight and cool the planet — has crept into the mainstream conversation as a means of reversing relentless climate change, should our efforts to slash carbon emissions fail or sputter. But geoengineering schemes come with a slew of hazards. A number of studies have cited the ill consequences of messing with Earth’s sun intake, including big falls in crop production, the likelihood of unforeseen adverse side effects, and critically, a weakened water cycle that could trigger drops in precipitation and widespread drought. Read more…

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View More Geoengineering might not be so ludicrous an idea — if we gave Earth the right dose

In a glamorous turn of events, polar bears are pooping glitter to fight off extinction

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Fighting extinction is a daunting and demanding task, but it does come with some quirky perks for the scientists willing to tackle it — like the opportunity to sort through thousands of packages of glitzy, glittery polar bear poop. 

Researchers at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens have been hard at work investigating means of conserving the global polar bear population since 2008. Focusing predominantly on the polar bear’s reproductive system, these scientists have spent over a decade attempting to crack the code on increasing the species’ population despite the continued threats posed by climate change. Read more…

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View More In a glamorous turn of events, polar bears are pooping glitter to fight off extinction

Washington governor Jay Inslee is running in 2020 as the first climate change candidate

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The Democratic field in 2020 got a little more crowded — and someone is finally putting climate change center stage.

Washington governor Jay Inslee announced on Friday that he will seek the Democratic nomination for president. But what really sets Inslee apart is his  commitment to being the climate change candidate. In fact, Inslee seems to be the first major candidate in U.S. history to make climate change his main platform for running. 

The main mission statement on Inslee’s campaign website is all about climate change, but it also illustrates how it can affect a large range of other issues, including the economy and national security. Read more…

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View More Washington governor Jay Inslee is running in 2020 as the first climate change candidate

Elon Musk did it – Tesla’s $35,000 Model 3 is finally finally finally here

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Tesla’s $35,000 Model 3 is finally here. The Model 3 will offer a max range of 220 miles, and a top speed of 130 mph. Tesla says after tax credits and gasoline savings the electric car will only cost U.S. buyers $24,950. Read more…

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View More Elon Musk did it – Tesla’s $35,000 Model 3 is finally finally finally here

A powerful atmospheric river pummeled California, and the pictures look unreal

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On Wednesday, San Jose Mercury News photojournalist Karl Mondon spotted a man in flooded Guerneville, California rowing through town in a blue dumpster.

A potent atmospheric river — a long band of water vapor that often transports ample amounts of moisture to the western U.S. like “rivers in the sky” — deluged portions of Northern California this week. The Russian River, which winds through the Sonoma County town of Guerneville, reached over 45-feet high and swamped the area, prompting the Sheriff to announce on Twitter that the town had been surrounded by water — with no way in or out.  

While California relies heavily on these wintertime atmospheric rivers for its water, scientists expect these storms to grow dramatically wetter as Earth’s climate heats upRead more…

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View More A powerful atmospheric river pummeled California, and the pictures look unreal

Climate change kills off clouds over the ocean in new simulation

We all know climate change is affecting weather systems and ecosystems around the world, but exactly how and in what way is still a topic of intense study. New simulations made possible by higher-powered computers suggest that cloud cover over oceans may die off altogether once a certain level of CO2 has been reached, accelerating warming and contributing to a vicious cycle.

View More Climate change kills off clouds over the ocean in new simulation