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Climate

Climate Change

Glacial Lakes Threaten Millions in a Warming World

A Himalayan lake fed by melting ice just released a devastating flood in northern India. Thousands of other unstable lakes are getting bigger every year.
Clear the Air

The Surprising Way Clean Energy Will Help Save the Snowpack

End Times

Why Have Climate Catastrophes Toppled Some Civilizations but Not Others?

Regulations and Solutions

Abandoned Farms Are a Hidden Resource for Restoring Biodiversity

A billion acres of old farmland—an area half the size of Australia—has fallen out of use. Ecologists say the lands and degraded forests are neglected resources for rewilding and for capturing carbon.

The Annular Solar Eclipse Will Decimate US Solar Energy Output

The annular solar eclipse will render more than a third of US solar energy capacity unavailable at some point tomorrow—enough to power about 20 million homes. Grid operators have backup plans.

Hydro Dams Are Struggling to Handle the World’s Intensifying Weather

Climate change is robbing some hydro dams of water while oversupplying others—forcing managers to employ new forecasting technology and clever strategies to capitalize on what they have.

Google’s AI Is Making Traffic Lights More Efficient and Less Annoying

Google is analyzing data from its Maps app to suggest how cities can adjust traffic light timing to cut wait times and emissions. The company says it’s already cutting stops for millions of drivers.

Oceans and Waterways

This Water Bottle Spouts Smells at You While You Sip. It Stinks

The Air Up bottle’s smelly gimmick commits a terrible water foul.

New York Needs to Get Spongier—or Get Used to More Floods

Devastating deluges around the world point to the metropolis of tomorrow: the “sponge city.” Think more parks and fewer parking lots.

The Secret of How Cells Make ‘Dark Oxygen’ Without Light

In some subterranean aquifers, cells have a chemical trick for making oxygen. It offers new insight into how life survives deep underground on Earth—and where it might lurk in space.

The 6 Best Water Leak Detectors for Your Home

Don’t let busted pipes or an overflowing washing machine dampen your day. These WIRED-tested smart water sensors can help you catch problems quicker.

Extreme Heat

A Summer of Record Heat Deals Costly Damage to Texas Water Systems

As dry soils contract, underground pipes rupture—disrupting cities, frustrating conservation efforts, and highlighting the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to a warming climate.

Burying Power Lines Prevents Wildfires. But There’s a Cost

Investigators are eying the Lahaina wildfire as yet another deadly blaze started by electrical equipment. Putting lines underground would help—at a steep cost.

This Brutal Summer in 10 Alarming Maps and Graphs

From the Maui wildfires to ultrahigh ocean temperatures, climate change is leaving its devastating mark on the Earth. It’s but a taste of the pain to come.

Meta’s News Block Causes Chaos as Canada Burns

News has been removed from Facebook and Instagram after the Canadian government told Meta to pay publishers, leaving consumers unable to access vital information during wildfires.