Plankton form the base of the world’s food chain, but warmer and more acidic oceans are affecting their numbers and variety. Some species, which make for good fish food and carbon storage, are largely declining, while others are shifting their ranges and blooming times.
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INTERVIEW
What’s Causing the Recent Spike in Global Temperatures?
Since early 2023, the world has seen a steep rise in temperatures that scientists are struggling to explain. Our contributor Elizabeth Kolbert talked with Gavin Schmidt, NASA’s top climate scientist, about possible causes of the warming and why experts cannot account for the heat.
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Biodiversity
How Traffickers Got Away with the Biggest Rosewood Heist in History
Ten years after officials seized $50 million worth of illegally harvested rosewood, the logs have been returned to the traffickers and sit in limbo in a Singapore port. The legal saga highlights the ongoing corruption and gaping holes in efforts to save endangered species.
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INTERVIEW
Why We Need a Strong Global Agreement on Plastics Pollution
Twenty years ago, scientist Richard Thompson sounded the alarm on microplastics pollution. Now, as understanding of the problem has grown, he says it is critical that international negotiators produce an effective plastics treaty when they meet next month in South Korea.
Food & Agriculture
On Navajo Lands, Ancient Ways Are Restoring the Parched Earth
Farming once thrived in the Black Mesa region, before overgrazing and climate change wreaked havoc with the land. Today, the Navajo are restoring their watersheds — and boosting their food sovereignty — with earthen berms and small dams made of woven brush, sticks, and rocks.
E360 Digest
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Nine Tons of Illicit Pangolin Scales Recovered in Nigeria
On a single day in August, Nigerian officials recovered more than 9 tons of illicit pangolin scales. The stockpile would be worth an estimated $1.7 million in East Asia, where pangolin scales are sold for their use in traditional medicine. More about Nine Tons of Illicit Pangolin Scales Recovered in Nigeria →
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Scientists Breed Corals That Can Withstand More Heat
Scientists have successfully bred corals that are more tolerant of heat, showing for the first time that corals can become better adapted to warming within the space of a single generation. More about Scientists Breed Corals That Can Withstand More Heat →
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La Niña Looking Less Likely as Ocean Waters Stay Balmy
As ocean temperatures remain stubbornly high, forecasters see a diminished chance that the Pacific Ocean will enter its cooler La Niña phase this fall, as was predicted. More about La Niña Looking Less Likely as Ocean Waters Stay Balmy →
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Energy
Why Taiwan and Its Tech Industry Are Facing an Energy Crisis
As the world’s largest producer of advanced computer chips, Taiwan is struggling to meet demand for electricity. Highly dependent on imported fossil fuels, soon to shutter its last nuclear plant, and slow to build out renewables, the island is heading toward an energy crunch.
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PHOTO ESSAY
Eye on the Fertile Crescent: Life Along the Mideast’s Fabled Rivers
A series of dams and years of conflict have transformed the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which gave rise to some of the world’s earliest civilizations. Kurdish photographer Murat Yazar focused his lens on these rivers of his homeland and on the people who live alongside them.
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Policy
Fortress Conservation: Can a Congo Tribe Return to Its Forest?
An African Union ruling finds that parts of a Congo national park should be returned to the Batwa people, who were evicted decades ago. Advocates say the ruling must be implemented and that the Batwa will need support to protect the park’s rare gorillas and other wildlife.
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Food & Agriculture
How Agroforestry Could Help Revitalize America’s Corn Belt
By practicing agroforestry — growing trees alongside crops and livestock, for example — farmers can improve soils, produce nutrient-rich foods, and build resilience to climate change. Now, a movement is emerging to bring this approach to the depleted lands of the Corn Belt.
