As interest in nuclear power rises, startups are pursuing plans to recycle spent fuel and reuse its untapped energy to power reactors. Advocates tout new recycling methods as a breakthrough, but many experts warn it will extract plutonium that could be used for nuclear weapons.
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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.
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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.
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Biodiversity
Imperiled in the Wild, Many Plants May Survive Only in Gardens
As the impacts of climate change and other threats mount, conservationists are racing to preserve endangered plant species in botanical garden “metacollections” in the hope of eventually returning them to the wild. But what happens when there is no suitable habitat to return them to?
Climate
Can Toxic Mining Waste Help Remove CO2 from the Atmosphere?
On the coast of Newfoundland, waste from a shuttered asbestos mine has been a troubling source of contamination for decades. Now, a company plans to process the waste to draw CO2 from the air — one of several projects worldwide that aim to turn this liability into an asset.
E360 Digest
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Toxic Algae Spurs Sea Lion Attacks in Southern California
A sea lion sickened by toxic algae attacked a teenage girl in Long Beach, California, on Sunday, the latest episode of erratic behavior from affected animals. More about Toxic Algae Spurs Sea Lion Attacks in Southern California →
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Global Economy More Vulnerable to Warming Than Previously Thought
A new study finds warming could inflict far more damage to the global economy than previously assumed. More about Global Economy More Vulnerable to Warming Than Previously Thought →
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In a Warming World, Why Is the Southern Ocean Getting Cooler?
Climate models predict that as the planet warms, so will the Southern Ocean. But for decades, the waters around Antarctica have grown mysteriously cooler. A new study shows why. More about In a Warming World, Why Is the Southern Ocean Getting Cooler? →
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Biodiversity
A Craze for Tiny Plants Is Driving a Poaching Crisis in South Africa
South Africa’s Succulent Karoo is the most biodiverse arid region on the planet, with thousands of plants found nowhere else. But to meet a demand fueled by social media, criminal networks have been poaching these colorful succulents by the millions and smuggling them overseas.
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INTERVIEW
Saving U.S. Climate and Environmental Data Before It Goes Away
Some 2,000 records went missing from government data sets after the Trump administration took office in January. Canadian geographer Eric Nost talks about the work he and colleagues are doing to archive data related to climate and the environment while it is still accessible.
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Climate
How Climate Change Puts the Safety of Drinking Water at Risk
Wildfires, floods, intense heat, droughts, and other extreme events fueled by climate change are threatening water systems in the U.S. and around the globe. Experts warn of the increasing threat of contamination and the need to improve infrastructure to keep drinking water safe.
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INTERVIEW
Reciprocity: Rethinking Our Relationship with the Natural World
Robin Wall Kimmerer, the bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass, recently published The Serviceberry, which explores the economies of nature. In an e360 interview, the Native American ecologist discusses reciprocity, gratitude, and aligning human law with ecological law.
