Crooked Bough News Round-up

— This Map Shows Where Warming Has Accelerated

 

at 9/23/26 7:00am

Some parts of the globe are not just heating up, but heating up faster than they were just a few decades ago. A new analysis reveals where warming has gained pace.Read more on E360 →

— To Deter Seals, Tasmanian Salmon Farmers Have Set Off 1,800 Bombs This Year

 

at 9/22/26 7:18am

In the first half of this year, salmon farmers on the Australian island of Tasmania detonated nearly 1,800 underwater explosives to scare away fur seals intent on nabbing fish, government figures show. Read more on E360 →

— In India, a Surge of Solar Is Keeping Coal Power in Check

 

at 9/21/26 6:52am

India, a country of nearly 1.5 billion people, has long relied on coal to power its growing economy. But over the last two years, it has seen a remarkable shift: The rapid buildout of renewable energy has halted the growth of coal. Read more on E360 →

— Microplastics in Soil a ‘Trojan Horse’ for Toxins

 

at 9/18/26 3:32am

Microplastics act like a “Trojan horse,” delivering pollutants, pesticides, and bacteria through the soil, a five-year multinational research project has found.Read more on E360 →

— Why Germany Is Building an Ark for U.S. Climate Data

 

at 9/17/26 1:59am

As researchers around the world begin work on the next U.N. climate assessment, fears are growing that the Trump administration could meddle with critical U.S. climate data. In response, scientists are preparing to transfer vast troves of that data to repositories in Germany.Read more on E360 →

— At Least 124 Environmental Defenders Killed Worldwide Last Year

 

at 9/16/26 6:25am

At least 124 people were murdered last year for defending their forests, farms, or waterways from destruction or degradation, according to a stark new report. Its authors say that deep cuts to foreign aid by wealthy nations have weakened human rights groups that support environmental defenders. Read more on E360 →

— From Indigenous Loss, a Potent Legal Argument on Climate

 

at 9/15/26 6:47am

Human rights lawyer Julian Aguon explores how warming threatens not only the survival of small island nations but also the traditions of their Indigenous peoples. He is citing these injuries in legal actions, including in a major victory at the International Court of Justice last year.Read more on E360 →

— Iceland, One of Three Countries That Still Hunts Whales, Considers Ban

 

at 9/14/26 6:35am

Iceland is one of just three countries, along with Norway and Japan, that still allows commercial whaling in its waters, but that may be about to change. The Icelandic government will put forward a bill in February that could ban the practice.Read more on E360 →

— The Breakdown of Natural Systems Could Intensify Warming by 30 Percent

 

at 9/11/26 6:51am

As the planet heats up, tundras are thawing, wetlands are fermenting, and forests are succumbing to larger and more frequent wildfires. The breakdown of these natural systems is unleashing huge volumes of emissions, further intensifying warming from the burning of fossil fuels. According to new research, such feedback loops could amplify human-driven warming by 20 to 30 percent.Read more on E360 →

— Sargassum Superbloom: Seaweed Scourge or Ecological Boon?

 

at 9/10/26 3:18am

Stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, a massive bloom of sargassum seaweed is swamping beaches and killing coastal wildlife. But scientists have discovered the floating algae also shelters a vast array of ocean creatures, and some are now calling for its protection. Read more on E360 →

— Chinese Industry Is Starting to Wean Off Fossil Fuels

 

at 9/9/26 7:01am

By several measures, Chinese industry is becoming less dependent on fossil fuels, according to a new analysis.Read more on E360 →

— Nearly Half of Farmers Globally Poisoned by Pesticides Each Year

 

at 9/8/26 5:32am

Almost half of the world’s farmers are poisoned by pesticides every single year, a study has found.Read more on E360 →

— Satellite Images of Penguin Droppings Reveal Impact of Antarctic Warming

 

at 9/4/26 3:28am

Penguin colonies are so large that their masses of excrement can be seen from space, offering scientists a useful means of studying the Antarctic birds. An analysis of 30 years of satellite images of penguin guano shows how the birds' diets are shifting in response to warming.Read more on E360 →

— A Surge of Marine Heat Waves Threatens to Scramble Ocean Life

 

at 9/3/26 3:06am

Fueled by climate change and a strengthening El Niño, record-setting marine heat waves are gripping oceans worldwide and playing havoc with sea life. Mounting evidence from recent events suggests the damage could be severe and long-lasting, both onshore and off.Read more on E360 →

— Data Centers are Helping Fuel a U.S. Battery Boom

 

at 9/2/26 7:42am

Across the U.S., tech companies have courted backlash for using polluting gas generators to power massive new data centers. But energy industry data shows that in addition to building out natural gas, firms are adding huge amounts of battery storage.Read more on E360 →

— Suburban Sprawl Puts Western Homes at Risk from Wildfires

 

at 9/1/26 7:36am

Recent fires in Spokane, Washington, and Reno, Nevada, illustrate the risks from suburban sprawl, experts say. In both cities, encroaching flames burned homes built at the edge of wilderness.Read more on E360 →

— As Death Toll From Nepal Flood Rises, Officials Call to Tackle Warming

 

at 8/31/26 7:00am

Five days after a calamitous flood washed through Rasuwa, Nepal, the death toll continues to climb. Authorities said Monday that 903 people have been confirmed dead, while another 4,247 are missing, as the country reels from a disaster that experts say may be linked to the melting of glacial ice. Read more on E360 →

— In Africa, a Growing Underground Solar Buildout

 

at 8/28/26 5:52am

Households and businesses are driving a solar boom in Africa, where rooftop arrays and other small systems account for the bulk of new solar installations. But this rapid buildout, which is driving solar additions to record levels, is largely unaccounted for in official statistics, analysts say.Read more on E360 →

— A Hard-Won Rule to Cut Chemical Plant Pollution Is Being Unraveled

 

at 8/27/26 2:01am

In 2024, the Biden administration enacted wide-ranging regulations to protect communities near petrochemical plants from air toxics. The Trump administration has since granted exemptions to scores of polluting facilities and is working to rewrite the long-awaited rule.Read more on E360 →

— Access to Urban Woodlands Linked With Lower Use of Antidepressants

 

at 8/26/26 6:43am

A study from Scotland found that living near an accessible urban woodland significantly lowered the likelihood of being prescribed antidepressants.Read more on E360 →

— Bomb Fishing Is Wreaking Havoc on Indonesia's Coral Reefs

 

at 8/25/26 4:26am

Fishers operating off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia, are detonating more than 8,000 underwater explosives each year, researchers estimate. The practice is turning picturesque coral reefs to “rubble.”Read more on E360 →

As of 9/23/26 2:39pm. Last new 9/23/26 7:47am.