environment on localnews page 148

You probably think of boreal forests as being very thick and cold, right? But things might be changing quickly. These forests are warming up much faster than the rest of the world—about four times quicker, in fact. While we haven't seen huge changes yet, there seems to be a delay in how the forests

Laborers Keep Going Despite California Fire

An immense cloud of smoke darkened the sky and turned Santa Monica into an eerie orange hue. Yet, landscapers kept trimming, builders kept constructing, and delivery drivers kept on their routes. It was just another day for the hired hands. Adrian Rodriguez, a landscaper from Querétaro, Mexico, expl

Clean Cooking Fuels: A Boost for Income and Equality in China

Imagine you're living in China and your family switches from traditional cooking methods to cleaner fuels. What happens? Well, a lot! A study shows that a small increase in using clean cooking fuels can boost a country's total household income by billions. In China, this means an extra $37 billion a

Eye-Tracking Climate Maps: How We Look at Climate Change

Imagine you're looking at a world map that shows future climate changes. How do your eyes move? A study used eye-tracking to find out. They wanted to know if people focus on the same spots and if being alone or with someone changes how we look at these maps. The study found that people tend to stare

Wildfires in L. A. : Hollywood Faces Evacuations and Canceled Events

In the heart of the city of stars, five wildfires are raging. The blazes have already destroyed thousands of buildings and claimed five lives. The first, the Palisades fire, started by the shore on January 7. Soon afterward, the Eaton fire broke out near Pasadena. Overnight, another fire, the Hurst

Unseen Scars: Pacific Palisades After Wildfire

Imagine a place where celebrities live and films are shot, now reduced to a grim landscape of ash and ruin. The Pacific Palisades, once a serene and upscale community by the sea, faced the wrath of a wildfire that left it almost unrecognizable. Aerial photos taken on January 9, 2025, reveal the shee

Texas Faces Power Hunger: Can Renewable Energy Feed Growing Needs?

Winter is closing in, and Texas is once again in the hot seat. Back in 2021, the state froze over and faced a massive power outage. Now, Texans are hoping for a better result this time around. To prevent another crisis, the state is boosting its wind and solar power while modernizing its old power g

The Palisades Fire’s Impact: A Closer Look

The Palisades fire, burning through Pacific Palisades and Malibu, has grown to over 20, 000 acres with only 8% containment by Friday morning. More than 3, 000 firefighters are battling the blaze, which started near Piedra Morada Drive on Tuesday. Despite some favorable weather, strong winds are expe

Cleaning Up: How UK's Net Zero Plans Boost Air Quality

Are you wondering how the UK's net zero plans might affect air pollution? Let's dive in! A recent study took a look at two different pathways to reach net zero: a balanced approach (BNZP) and a more innovative one (WI). They used a fancy model to predict what might happen. Right now, with current po

A New Way to Fight Indoor Ozone with a Special Catalyst