Sunsets are arguably one of the most fascinating natural phenomena. According to popular belief, however, red sunsets reveal something ominous: air pollution. The more polluted the air, the redder the sunset. Bummer! There's some truth in this, but it should be taken with a big pinch of common sense. It's true that particulate matter (solid …
Sheldon Cooper was wrong. Geology is a real science. The debate over the recognition of the Anthropocene is the best example. The Anthropocene is the name of Earth's current geological epoch, at least according to several scientists. The concept of the Anthropocene was introduced in the 19th century, proving that debates about geological epochs can …
The 29th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29) is starting today in Baku, Azerbaijan. This week, like every year, scientists, economists, and politicians gather to discuss how to solve the ongoing climate crisis. The goal of this conference is to keep acting on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, caused mainly by the use of …
There is a question that worries climate scientists a lot: will global warming stop when we reach zero greenhouse gas emissions? There are two schools of thought on this matter: the "optimistic" one claims that when (and if) we reach net zero emissions of greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, N2O, CFC, …), the long-term increase in …
Imagine a boundless stretch of ice. Picture it in your mind. Smooth, dazzling, seemingly eternal. Something happens, though. The ice begins to break, endangering the unfortunate protagonists on the ice sheet. If you thought about the opening scene of "Ice Age", you almost got it right. Instead of an adorable prehistoric squirrel and his beloved …
The pestiferous child modulating the earth's climate, together with his little sister. One of the most powerful climatic phenomena occurring on planet Earth. We are talking about El Niño (the child, in Spanish) and its counterpart La Niña. It’s making the headlines again because the Australian meteorological office has finally announced that an El Niño …
Hearing news of huge icebergs detaching from the polar ice shelves is becoming increasingly frequent. The latest is about the ice mass now called A-81, which detached from the Brunt ice shelf in Antarctica. The event was captured by the ESA satellite Sentinel-2, also letting experts to monitor all the stages of formation and widening …
Continue reading What happens in Antarctica does not stay in Antarctica
The twenty-seventh United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP27) on climate change begins this Sunday. This year the conference is held in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt). Delegates from all around the world are summoned to discuss political and economic solutions to the climate crisis. The science is clear: the cause of recent climate change is greenhouse …
This last Summer was difficult in terms of extreme events around the world. Let’s start from our home country. After a months-long drought, on the evening of the 15th of September the Marche region was hit by a self-regenerating storm, a very dangerous type of weather phenomenon, characterized by its ability to feed itself and …
The recent climate change doesn't have the same impact everywhere. Some regions are most affected by it, both from a social and an economic perspective. In general, there is an increase in heatwaves and soil aridity, sea level rise, and an increase in diseases dangerous for humans. This could get worse in the future, and …
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