Researcher Rilee Sanders surveys a kelp forest off the coast of San Clemente, California. 

At one time, kelp forests — which shelter fish, slow erosion, and sequester carbon — grew along a third of the world’s coastlines. Now, scientists are working to bolster heat-stressed kelp by attacking the urchins that prey on them and transplanting hardier kelp varieties.

By Richard Schiffman

Energy

A First Among Major Nations, India Is Industrializing With Solar

While China's push to modernize sparked a surge in burning coal, India is turning to increasingly cheap solar to meet its booming energy needs. Though it faces big hurdles, including a rickety grid, India's solar buildout could soon be a model for other emerging economies.

By Fred Pearce

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Ocean currents in the North Atlantic, with warmer colors indicating higher temperatures.

Climate

Why Fears Are Growing Over the Fate of a Key Atlantic Current

Scientists are increasingly worried that a vast system of ocean circulation, which delivers warmth to northern Europe and impacts climate globally, is at risk of collapse. Mounting evidence suggests it may be nearing a tipping point, though the research is far from certain.

By Nicola Jones

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