“Big-picture science questions” fuel science policy discussions.
science policy
Index Suggests That Half of Nitrogen Applied to Crops Is Lost
Food production is becoming less efficient at using nitrogen fertilizer, according to a review of global values. Excess nitrogen damages the environment and the climate.
Specifically Tailored Action Plans Combat Heat Waves in India
The frequencies of heat waves and heat-induced mortality have soared in India. Now government agencies and research organizations are developing city-specific action plans to mitigate heat impacts.
What Five Graphs from the U.N. Climate Report Reveal About Our Path to Halting Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s first assessment report since 2013 describes two illustrative scenarios that keep warming below 2°C—and several others that go wildly offtrack.
Detailed Geologic Mapping Helps Identify Health Hazards
A team of geologists and nursing researchers created an interactive radon hazard map for Kentucky residents—and it was possible only because of the high-resolution bedrock mapping in the state.
Climate Litigation Has a Big Evidence Gap
Climate-related lawsuits don’t often quantitatively link the defendant’s greenhouse gas emissions to the impacts on the plaintiff. Better lines of communication between climate scientists and climate lawyers could help bridge that gap.
A Road Map for Climate Retreat
Scientists say managed retreat from climate-related dangers has to start now, and they are exploring potential guidelines for response and adaptation.
New Marine Ecology Tool Corrects for Effects of Fossil Fuel Emissions
Standardizing these corrections will help scientists understand ocean ecosystems.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! A Declaration of the Rights of the Moon
What are the ethics of mining the Moon? Could humans cause environmental damage to Earth’s only satellite? And could a new Declaration of the Rights of the Moon be one way of mitigating those impacts?
