Don’t let their size fool you—these microscopic ocean dwellers are pulling off one of Earth’s most critical balancing acts. Scientists are uncovering how marine microbes, often overlooked, are actually major players in regulating the ocean’s carbon storage. Their tiny bodies could hold the answer to how the seas will cope with—or combat—climate change.

Today marks what would have been the 105th birthday of Marie Tharp, the groundbreaking cartographer who revolutionized our understanding of the ocean floor. This piece honors her legacy—how her meticulous mapping work in the mid-20th century revealed the hidden contours of the seafloor, including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and helped prove the theory of continental drift. Despite facing skepticism and sexism in her field, Tharp’s contributions laid the foundation for modern geology and oceanography.

A new NASA-backed study reveals that Amazon forests, once burned, don’t just bounce back—they remain vulnerable to heat and climate stress for decades. Even after regrowth, these areas struggle to store carbon effectively, undermining their role as a critical buffer against climate change.

Tiffany Wu, an alum of Columbia's MPA-ESP program, is putting her degree to work in the fight against climate change. Her career spans carbon markets, corporate emissions tracking, and clean energy—basically all the behind-the-scenes work that turns climate policy into real-world impact.

Tensions between India and Pakistan in Kashmir are flaring up again, and this time it’s not just about borders—it’s about water. With climate change worsening droughts and both countries relying on the same rivers, over 200 million people could face serious shortages. Food security is also at risk, as farming depends on these water sources.

Scientists have uncovered startling new details about an emerging subduction zone near British Columbia’s coast—one that could eventually trigger massive "megathrust" earthquakes, similar to the devastating 2011 Japan quake. Using advanced imaging, researchers mapped the geological shifts beneath the seafloor, revealing a slow but dangerous buildup of tectonic stress. While this isn’t an immediate threat, it’s a wake-up call for long-term disaster planning.

Scientists have uncovered a fascinating cosmic twist in Earth's climate history—turns out, Mars might have played a role in one of our planet's ancient warming events. A new study suggests that around 50 million years ago, Earth and Mars were locked in a gravitational dance, with their orbits syncing up every 1.6 million years. This cycle appears to have nudged Earth's climate, contributing to extreme warming during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a period when temperatures skyrocketed. It's a wild reminder of how interconnected our solar system really is.

Geoengineering and cloud seeding sound like sci-fi concepts, but they're real—and increasingly relevant as the world scrambles for climate solutions. Geoengineering involves large-scale interventions (like reflecting sunlight back into space), while cloud seeding tweaks weather patterns by adding particles to clouds to boost rain or snow. Both could help cool the planet or ease droughts, but critics worry about unintended consequences, like messing with ecosystems or giving polluters an excuse to slack on emissions cuts. This isn’t just theory—countries like China and the UAE are already testing these ideas.

A disaster expert breaks down why the Texas floods caused so much destruction, pointing to gaps in early warning systems. The solution? A mix of old-school tools like weather radios, cutting-edge AI, and community know-how to save lives next time.