Climate

Dry Times

The Super El Niño Won’t Fix the West’s Water Crisis

“People have talked about the Colorado River crisis for decades—we’re now in it,” says one expert. “Everyone you talk to is like, ‘Shit, man.’”

Molly Taft

Harder, Faster, Stronger

Spokane Shows What the New Era of Wildfires Looks Like

Sachi Kitajima Mulkey

Make It Stop

What’s Behind the Heat Wave Scorching Huge Parts of the World

Molly Taft

Regulations and Solutions

The Best USB Car Chargers, Road-Tested and Load-Tested

I put top-rated USB car chargers to the test for fast charging, value, heat, and safety. These are the best I found.

Matthew Korfhage

What Is El Niño, and What Does It Mean for Weather, Water, and the Global Economy?

This year’s El Niño is shaping up to be the strongest on record. Here’s what to expect.

Ritsuko Kawai

A One-Two Punch Has Atlantic Hurricane Season on the Ropes

El Niño coupled with Saharan dust is making this year’s hurricane season a dud. But there’s still potential for dangerous storms.

Dennis Mersereau

Puerto Rico Is Rationing Water. It Could’ve Avoided It by Harvesting Rainwater

The island could capture billions of gallons of water a year if it implemented systems to catch it as it falls from the sky.

Yessenia Funes

Oceans and Waterways

Is Expensive Bottled Water Actually Better for You?

Luxury water can contain different minerals and taste noticeably different. But a remote source, alkaline pH, and high price do not necessarily mean better hydration.

Megan Tomos

China Is Strapping ‘Digital Bombs’ to Civilian Infrastructure—Is the US Ready?

This week on Uncanny Valley, senior writer Andy Greenberg discusses his coverage of a war game simulating a cyberattack from the Chinese hacking group Volt Typhoon.

Brian Barrett and Andy Greenberg

New Steel, Gravity-Fed Water Filters Aim to Cut Out Plastic

In a world of plasticky water filter pitchers, I tested three new-generation stainless steel filter systems.

Matthew Korfhage

El Niño Is Already Wreaking Havoc on Pacific Fisheries

As the climate phenomenon sends warm water surging across the eastern Pacific, some parts of the fishing industry are suffering—but other regions are seeing a windfall.

Joseph Winters