Widespread remote work may have kept air pollution lower than pre-COVID-19 lockdown levels even though restrictions were lifted in 2020, a new study finds.
culture & policy
Adapting to Receding Glaciers in the Tropical Andes
Integrated approaches are needed to understand and respond to changes in tropical mountain ecosystems and communities brought about by receding glaciers and changes in land use.
Greener, Wetter Arabia Was a Crossroads of Early Human Migration
Hand axes, hippo bones, and a stack of ancient lake beds show that arid Arabia experienced intervals of humid weather, spurring pulses of human migration over the past 400,000 years.
Drone Rules Make Tracking Down Faults a Difficult Feat
Regulations differ from country to country, but on one point, they’re relatively uniform: Drones must remain within their operators’ line of sight. How do earthquake scientists collect drone data while working within the rules?
Better Together: Perovskites Boost Silicon Solar Cell Efficiency
Scientists engineer a way to layer materials to boost efficiency without interrupting manufacturing processes.
To Understand Hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa, Consider Both Climate and Conflict
Warfare exacerbates the impacts of drought to produce food insecurity crises that last long after the drought has passed, new research documents.
State-of-the-Art Technology, Serendipity, and Secrets of Stonehenge
The first comprehensive analysis of what the sarsen stones are made of came about with new technology—and good old-fashioned luck.
Recognizing Geology’s Colonial History for Better Policy Today
The Minnesota Geological Survey has contributed to the dispossession of homelands from Indigenous Peoples. The agency is creating more just policies.
Heat Pumps Can Lower Home Emissions, but Not Everywhere
A new study shows that in the right places, heat pumps can help homeowners lower greenhouse gas emissions, save on heating and cooling costs, and promote public health.
Forecast: 8 Million Energy Jobs Created by Meeting Paris Agreement
Quickly switching to renewables will create 5 million more jobs by 2050 than sticking to fossil fuels will, according to projections.
