A 10-day wind forecast made with the European Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System.

Weather forecasts powered by artificial intelligence are usually more accurate — and require less computational energy and fewer human hours — than conventional predictions. But questions remain about A.I. systems’ reliability and their ability to forecast extreme weather events.

By Nicola Jones

CONFLICT

In War-Torn Sudan, a Gold Mining Boom Takes a Human Toll

As civil war rages in Sudan, a surge in gold production is helping finance and arm the warring factions. Most of the mining is done on a small scale by villagers who process the gold using mercury and cyanide, posing serious threats to their health and to the environment.

By Omnia Saed and Fred Pearce

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A meteorologist at a NOAA office in Boulder, Colorado.

Opinion

With NOAA Cuts, a Proud Legacy and Vital Science Are at Risk

For more than 50 years, NOAA has pioneered climate research and been instrumental in advancing modern weather forecasting. Now labeled by Project 2025 as part of the “climate alarm industry” and facing DOGE-driven cuts, the future of this valuable public asset is in jeopardy.

By Adam Sobel

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