A new study predicts that by the 2050s, wildfire smoke will cause the region to spend $850 million more every year to treat asthma.
Hazards & Disasters
Corn Syrup Reveals How Bubbles Affect Lava’s Flow
New research shows that huge bubbles can change the viscosity of lava and drastically affect how it moves across the landscape.
A Fresh Perspective on Intricate Volcanic Plumbing Systems
Combining commercial hydrocarbon and mineral exploration data with novel academic research and modeling capabilities helps answer key questions about underground magma systems.
Dust from Receding Glaciers May Have Major Atmospheric Impacts
New research is helping scientists understand how Arctic dust created by receding glaciers affects local air quality and global climate.
Long-Term Drought Harms Mental Health in Rural Communities
In rural and remote communities in Australia, psychological distress worsened during the first few years of a prolonged drought. Other signs of poor mental health persisted beyond that time.
Hurricane Maria Killed Mangroves Months After Storm
An overgrown channel between a lagoon and the ocean on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques created a backup of freshwater, disrupting the delicate balance of salinity in coastal mangrove forests.
Saving Lives by Predicting Dust Storms
In the southwestern United States, dust storms form suddenly, quickly reducing visibility to zero. A new warning system may allow motorists to avoid these deadly hazards.
Certain Rock Formations Can Lead to In-Home Radon Risks
Researchers in Kentucky have merged results from home test kits with the state’s geologic map to produce a map of indoor radon potential based on the geology underlying homes in the state.
Homes and Other Buildings Abound in Natural Hazard Hot Spots
Researchers mined maps of natural hazards and land use to show that nearly 60% of structures are built in regions at high risk of earthquakes, wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and/or tornadoes.
Can Volcano Forecasting Make Visiting Whakaari Safe Again?
Last year’s explosive eruption at the New Zealand volcano tragically took tourists by surprise.
