Replacing methane with hydrogen to heat homes is a bad idea -- here's why

The government is considering blending hydrogen into the UK gas network.

Ran Boydell, Associate Professor in Sustainable Development, Heriot-Watt University • conversation
April 26, 2023 ~9 min

El Niño is coming, and ocean temps are already at record highs – that can spell disaster for fish and corals

El Niño can trigger intense and widespread periods of extreme ocean warming known as marine heat waves. They can devastate marine life.

Dillon Amaya, Climate Research Scientist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration • conversation
April 18, 2023 ~8 min


Climate damage is worsening faster than expected, but there's still reason for optimism – 4 essential reads on the IPCC report

The final report in the IPCC’s sixth assessment series says countries will have to cut their greenhouse gas emissions 60% in the next 12 years to keep global warming in check.

Stacy Morford, Environment + Climate Editor • conversation
March 20, 2023 ~10 min

Why so few UK homes are installing air-source heat pumps – and how to encourage takeup

The UK is next to last in Europe for heat pump sales – psychologists explain why take up is so low.

Lee White, Visiting Professor, City, University of London • conversation
March 15, 2023 ~7 min

Two years after its historic deep freeze, Texas is increasingly vulnerable to cold snaps – and there are more solutions than just building power plants

Texas wasn’t prepared to keep the lights on during Winter Storm Uri, and it won’t be ready for future cold weather unless it starts thinking about energy demand as well as supply.

Matthew Skiles, PhD Student in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin • conversation
Feb. 10, 2023 ~13 min

Planting more trees could reduce premature heat-related deaths in European cities by a third – new research

In 2015, 6,700 premature deaths were caused by urban heat – this can be reduced by a third by planting more trees.

Tamara Iungman, PhD researcher, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) • conversation
Feb. 1, 2023 ~8 min

Planting more trees could reduce premature deaths in European cities by a third – new research

In 2015, 6,700 premature deaths were caused by urban heat – this can be reduced by a third by planting more trees.

Tamara Iungman, PhD researcher, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) • conversation
Feb. 1, 2023 ~8 min

How has the inside of the Earth stayed as hot as the Sun's surface for billions of years?

Starting at the surface, you would have to dig nearly 2,000 miles before reaching the Earth’s core. No one could survive that trip – and the 10,000-degree F heat once there would vaporize you anyway.

Shichun Huang, Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee • conversation
Jan. 23, 2023 ~7 min


Why gas stoves matter to the climate – and the gas industry: Keeping them means homes will use gas for heating too

Energy companies have marketed natural gas as cooks’ favorite for years because homes with gas hookups will also use it for space and water heating.

Daniel Cohan, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University • conversation
Jan. 18, 2023 ~9 min

2022's US climate disasters, from storms and floods to heat waves and droughts

Millions of people around the world suffered through deadly flooding and long-lasting heat waves in 2022. A climate scientist explains the rising risks.

Shuang-Ye Wu, Professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, University of Dayton • conversation
Dec. 20, 2022 ~9 min

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