A novel study has revealed a link between extreme weather and the risk of cardiovascular disease among middle-aged and older adults in 157 Chinese cities. Based on a city’s climate and location, exposure to extreme heat, cold, and precipitation each increases the risk of heart disease. The findings of the study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, provide evidence for policymakers across different regions to develop targeted strategies protecting vulnerable populations during extreme climate events.

 

A new study published in Landscape Ecology shows how fast-growing poplar plantations can improve functional connectivity for forest birds in fragmented agricultural landscapes, provided they are strategically located and species have moderate to high dispersal capacity.

Researchers led by Andrew Barnabas Wong at the National University of Singapore have developed a simple, low-cost method to significantly improve the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable fuels and chemicals, offering a potential pathway to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. By coating copper catalysts with nanometre-thin films of biopolymers derived from waste materials such as seafood shells and wood, the team achieved up to 90% selectivity for multicarbon products like ethylene at industrially relevant reaction rates, while also replacing expensive and environmentally harmful PFAS-based materials commonly used in such systems. Reported in Nature Energy, the approach enhances efficiency by concentrating CO₂ at the catalyst surface and suppressing unwanted reactions, demonstrating a scalable route towards greener, more cost-effective production of fuels and chemical feedstocks using renewable electricity.

Record volcanic eruptions in the Andes could explain the mysterious death of dozens of whales about 5 to 8 million years ago, according to a study led by University of Arizona researchers. Volcanic ash fertilizing the Southern Ocean provides a missing puzzle piece in the Earth's climate system that could help scientists better understand its buffering capacity in the context of a warming world.

Assisted evolution could help corals survive future heatwaves, but careful trait choice and strong repeated selection will be needed for it to be effective.

A recent study published in National Science Review finds abundant ocean eddies in the Antarctic marginal seas, using unprecedented high-resolution satellite altimetry (SWOT). The observed spatial distribution of these eddies, combined with numerical simulations, suggests that ice shelf basal melting and dense shelf water formation are key processes driving the widespread eddy activity. This discovery unveils Antarctic mesoscale ocean processes for the first time, which improves our ability to predict future climate and sea-level change.

As temperatures rise across the U.S., are Americans really packing up and leaving? New research reveals a more complex story. Analyzing nationwide county-level data, the study finds that jobs, housing costs and quality of life – not heat alone – drive migration decisions, at least for now. While extreme temperatures may deter newcomers, they aren’t triggering mass departures. Instead, climate subtly shapes where people choose to live, working alongside economic and social forces rather than leading the way.

Photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to methane offers a promising route for carbon recycling, but its low efficiency and unclear mechanisms limit its practical use. Researchers at Chiba University have now examined how light-driven and heat-driven processes work together in Ru–Ni–ZrO₂ catalysts, achieving record methane production rates. This work clarifies the reaction pathway and highlights new strategies for designing more efficient systems to convert CO₂ into fuels and valuable chemicals.