Two key ingredients cause extreme storms with destructive flooding – why these downpours are happening more often

Rising global temperatures increase the risk of extreme downpours, as a climate scientist explains.

Shuang-Ye Wu, Professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, University of Dayton • conversation
April 8, 2025 ~6 min

Why some storms brew up to extreme dimensions in the middle of America – and why it’s happening more often

Rising global temperatures increase the risk of extreme downpours, as a climate scientist explains.

Shuang-Ye Wu, Professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, University of Dayton • conversation
April 8, 2025 ~6 min


Microplastics promote cloud formation, with likely effects on weather and climate

Clouds affect Earth’s weather and climate in many ways. New research suggests that the presence of microplastic particles could alter these processes.

Heidi Busse, PhD Student in Chemistry, Penn State • conversation
Nov. 7, 2024 ~7 min

Rain may have helped form the first cells, kick-starting life as we know it

The earliest cells likely didn’t have membranes to separate and protect their components and chemistry away from a harsh surrounding environment. But they may have made do with rain.

Aman Agrawal, Postdoctoral Scholar in Chemical Engineering, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering • conversation
Oct. 15, 2024 ~12 min

Why autumn 2024 is your best chance to see lots of weird and wonderful fungi

Months of wet weather have created the perfect conditions for a fungal bonanza.

Rowena Hill, Postdoctoral Researcher in Mycology, Earlham Institute • conversation
Oct. 14, 2024 ~5 min

Atmospheric rivers are shifting poleward, reshaping global weather patterns

These powerful ‘rivers in the sky’ provide a huge share of annual precipitation in many regions, including California. They can also melt sea ice, with global climate implications.

Zhe Li, Postdoctoral Researcher in Earth System Science, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research • conversation
Oct. 11, 2024 ~8 min

Who’s to blame when climate change turns the lights off?

The UK is deciding who has ultimate responsibility for infrastructure weathering a harsher climate.

Chris Medland, PhD Candidate in Climate Change Resilience, University of Surrey • conversation
Sept. 23, 2024 ~7 min

Don’t blame Dubai’s freak rain on cloud seeding – the storm was far too big to be human-made

Some parts of the Gulf experienced 18 months of rain in a single day.

Richard Washington, Professor of Climate Science, University of Oxford • conversation
April 19, 2024 ~6 min


‘April showers’ – a rainfall scientist explains what they are and why they are becoming more intense

Why the weather can be sunny one minute then rainy the next.

Rob Thompson, Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Meteorology, University of Reading • conversation
April 8, 2024 ~5 min

Ice storms, January downpours, heavy snow, no snow: Diagnosing ‘warming winter syndrome’

As the climate changes and weather warms, the freezing line is shifting, bringing rain and ice to regions not prepared for it.

Richard B. (Ricky) Rood, Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering and School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan • conversation
Jan. 25, 2024 ~8 min

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