Dr. Lindsay Hays serves as Acting Director of NASA's Planetary Science Division and previously held roles as Senior Scientist for Mars Exploration and Program Scientist for multiple planetary missions. Her research backg…
#Climate science
This week in Climate science · updated Wed Oct 07 2026
Climate science this week has focused on unprecedented warming patterns and their long-term consequences. A record-breaking El Niño in the Pacific is reaching intensity levels unseen in over a millennium, pushing scientific understanding into uncharted territory and signaling what future global conditions may resemble. Separately, research on historical emissions reveals that carbon released by major fossil fuel producers will continue warming the planet for centuries. Meanwhile, Antarctic sea ice has declined to near-historic lows, with the four smallest winter peaks occurring within the past four years. These developments have prompted increased public engagement, from museum exhibits educating visitors on climate impacts to growing academic attention to climate psychology and its emotional toll on communities.
AI-written weekly briefing drawn from this topic's recent stories.
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Profile: Acting Director of NASA's Planetary Science Division
Mars Rover Curiosity Explores Geologically Diverse Cache Creek Region
NASA's Curiosity rover has entered the Cache Creek quadrant of Gale crater, named after a geologically rich area in British Columbia known for ocean crust, marine sediments, and volcanic features similar to ancient Marti…
Chicago science museum uses interactive exhibits to engage visitors on climate impacts and solutions
The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago features exhibits that educate visitors about renewable energy technologies, residential energy efficiency, and observable climate impacts like glacier retreat. The m…
Unprecedented Pacific El Niño Reaches Peak Warming Levels, Offering Glimpse of Warmer Future
A powerful El Niño phenomenon developing in the Pacific Ocean has already matched the warmest levels recorded in 150 years of historical data, and scientists expect conditions to intensify further as it reaches its peak.…
Unprecedented El Niño Breaking Records and Pushing Climate Science Into Uncharted Territory
Climate scientists report that a developing El Niño in the Eastern Pacific is reaching unprecedented strength, likely representing the most powerful such event in over 1,000 years, with characteristics so extreme they ex…
Antarctic sea ice reaches third-lowest winter peak as climate concerns mount
Antarctica's winter sea ice peaked at its third-lowest level in recorded history, falling approximately one million square kilometers below the long-term average, according to satellite data tracked since 1979. The four …
NASA Researchers Study Ancient Scottish Rocks to Decode Mars' Habitability History
NASA scientists conducted fieldwork in Scotland's Stoer formation to study 1.2-billion-year-old rocks that formed in environments resembling ancient Martian lakes and rivers, providing insights into how microbial life ev…
Post-Paris Emissions Found to Intensify European Heat Waves, Stanford Study Says
A Stanford University study published in Geophysical Research Letters used a generative AI model to compare European heat waves under different emissions scenarios. It concluded with more than 99% probability that human-…
Germany to back up U.S. climate data amid fears of political interference
Germany's national climate computing center in Hamburg is expanding storage to keep backup copies of U.S. climate simulations. The effort is driven by concerns that the Trump administration could delete, block access to,…
El Niño's record-breaking strength offers a preview of a warmer world
This year's El Niño is among the strongest ever recorded, with projections of up to 451,000 heat-related deaths by February. The event, driven by Pacific trade wind shifts, is colloquially termed a 'super El Niño' though…
German Supercomputer Center to Preserve U.S. Climate Simulations from Political Tampering
The German Climate Computing Center in Hamburg is adding storage to host backup copies of U.S. climate simulations ahead of the next U.N. assessment. The move is a response to the Trump administration's cuts and suppress…
National Academies Updates Research Blueprint for Ocean Carbon Removal
A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine outlines key uncertainties in ocean-based carbon dioxide removal, including scalability, measurement, environmental impacts, and governance.…
German Initiative Safeguards U.S. Climate Records From Potential Loss
German research institutions, led by the German Climate Computing Center, are copying U.S. climate datasets into secure national repositories. The German Research Foundation has allocated about $35 million for projects n…
El Niño heat projected to cause 451,000 excess deaths globally by early 2027
A Climate Impact Lab assessment estimates that heat associated with El Niño could contribute to 451,000 additional deaths worldwide from June 2026 through February 2027. The projection includes 239,000 deaths during Sept…
El Niño sets new record for Pacific sea surface temperature anomaly
The Oceanic Niño Index shows sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific reached 3.08°C above the 1991-2020 average on September 21, surpassing the previous record of 3.02°C from November 2015.…
Study attributes 40% of Western snowpack decline to emissions from 122 major companies
A new peer-reviewed study finds that climate change from greenhouse gas emissions over the past 70 years has caused a 36% decline in average annual mountain snowpacks in the Western U.S., with about 40% of that decline l…
New Analysis Pinpoints Regions Where Climate Warming Is Speeding Up
A study published in Nature Communications identifies specific regions, including the eastern Mediterranean, North Pacific, New Zealand, southeast China, Bolivia, and the Gulf of Mexico, where warming has accelerated sin…
Global sea level rise accelerating, threatening cities, islands and heritage sites
Sea levels are rising at their fastest rate in three millennia, driven largely by human activity, with about 770 million people living in areas acutely exposed to the impacts. The UN is set to adopt a declaration calling…
Earth's Life-Support Systems: Seven of Nine Planetary Boundaries Breached
The annual Planetary Health Check from the Potsdam Institute reports that seven of nine planetary boundaries are at their worst recorded levels, including ocean acidification and climate change. Human activities such as …
Pacific warming surge ties historic El Niño peak, scientists warn
Sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific have matched the previous daily record for the El Niño index, reaching 3.07°C above the baseline as of 19 September. The event, underway since June, has developed faster t…
中国电网排放强效温室气体，回收率远低于官方数据
中国电力企业是全球最强温室气体六氟化硫的最大排放源，其增温效应是二氧化碳的2.43万倍。生态环境部称回收率达90%，但调查显示实际仅约30%。若将回收率提升至90%，每年可减少近三分之一的相关排放，成本约600万美元。
China's Power Sector Leaks Potent Greenhouse Gas, Analysis Finds
China's electric utilities are the world's largest source of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a greenhouse gas 24,300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Despite official claims of 90% recycling, an Inside Climate News anal…
Climate Scientist Michael Mann on the Risks of Exceeding the Paris Target
The United Nations warns that current climate policies could push global warming to at least 1.8 degrees Celsius, surpassing the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree goal. This year's record heat waves and floods underscore the …
Global Warming Set the Stage for Nepal's Catastrophic Glacier Collapse, Study Finds
A new attribution study concludes that decades of rising temperatures were a decisive factor in the August collapse of a glacier on Langtang Lirung Mountain in Nepal, which killed at least 1,300 people. Record heat and u…
Hormuz conflict projected to trim global fossil-fuel CO2 output by 0.5% in 2026
Carbon Brief analysis indicates that global fossil-fuel emissions will decline roughly 0.5% in 2026, driven by the Hormuz crisis disrupting oil and gas trade. While coal demand is forecast to rise 1.2%, that increase is …
Natural Climate Feedback Loops May Add Up to 30% More Warming Than Fossil Fuels Alone
New modeling indicates that emissions from thawing tundra, drying wetlands, and intensifying wildfires could amplify human-caused warming by 20 to 30 percent. Even if net-zero emissions are achieved, these natural feedba…
Public Still Fails to Link Weather Disasters to Warming, Studies Show
Despite mounting scientific evidence, surveys indicate that many individuals do not automatically associate recent floods, heat waves, and wildfires with human-caused climate change. The gap in understanding is compounde…
New Sensing Technique Tracks Glacier Fractures
Researchers used fiber optic cables to detect seismic activity from fractures in a Swiss glacier, revealing the process of hydrofracturing where meltwater creates pressure. This technique could serve as an early-warning …
Climate change is reshaping summer traditions across the U.S.
Rising temperatures and extreme weather are altering seasonal norms, from monsoon rains in Arizona to firefly displays in Georgia. The past July was the hottest on record for the contiguous U.S. Communities are adapting …
Autumn Film Guide: Oscar Hopefuls to Keep on Your Radar
The newsletter lists several films expected to be awards contenders, including a reimagining of Robin Hood's final days and a French coming-of-age story. It also mentions other upcoming releases like a drama about a 13-y…
Southeast Asian Girl Bands Gain Global Recognition with Cultural Fusion
Girl groups from Southeast Asia are breaking into the global music scene, with acts like BINI performing at Coachella and amassing millions of fans. These bands combine local languages and traditions with contemporary po…
Former Top Pick Simmons Gets Another Shot with Sacramento
Australian guard Ben Simmons has signed a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings after missing the entire previous season due to injuries. The deal is worth $3.5 million and marks his fourth NBA team. Simmons hopes …
Heat Deaths Often Unrecorded in US, Investigation Finds
An NPR investigation shows that thousands of heat-related fatalities in the United States are not officially counted each year. The case of an Arizona man illustrates how current reporting methods miss the true scale of …
Global Food Costs Climb to Four-Year Peak Amid Wars and Climate Shocks
The UN's food price index has reached its highest level in four years, reflecting the combined strain of armed conflicts and severe weather. In the UK, farmers warn of potential shortages after a season of record-low rai…
UN Report: Global Warming to Breach 1.5°C Threshold, But Managed Decline Possible
A new UNEP assessment warns that global temperatures will likely exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels within a few years. However, an 'overshoot, peak, and decline' strategy could reduce how long and how far the limi…
WMO Seasonal Outlook: Strong El Niño Expected to Intensify Through Fall
The World Meteorological Organization's seasonal forecast indicates a strong El Niño will develop and strengthen from August to October 2026, with sea surface temperatures averaging about 2.9°C above normal. Above-averag…
Global Warming to Surpass 1.5°C Threshold in Coming Years, UN Warns
The United Nations warns that the world will soon exceed the critical 1.5°C warming limit, leading to more extreme weather, melting glaciers, rising seas, and ecosystem damage. Even in the best-case scenario, temperature…
New Mexico's Elephant Butte Reservoir Drops to Critically Low Level
Elephant Butte Reservoir, the largest in New Mexico, fell to just 1.4% of its capacity in July 2026 after years of severe drought and an unusually early snowmelt. The record low has exposed long-submerged debris and high…
UN Report Says Climate Warming Limit Will Soon Be Exceeded
A new United Nations report indicates the world is about to cross a dangerous warming threshold that nations had agreed to avoid. The UN Environment Programme's executive director says preventing this breach is now nearl…
Intensifying El Niño Poised to Bring Prolonged Global Heat
The El Niño event is strengthening due to unusually warm Pacific waters and has not yet reached its peak. Forecasters expect it to persist through February 2027, with widespread above-average temperatures likely across t…
UN says looming El Niño could be largest in a millennium, threatening global heat records
The United Nations warns that the current El Niño is intensifying rapidly and is likely to become the strongest in at least 1,000 years. Forecasts indicate it will push global temperatures to unprecedented levels, making…
China's carbon emissions slip as oil use plummets in Q2
China's carbon dioxide emissions dropped by 1% in the second quarter of 2026, driven by a 9% fall in oil use amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Transport fuel demand fell 16%, with electric vehicles and public transport a…
After spinal surgery, a writer reconnects with intimacy and self-pleasure
Jodi-Ann Burey describes how a decade of unexplained pain led to the discovery of a spinal cord tumor, which threatened paralysis. After surgery, she re-examined her relationship with her body and sexuality, finding new …
Medical Associations Issue Unified Call for Fall Vaccinations
Leading US medical groups have jointly recommended updated flu and Covid-19 vaccinations for the fall, aiming to counter confusion from the Trump administration's changing advice. They emphasize the science behind the sh…
Bowie's unseen archive takes center stage at Venice immersive showcase
At the Venice Immersive festival, a new 3D documentary presents hundreds of previously unseen photographs of David Bowie, accompanied by his music and commentary from his official photographer. The event also features vi…
Review: Diamond's 'Hamlet test' fails to prove individual greatness shapes history
In his latest work, Jared Diamond introduces a method to assess whether historical figures are irreplaceable, but the reviewer finds it flawed. The critique notes that Diamond overlooks how other playwrights, such as Mar…
A new film marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks with archival audio and interviews with those affected
The documentary 'Turning Point: Generation 9/11' compiles emergency calls, photographs, and recollections from survivors and families of victims to reflect on the attacks. It includes the story of United Flight 93 co-pil…
New climate model scenarios shift focus from baselines to policy pathways
The seventh phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project introduces a new set of emissions scenarios that replace the shared socioeconomic pathways used in previous IPCC assessments. These scenarios are named by th…
Unapproved weight-loss drug retatrutide draws buyers on gray market
Retatrutide, an experimental drug by Eli Lilly, is being purchased online from unregulated sellers despite lacking FDA approval. Users like Henry seek it after experiencing side effects from approved drugs. Doctors warn …
Parasomnia: a horror film about sleep disorders and a demonic presence
The debut film by James Ross II follows Riley, a woman who suffers from waking nightmares and maintains a strict sleep schedule to protect others from a malevolent entity. When her boyfriend breaks the protocol, a succub…
Silencing podcasts sparks a flood of creative thoughts
The author describes how years of constant podcast listening, particularly comedy duos, filled her days and nights. When she stopped, she experienced a mental reboot, with ideas and insights flooding in during a trip. Sh…
Autumn 2026 gaming lineup includes Onimusha return and GTA VI
The autumn 2026 video game lineup includes Capcom's Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the 5D platformer Screenbound, and Marvel's Wolverine. Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Silent Hill: Townfall are also notable releases. Gra…
Pluto's planetary status still contested two decades after controversial vote
Two decades after the International Astronomical Union downgraded Pluto to a dwarf planet, the decision remains contentious. Critics argue the definition is scientifically flawed, while supporters view Pluto as a beloved…
Study suggests weekend catch-up sleep lowers blood pressure risk
A study of 40,000 South Korean adults found that getting one to two hours of extra sleep on weekends is associated with a 6% reduction in the odds of hypertension. Researchers presented the findings at the European Socie…
Roman Space Telescope Launches After Budget Battles
NASA's $4.3bn Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope lifted off from Florida, heading to Lagrange point 2. The telescope, which survived proposed budget cuts, will search for exoplanets and study planetary formation. Its 300-…
Long-term statin use linked to lower dementia risk, study finds
A 15-year study tracking over 132,000 people in Denmark found that statin users had a 10% lower risk of developing dementia, with early use reducing risk by 15%. The findings, presented at the European Society of Cardiol…
DNA analysis suggests 'Conquest Man' had Scandinavian roots, not Norman or Saxon
Researchers have analyzed the remains of an 11th-century man buried in Barton-upon-Humber, known as Conquest Man. DNA analysis indicates he had substantial Scandinavian ancestry, suggesting he was likely not Norman or Sa…
Autumn 2026 film preview: from Dune to Rocky, a season of sequels and biopics
The article previews notable films releasing in autumn 2026, including 'Late Fame' starring Willem Dafoe, a jazz biopic about Bill Evans, and 'Practical Magic 2' with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. It also mentions 'Q…
Four Artemis II crew members honored with Congressional Space Medal
The four astronauts who flew around the moon in April received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Trump at a ceremony in Houston. The crew set a new distance record for humanity, coming within 4,067 mi…
Teen pitcher Jackie Mitchell's 1931 strikeouts of Ruth and Gehrig still spark debate
In a 1931 exhibition game, 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig back-to-back for the Chattanooga Lookouts. The achievement has fueled ongoing discussions about its legitimacy and the lack of op…