A new database reveals dimmer cities, empty farming fields, and vacant ports.
aerosols & particles
Posted inScience Updates
Clearing the Haze Around Aerosol Assessments
An international gathering of scientists discussed the state of the art in assessments of how aerosol particles in the atmosphere affect Earth’s climate.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Dangerous Bacteria Catch a Ride on Saharan Dust
Saharan dust events can spread bacterial pathogens over long distances, but we may be able to predict the human health risk from exposure.
Posted inNews
Pollution Spikes in Chile Tied to Soccer Fans’ Barbecuing
In Santiago, mysterious pollution spikes—tenfold above normal levels—occur during televised soccer matches and are caused by tens of thousands of barbecues, new results reveal.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Hardwood Forest Soils Are Sinks for Plant-Produced Volatiles
New research identifies temperature, moisture, and soil fungi as important factors in influencing how biogenic volatile organic compounds cycle between plants and the atmosphere.
Posted inNews
Tear, Don’t Cut, to Reduce Microplastics
Laboratory experiments reveal the numbers and types of microplastics produced by tearing, scissoring, and cutting everyday items.
Posted inNews
La Contaminación del Aire Puede Empeorar la Tasa de Mortalidad por COVID-19
Científicos descubren que condados altamente contaminados en los Estados Unidos tendrán una tasa de mortalidad por COVID19 4.5 veces más grande que aquellos condados similares.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
The Climate and Health Impacts of Gasoline and Diesel Emissions
New research tallies the effects of gas- and diesel-burning vehicle emissions on the climate, as well as on human health. Together, the emissions cause more than 200,000 premature deaths each year.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Health Concerns from Combined Heat and Pollution in South Asia
Little research has studied the impacts of combined climate conditions. Together, heat events and poor air quality in South Asia amplify the imminent health challenge.
Posted inNews
Air Pollution Can Worsen the Death Rate from COVID-19
Scientists find that highly polluted counties in the United States will have a COVID-19 death rate 4.5 times higher than those with low pollution if they’re otherwise similar.