Curious Now

Climate

Climate science, extremes, and mitigation.

Latest

Wanted: Europe’s Missing Cloud Provider
ClimateData & InfrastructurePolicy & Agreements

Wanted: Europe’s Missing Cloud Provider

European telecom companies are pooling efforts to develop a homegrown cloud computing service, reducing reliance on major US providers and giving European businesses a local alternative.

news
Austrian glaciers disintegrating due to climate change, say scientists
ClimateClimate Impacts & ExtremesGeoscience

Austrian glaciers disintegrating due to climate change, say scientists

Austrian glaciers are rapidly shrinking due to climate change, which threatens the region's water supply and ecosystems.

news
ClimateEconomicsPolicy & Agreements

The real story behind China’s technology triumph

China's tech dominance stems more from globalization than policy, suggesting economic shifts rather than technological breakthroughs drive this change and its implications for the global economy.

news
Drug development is booming in China. Should the U.S. view it as a threat or an opportunity?
ClimatePharmaceuticals & TherapeuticsPolicy & Agreements

Drug development is booming in China. Should the U.S. view it as a threat or an opportunity?

China is rapidly developing new drugs, challenging the U.S.'s position as the world leader in biotech innovation. This could impact the availability and cost of medicines for people in both countries.

news
As Trump administration cracks down on health care fraud, people with disabilities feel singled out
ClimatePublic HealthPolicy & Agreements

As Trump administration cracks down on health care fraud, people with disabilities feel singled out

The Trump administration's crackdown on healthcare fraud has led people with disabilities to feel unfairly targeted, raising concerns about access to needed medical services.

news
Generative AI-assisted Participatory Modeling in Socio-Environmental Planning under Deep Uncertainty
ClimateGenerative AIAlgorithms & Theory

Generative AI-assisted Participatory Modeling in Socio-Environmental Planning under Deep Uncertainty

Researchers developed a new AI-powered modeling tool to help communities plan for climate challenges, which could make environmental planning more effective and inclusive for local populations.

preprint
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about TrumpRx prices, a J&J psoriasis pill, and much more
ClimatePharmaceuticals & TherapeuticsPolicy & Agreements

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about TrumpRx prices, a J&J psoriasis pill, and much more

Analysis found TrumpRx does not actually offer the world's lowest drug prices as claimed, contradicting U.S. officials and disappointing patients hoping for relief from high medication costs.

news
Limited jobs block social mobility opportunities for young people in coastal and rural areas, study shows
ClimateEconomicsPolicy & Agreements

Limited jobs block social mobility opportunities for young people in coastal and rural areas, study shows

Young people in coastal and rural areas have fewer job opportunities, limiting their chances to get better-paying, skilled jobs and improve their social status.

news
ClimateCybersecurityPolicy & Agreements

Do Not Turn Child Protection into Internet Access Control

Governments proposed new internet rules to protect children, but critics warn this could restrict online access for everyone. This highlights the balance between safety and civil liberties in the digital age.

news
ClimateNatural HazardsClimate Impacts & Extremes

Hawaii's worst flooding in 20 years threatens dam, prompts evacuations

Heavy rainfall in Hawaii caused severe flooding, threatening a nearby dam and forcing evacuations. This extreme weather event underscores the growing threat of climate change-driven natural disasters that can put communities at risk.

news
ClimateClimate Impacts & ExtremesEcology & Conservation

Australia’s “Red Centre” Turns Green

Abundant rain turned Australia's arid "Red Centre" into a lush green landscape. This rare event highlights how climate change can rapidly transform ecosystems, with potential impacts on local wildlife and communities.

report
War exacerbates long-standing irrigation crisis for Sudan farmers
ClimateAgriculture & Food SystemsClimate Impacts & Extremes

War exacerbates long-standing irrigation crisis for Sudan farmers

War disrupted Sudan's major irrigation system, leaving farmers without water to grow vital food crops.

news
ClimatePolicy & AgreementsCybersecurity

Science and armed conflict

Science has long shaped armed conflicts, from ancient Greek weapons to modern tear gas. This connection highlights how scientific advancements can be used to both help and harm people, raising important policy and security concerns.

news
Military AI Policy Needs Democratic Oversight
ClimateCybersecurityPolicy & Agreements

Military AI Policy Needs Democratic Oversight

Dispute erupts over who should set rules for military use of AI - an important issue for public oversight of emerging tech with major implications.

news
Climate-resilient housing models slow to gain ground in disaster-prone Bangladesh
ClimateNatural HazardsClimate Impacts & Extremes

Climate-resilient housing models slow to gain ground in disaster-prone Bangladesh

Bangladeshi housing models designed to withstand climate disasters are not being widely adopted, leaving many vulnerable to recurring floods, storms, and erosion.

news
ClimatePolicy & AgreementsPublic Health

Israel deliberately targeting medical facilities in south Lebanon

Israel has allegedly targeted medical facilities in Lebanon, potentially impacting healthcare access for civilians in the region.

news
ClimatePolicy & AgreementsPollution & Sustainability

Mayor of Paris removed parking spaces, "drastically" reduced the number of cars

The mayor of Paris removed many parking spaces to drastically reduce the number of cars, which aims to lower pollution and make the city more livable for residents.

news
Seattle tried to guarantee higher pay for delivery drivers. Here's why it didn't work as intended
ClimateEconomicsPolicy & Agreements

Seattle tried to guarantee higher pay for delivery drivers. Here's why it didn't work as intended

Seattle tried to set a minimum wage for delivery gig workers, but it didn't work as intended - highlighting challenges in regulating the gig economy.

news
March heat surges past 100 in California and Arizona, smashing records
ClimateClimate Impacts & ExtremesNatural Hazards

March heat surges past 100 in California and Arizona, smashing records

Record-breaking March heat waves scorch the American Southwest, posing dangerous health risks and highlighting the intensifying impacts of climate change.

news
ClimatePolicy & Agreements

Widely Attended Gatherings (WAGs) Determinations

NASA listed several major upcoming space industry events, which indicates growing activity and cooperation in the sector.

report
A strong constraint on radiative forcing of well-mixed greenhouse gases
ClimateClimate ModelingCarbon & EmissionsIn Focus

A strong constraint on radiative forcing of well-mixed greenhouse gases

Improved climate models now show well-mixed greenhouse gases trap more heat than previously thought, suggesting we need deeper emissions cuts to avoid dangerous warming.

peer reviewed
The impact of extreme weather events on the mental health of vulnerable populations in Africa (The WEMA project): a study protocol
ClimateClimate Impacts & ExtremesPublic Health

The impact of extreme weather events on the mental health of vulnerable populations in Africa (The WEMA project): a study protocol

A new study aims to examine how extreme weather events like floods and droughts impact the mental health of vulnerable populations in Africa, providing much-needed insights into an understudied issue.

preprint
Investigation of Venus' thermal history, crustal evolution, and core dynamics with a coupled interior-lithosphere-atmosphere model
ClimateGeoscienceAstronomy

Investigation of Venus' thermal history, crustal evolution, and core dynamics with a coupled interior-lithosphere-atmosphere model

A new model simulates how Venus' internal heat, crust, and atmosphere evolved over time, providing insights into the planet's mysterious history and potential for volcanic activity.

preprint
Contrasting thermophilization among forests, grasslands and alpine summits
ClimateClimate Impacts & ExtremesEcology & Conservation

Contrasting thermophilization among forests, grasslands and alpine summits

Forests, grasslands, and alpine areas are seeing changes in their plant and animal communities as the climate warms, with potential impacts on ecosystem services like food production and tourism.

peer reviewed
The effects of temperature and rainfall anomalies on Mexican inflation
ClimateEconomicsClimate Impacts & Extremes

The effects of temperature and rainfall anomalies on Mexican inflation

Climate shocks like extreme temperatures and rainfall can drive up prices in Mexico by disrupting agricultural production and supply chains, impacting household budgets.

preprint
Broadly stable atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> levels over the past 3 million years
ClimateCarbon & EmissionsClimate Modeling

Broadly stable atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> levels over the past 3 million years

Ancient Antarctic ice reveals that Earth's two main greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, have remained remarkably stable for millions of years - an important finding for understanding past climate patterns and future emissions targets.

peer reviewed
Generative AI-assisted Participatory Modeling in Socio-Environmental Planning under Deep Uncertainty
ClimateGenerative AIAlgorithms & Theory

Generative AI-assisted Participatory Modeling in Socio-Environmental Planning under Deep Uncertainty

Researchers developed a new AI-powered modeling tool to help communities plan for climate challenges, which could make environmental planning more effective and inclusive for local populations.

preprint
HighAir: A Hierarchical Graph Neural Network-Based Air Quality Forecasting Method
ClimateAlgorithms & TheoryData & Infrastructure

HighAir: A Hierarchical Graph Neural Network-Based Air Quality Forecasting Method

Researchers developed a new air quality forecasting model that can better predict pollution levels, which is important for warning people to avoid breathing unhealthy air and reducing health risks.

preprint
A conceptual framework for ideology beyond the left and right
ClimatePsychologyPolicy & Agreements

A conceptual framework for ideology beyond the left and right

Researchers propose a framework to measure ideologies beyond a simple left-right spectrum, which could help better understand complex political views.

preprint
Cannabis use prevalence before and early after partial legalisation in Germany
ClimatePublic HealthPolicy & Agreements

Cannabis use prevalence before and early after partial legalisation in Germany

After Germany partially legalized recreational cannabis in 2024, the prevalence of cannabis use remained stable, suggesting the policy change did not significantly impact public cannabis consumption in the short term.

preprint
First Observation of CO$_2$ Emission and foreground absorption Toward the Galactic Center with JWST
ClimateAstronomyCarbon & Emissions

First Observation of CO$_2$ Emission and foreground absorption Toward the Galactic Center with JWST

The James Webb Space Telescope has observed carbon dioxide in the center of our galaxy for the first time, providing new insights into the composition and chemistry of this mysterious region.

preprint
Projected impact of a national Tobacco 21 policy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
ClimatePublic HealthPolicy & Agreements

Projected impact of a national Tobacco 21 policy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is considering raising the legal smoking age to 21 to curb high youth smoking rates. This policy could significantly reduce smoking among young people in the country if implemented.

preprint
NEXUS : A compact neural architecture for high-resolution spatiotemporal air quality forecasting in Delhi Nationa Capital Region
ClimatePollution & SustainabilityAlgorithms & Theory

NEXUS : A compact neural architecture for high-resolution spatiotemporal air quality forecasting in Delhi Nationa Capital Region

Researchers developed a new AI model that can forecast air pollution levels across Delhi with high resolution, helping policymakers and the public better plan for dangerous smog events that threaten public health.

preprint
Is there a secular decline in disruptive patents? Correcting for measurement bias
ClimateEconomicsPolicy & Agreements

Is there a secular decline in disruptive patents? Correcting for measurement bias

A study suggests the common perception of declining disruptive innovation may be due to measurement issues, not an actual slowdown. This is significant as it could shape innovation policy and public discourse.

preprint
Position: Beyond Sensitive Attributes, ML Fairness Should Quantify Structural Injustice via Social Determinants
ClimateAlgorithms & TheoryPolicy & Agreements

Position: Beyond Sensitive Attributes, ML Fairness Should Quantify Structural Injustice via Social Determinants

Researchers propose that AI fairness should focus on addressing systemic social inequalities, not just discrimination based on sensitive attributes. This could lead to more impactful approaches to mitigate unfairness in real-world AI systems.

preprint
PhysE-Inv: A Physics-Encoded Inverse Modeling approach for Arctic Snow Depth Prediction
ClimateClimate ModelingGeoscience

PhysE-Inv: A Physics-Encoded Inverse Modeling approach for Arctic Snow Depth Prediction

Researchers developed a new model that can better estimate Arctic snow depth using limited data, which is important for understanding climate change impacts in the region.

preprint
Network Effects in Corporate Emissions: Evidence from a Data-Dependent Spatial Panel Model
ClimateCarbon & EmissionsEconomics

Network Effects in Corporate Emissions: Evidence from a Data-Dependent Spatial Panel Model

A new study found that industrial facilities influence each other's toxic emissions, suggesting policies targeting one company could affect others. This highlights the interconnected nature of corporate environmental impact.

preprint
Global River Forecasting with a Topology-Informed AI Foundation Model
ClimateClimate ModelingData & Infrastructure

Global River Forecasting with a Topology-Informed AI Foundation Model

AI-powered model can forecast river levels across entire networks, helping communities better prepare for floods and droughts despite data scarcity.

preprint