A recent study, published in Science, highlights a mismatch between models that assume low climate sensitivity and satellite observations, with severe implications for current strategies to combat global warming.
Read More
AI models have a huge water footprint that most people do not even consider when they use generative AI. Behind every chatbot response or image generated lies the hidden cost of fresh water. Training and running large AI models like GPT-3 can consume millions of liters of freshwater, from cooling servers to producing electricity. This ‘thirst’ is often overlooked on multiple fronts, by consumers as well as industries because companies rarely report their full water use across data centers, electricity generation, and hardware manufacturing. Without greater transparency and sustainable practices, the rapid growth of generative AI challenges global water scarcity at a time access to clean water is already under threat.
Read More“When a forest burns in a wildfire, should we expect it to return as it was before?” Research scientist, Jonathan
Read MoreThe 2019 hurricane season started off with a bang. It’s clear that climate change has affected the frequency and severity of hurricanes. To understand whether species will be able to cope with more frequent severe storms we need more research to see how hurricanes can affect populations of plants and animals. Read on to find out how hurricane Maria in 2017 affected lizards in Dominica.
Read MoreIn the center of the Atlantic Ocean lies the Sargasso Sea. The brown seaweed, Sargassum, gives the Sea its name. However, in the past decade this belt of Sargassum has been exploding. During certain seasons, the Sargassum belt has expanded from West Africa to the Americas. Beached seaweed has led to numerous problems and concerns for much of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Research led by Dr. Mengqiu Wang from the University of South Florida used previous data to determine what makes these seaweeds take over the ocean in order to better predict when these blooms may occur.
Read MoreAs drought causes lake levels to drop, fish lose rare lakeshore habitat that shelters their eggs and offspring.
Read MoreWhen talking about diversity in the natural world, we often think of the bright colors and bold patterns of fish gliding among a reef, or the variety of flying, creeping, and crawling critters found in the layers of a rainforest canopy. However, diversity even within a single species is an important indicator of a population’s health and stability. This type of diversity can be invisible to us when contained in the form of genes that control which traits organisms possess. In this study, scientists helped us to see the invisible diversity of an endangered skink and learn how to more effectively conserve this diversity.
Read MoreCity habitats are often much warmer due to lower forest cover and an increased density of manmade surfaces which retain heat. Increased temperatures can greatly affect animals that develop as male or female depending on the incubation temperature of the eggs. Read on to find out how mothers of eastern water dragons deal with living in the warm cities of Australia.
Read MoreIn order to create a carbon budget, we need to identify everything that is taking carbon in and out of the atmosphere. While we have a pretty good idea of the important processes, could we be missing another “big” piece of the puzzle? In this study, scientists try to figure out if elephants are having an impact on the carbon cycle where they live.
Read MoreOnly 54% of adults world-wide believe in that climate change is caused by humans. Can kids convince their parents that climate change is real, let alone that it is worth it to take action?
Read More