Rainforests Can Bounce Back Much Faster Than Thought, Researchers Say
Researchers published in *Nature* report that tropical rainforest fauna can rebound in just a few decades, far faster than the century‑long timelines previously assumed. The study, led by postdoctoral scholar Timo Metz at UCLA, examined two Ecuadorian reserves and found animal populations returning well before forest canopy fully recovers. Deforestation continues at a staggering rate—equivalent to 18 soccer fields per minute in 2024—yet the new findings suggest natural regeneration may be more resilient than thought. The results could reshape expectations for ecosystem restoration worldwide.
E.P.A., Maryland Sue D.C. Utility Over Potomac River Sewage
The EPA and Maryland regulators have sued Washington, D.C.'s public water utility, D.C. Water, over a winter spill that released at least 240 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River. The discharge resulted from a collapse of the 60‑year‑old...
What’s in a Name? For These Snails, Legal Protection
Marine snails of the genus *Plicopurpura* have supplied the Mixtec people of Oaxaca with a sacred purple dye, tixinda, for centuries. Although Mexican law lists the species as protected, poachers regularly harvest the snails for meat and sell them to...
Key Excerpts From the Supreme Court’s Secret Memos
The New York Times released a cache of five confidential Supreme Court memos from February 2016, documenting how the justices deliberated an Obama‑era climate‑change initiative. The internal exchange culminated in a 5‑to‑4 decision to halt the program without public explanation....
How Can I Protect My Car When the Weather Is Scorching?
Extreme summer heat is proving to be a tougher stressor on vehicles than cold, affecting virtually every system from the engine to the tires. Experts from AAA and Clemson University warn that high temperatures thin engine oil, reduce coolant efficiency,...
Court Rejects Trump Administration Climate Lawsuit Against Hawaii
A federal judge in Hawaii dismissed a Trump‑era Justice Department lawsuit that sought to block the state from suing oil companies over climate change. The court found the DOJ had no standing because it could not demonstrate concrete harm, labeling...
Trump Officials Pledge Swift Completion of Controversial Gas Pipeline
The Trump administration is fast‑tracking a $1 billion, 23‑mile underwater natural gas pipeline that will run beneath Raritan Bay, linking New Jersey and New York Harbor. At a Brooklyn groundbreaking, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin pledged swift completion despite...
The Treasury Secretary Vs. Climate Science
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told IMF and World Bank delegates that pinpointing the exact causes of climate change is “very difficult,” a stance that runs counter to the scientific consensus on human‑driven warming. He urged global financial institutions to prioritize...
Europe Is Desperate for More Energy. Can Norway Come to the Rescue?
Europe’s energy security is under renewed pressure as the war in Iran drives oil prices higher, echoing the 2022 Russian‑Ukraine crisis. The continent has turned to Norway, its largest Western European oil producer, for a reliable supply of oil and...
Youths Who Sued Trump Over Orders to ‘Unleash’ Energy Try to Revive Case
A group of 22 youths filed *Lighthiser v. Trump* alleging President Trump’s executive orders promoting fossil‑fuel use violated their constitutional rights. A Montana district judge dismissed the case, saying the claimed injuries were too broad for judicial relief. The plaintiffs...
In the Desert, a ‘Cleaning Station’ for Ants
In June 2006, Smithsonian entomologist Mark Moffett filmed large red harvester ants in Arizona allowing tiny cone ants to climb aboard and groom them, a behavior reminiscent of marine cleaner fish. After two decades of analysis, he published the finding...
The Northeast Hoped to Lead on Climate. Now It’s Rethinking.
A decade after the Northeast embraced some of the nation’s most aggressive climate legislation, states are now back‑tracking. New York’s governor labeled the 2030 emissions‑cut goal unattainable, Massachusetts is trimming heat‑pump subsidies, and Rhode Island wants to shift its 2033...
E.P.A. Says It Will End Biden’s Coal Ash Disposal Rules
The Environmental Protection Agency announced it will repeal the 2024 rule that required coal‑ash site inspections and modify longstanding cleanup standards. The rollback eases compliance burdens for the coal sector, which has long opposed the Biden‑era regulation. EPA Administrator Lee...
Volkswagen to End E.V. Production at Tennessee Plant
Volkswagen announced it will cease production of the ID.4 electric SUV at its Chattanooga, Tennessee facility, redirecting the line to a new gasoline‑powered Atlas model. The move follows Congress eliminating the federal tax credit that had underpinned demand for affordable...
How War in the Middle East Paralyzed an Asian Food Giant
The war in Iran has choked fuel and fertilizer supplies, pushing diesel prices in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta to levels higher than after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The surge forced rice mills to shut down and electricity costs to skyrocket,...