Nathaniel B. Palmer, a U.S. Icebreaker, May Have Sailed Its Last Expedition

The decommissioning would leave the United States with no icebreaker to study the southern seas and cede scientific leadership to rival countries like China.

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As Earth Warms, California Fire Season Is Starting Earlier, Study Finds

Summertime fire activity is creeping into spring, and the balmier climate is a major driver, scientists said.

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The West’s Megadrought Might Not Let Up for Decades, Study Suggests

Clues from another dry spell 6,000 years ago are helping scientists understand what’s driving the latest one, and why it’s been so unrelenting.

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As the World Warms, Extreme Rain Is Becoming Even More Extreme

Even in places, like Central Texas, with a long history of floods, human-caused warming is creating the conditions for more frequent and severe deluges.

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MethaneSAT, a Satellite Launched to Track Methane Emissions, Is Lost

The spacecraft, MethaneSAT, was just a year into its mission to provide a clearer picture of planet-warming emissions from oil and gas sites.

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Trump’s Cuts Come With Risks. Including From Volcanoes.

A spending freeze could disrupt systems that warn communities when eruptions appear imminent.

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N.S.F. Cuts Raise Fears of a Reduced U.S. Presence in Polar Regions

The National Science Foundation has fired workers at the office that manages polar research, raising fears about a reduced U.S. presence in two strategic regions.

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As Trump Targets Research, Scientists Share Grief and Resolve to Fight

At a conference in Boston, the nation’s scientists commiserated and strategized as funding cuts and federal layoffs throw their world into turmoil.

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January Was Hottest January on Record, Scientists Report

Earth’s prolonged streak of abnormal heat continued into 2025 despite the arrival of La Niña ocean conditions, which typically bring cooler temperatures.

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Commonwealth Fusion Systems to Build Power Plant in Virginia

Commonwealth Fusion Systems, an M.I.T. spinoff, aims to generate carbon-free electricity in an industrial park near Richmond in the early 2030s.

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