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Climate

Why the 2026 Hurricane Season Might Not Be That Bad
Cautious Optimism

Why the 2026 Hurricane Season Might Not Be That Bad

The impending arrival of El Niño will help keep the number of storms low. But it only takes one landfall to create a catastrophe.
Brian Kahn
How Wet Weather in Argentina Helped Fuel the Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak
Ah Rats!

How Wet Weather in Argentina Helped Fuel the Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak

María de los Ángeles Orfila
California’s Wildfire Season Is Already Overactive
Hot Stuff

California’s Wildfire Season Is Already Overactive

Brian Kahn

Regulations and Solutions

The Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks for All Your Devices

The Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks for All Your Devices

Keep your phone, laptop, handheld gaming console, and other electronics running with these travel-friendly power banks.
Simon Hill
The US Built a Site to Ensure Fair Access to Public Lands. Then Everything Went Wrong

The US Built a Site to Ensure Fair Access to Public Lands. Then Everything Went Wrong

Recreation.gov was supposed to make access to public lands more equitable and streamlined. Instead, it’s rife with bots and inequality, while a government contractor benefits.
Heather Hansman
Old Oil and Gas Wells Could Find Second Life Producing Clean Energy

Old Oil and Gas Wells Could Find Second Life Producing Clean Energy

States across the US are looking to take major sources of pollution and use them to generate much-needed power.
Maria Gallucci
After Struggling With EVs, US Automakers Pivot to Energy

After Struggling With EVs, US Automakers Pivot to Energy

Ford and GM are backing away from electric vehicles and moving into the battery storage business. And it all comes back to AI.
Aarian Marshall

Oceans and Waterways

A New Species of Tiny Octopus Was Discovered in the Galápagos Islands

A New Species of Tiny Octopus Was Discovered in the Galápagos Islands

An octopus about the size of a golf ball was first spotted in 2015 near Darwin Island. A new study gives it both a formal description and a name.
Marta Musso
A 'Golden Orb' on the Ocean Floor Came From a Mysterious Animal

A 'Golden Orb' on the Ocean Floor Came From a Mysterious Animal

A fascinating, unclassifiable orb found in the Gulf of Alaska is not an alien object, as some speculated, but the remains of a poorly documented animal.
Jorge Garay
The Zuckerbergs Are Hiring a Lifeguard but Calling It a ‘Beach Water Person’

The Zuckerbergs Are Hiring a Lifeguard but Calling It a ‘Beach Water Person’

The job, which is associated with the Zuckerberg family office, is located in Kauai, Hawaii, where the Meta CEO owns a massive compound.
Caroline Haskins
The Best Water Leak Detectors for Your Home

The Best Water Leak Detectors for Your Home

Don’t let busted pipes or an overflowing washing machine dampen your day. These smart water sensors can help you catch problems quicker.
Simon Hill

Extreme Heat

Ring and Watch Duty Team Up to Keep a Closer Eye on Wildfires

Ring and Watch Duty Team Up to Keep a Closer Eye on Wildfires

In a move to help alert people to the spread of nearby blazes, Ring is partnering with Watch Duty to let users share their videos on the wildfire tracking app.
Boone Ashworth
N95, KF94, and KN95 Face Masks to Buy Right Now

N95, KF94, and KN95 Face Masks to Buy Right Now

Flu season is here. Here are the best disposable face coverings we’ve tested—and where you can find them.
Lisa Wood Shapiro
The LA Fires Spewed Out Toxic Nanoparticles. He Made It His Mission to Trace Them

The LA Fires Spewed Out Toxic Nanoparticles. He Made It His Mission to Trace Them

Nicholas Spada is one of the only scientists in the world using a nuclear x-ray process to study deadly nanoparticles in wildfire smoke. What he’s uncovered in California is a nightmare.
Nina Dietz
Why It’s Taking LA So Long to Rebuild After the Wildfires

Why It’s Taking LA So Long to Rebuild After the Wildfires

Reforming California’s environmental rules is only a small step to rebuilding Los Angeles after the fires in January.
Umair Irfan