Science and Environment
Op-Ed: Who Should Pay for the Environmental Damage in Global Supply Chains?
Developing countries and regions are experiencing disproportionate levels of harm due to the mass production of global chains, forcing people to migrate under severe pollution or extreme heat.
96 Percent of the World’s Coral Reefs Are at Risk of Collapse
The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Ecosystems revealed that 96 percent of the world’s coral reefs meet the criteria to be classified as Critically Endangered. Despite this, coral reefs are not beyond saving, with research showing that climate action in the immediate future has the potential to change the trajectory for these crucial ecosystems.
Political and Energy Costs of Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal
President Donald Trump’s agreement to allow Russian diesel into global markets aims to ease rising fuel prices, but it has raised questions about sanctions, the war in Ukraine, and continued dependence on fossil fuels.
Japan Launches Mission to Collect Soil Samples From the Moons of Mars
Japan begins a five year mission to study Mars's moons and bring back soil samples from the bigger moon, Phobos.
The Importance of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge
California’s western Joshua Tree co-management plan highlights how Indigenous leadership and ecological knowledge can support effective conservation efforts.
Indonesia Approves Foreign Help as Wildfire Haze Spreads Across Southeast Asia
Smoke from Indonesia’s forest fires has forced schools to close in Malaysia and worsened the air quality in Singapore. As ASEAN foreign ministers prepare to discuss the haze in November, Indonesia has approved foreign assistance to fight the fires.
Finland Halts Google Data Center Construction Amid AI Investment Boom
Finnish officials ordered Google to stop the construction of two Finnish data centers due to reports of illegal logging. This comes at a time when large technology companies are increasing their investment levels in Finland, demonstrating the government’s commitment to enforcing environmental protection laws.
Japan's Nuclear Restart Push Hit by Hamaoka Seismic Data Scandal
The scandal is testing the safety system Japan built after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, as the government pushes nuclear power to strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Before COP31: Why the Pacific Is Taking Centre Stage in Climate Diplomacy
The Pacific Pre-COP, held in Fiji and Tuvalu from Oct. 5-8, brought climate-vulnerable island nations into the spotlight ahead of COP31 in Türkiye.
Supreme Court Begins New Term with Major Climate Change Case
The Supreme Court returned from its summer recess to start the new term with a big oil case, deciding whether state governments can sue fossil fuel companies under state law for climate change damages.
Trump’s Changes to the Endangered Species Act Highlight Environmental Partisanship
The Trump administration’s recent modifications to the Endangered Species Act reflect how partisanship over environmental issues has intensified since the Act was first signed.
United States and China Agree to AI Incident Channel
Following Trump and Xi’s Washington summit, the two governments plan further AI talks in November amid disagreements over safety and chip controls.
Op-ed: Trump Fires All Governing Members of the US National Science Foundation Amidst Major Cuts to Research
Trump Administration efforts to erase the independence of federal agencies, and roll back research, continue in the firing of all 22 National Science Foundation board members
Op-ed: The Court’s Fight Back: A Check on an Abuse of Power
A federal judge halts the Trump Administration's attempts at restricting renewable energy projects across the country.
Op-ed: Semaglutide and the Algorithmic Border of Global Health
As semaglutide patents expire, and global manufacturing scales, a new phase of access is beginning. As science, behavior, and governance stop aligning, AI-driven regulation and competing health narratives are reshaping the borders of global health.
Op-ed: Why Military Emissions Remain Climate Policy’s Blind Spot
Armed conflict is driving significant environmental damage, yet these costs remain largely excluded from global climate accounting frameworks. This gap reveals how political priorities shape what environmental harm is measured and what is ignored.
When Seeing Is No Longer Believing: AI-Generated X-Rays and the Coming Crisis of Medical Trust
A new study found that AI-generated X-rays can fool radiologists, and medicine may not yet have the tools to catch up.
War, Oil, and Ashes: The Environmental Costs of the US-Israel War in Iran
US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran cause toxic rainfall, contaminated water supplies, and over 5 million tonnes of CO₂ in just two weeks. From shattered desalination plants to poisoned soil, this conflict is quietly engineering an ecological crisis that will outlive the fighting itself.
Artemis II Launch Marks the First Manned Mission to the Moon Since 1972
In a historic return to the Moon, the Artemis II launch signifies the first manned mission to the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
White House Moves to Secure Glyphosate and Phosphorus as Strategic Materials
A Feb. 18 executive order places a common farm chemical and a key industrial mineral inside the US national security framework, linking agriculture, supply chains, and defense production.