New marine life database touted as tool for ocean research

Biologists have launched a database of marine animals' body sizes that they say could help preserve biodiversity in Earth's oceans.
Why bother measuring animals' body size? In an article in Global Ecology and Biogeography, researchers write that body size affects animals in a multitude of ways, from their behavior and favorite foods to their physiology and habitat choices.

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Climate Experts Issue Stark Warning About Global Warming Timeline

A new report from more than 60 of the world's top climate scientists paints a sobering picture: humanity could exhaust its carbon budget for limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in just three years. If current emissions continue unchecked, the long-established target set by the Paris Agreement may soon slip permanently out of reach, BBC News reported. Since the late 1800s, average global temperatures have climbed steadily, driven by relentless carbon dioxide emissions from coal, oil, and gas, as well as widespread deforestation. While the 1.5 °C threshold was meant to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, scientists say we're now hurtling toward it faster than anyone expected. "We're seeing some unprecedented changes," said lead author Professor Piers Forster of the University of Leeds. "The heating of the Earth and sea-level rise are accelerating, and it's tied directly to emissions." The updated analysis, released this week, estimates that only 130 billion metric tons of CO₂ can still be emitted globally to stay under the 1.5 °C limit with a 50 percent chance. At the current rate of around 40 billion tons per year, that leaves just over three years before the budget is spent. Adding to the urgency, last year marked the first time global temperatures exceeded 1.5 °C for an entire 12-month period. While one year doesn't constitute a formal breach of the Paris goal, the trend is alarming. Scientists warn that continued warming will bring more extreme weather, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruptions, affecting millions of people worldwide. Much of the excess heat has been absorbed by the oceans, leading to faster sea-level rise and marine ecosystem damage. The rate of sea-level rise has doubled since the 1990s. Still, there's a sliver of hope. The report notes that while emissions remain high, their rate of increase has slowed, thanks in part to clean energy technologies. Experts stress that aggressive emission cuts now could still blunt the worst impacts. "Every fraction of a degree matters," said climate scientist Joeri Rogelj. "Reducing emissions today will ease suffering tomorrow."Climate Experts Issue Stark Warning About Global Warming Timeline first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 19, 2025

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NASA's New Data Has Scientists Sounding the Alarm on Climate Extremes

The latest satellite data from NASA is painting a troubling picture of Earth's climate, and it's coming into focus faster than expected. According to new research from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, extreme weather events like floods and droughts are not only becoming more common, but also more intense, longer-lasting, and more destructive. The Guardian reported that data from the past five years show these events doubling in intensity compared to averages between 2003 and 2020. Even researchers behind the study admit they didn't anticipate such a dramatic spike. "We were surprised to find the actual population living in rural areas is much higher than the global data indicates," said lead researcher Dr. Bailing Li, who helped compile the figures using NASA's Grace satellite and dam relocation data across 35 countries. The result: a grim confirmation that climate change is fueling a shift in the planet's water systems, and the consequences are just data, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, reveals that global extremes now show a stronger correlation with rising temperatures than with other climate drivers like El Niño. Events are lasting longer, affecting wider areas, and shifting with less predictability—creating what scientists call "hydroclimatic whiplash," sudden transitions from drought to flood or vice versa. What's most worrying isn't just the scale of the change, but how unprepared most of the world remains. Experts say the current infrastructure, especially in water management, was built for a different era—one with a more stable climate. Christopher Gasson of Global Water Intelligence warned that most water systems are facing extremes from both ends—too much water or too little—and that investment must scale quickly to keep up. Meteorologists and climate experts across the globe echoed the concern. Richard Betts of the UK's Met Office called the data "a stark reminder" that what was once theoretical is now reality. He stressed that most societies have built their systems around past weather patterns, leaving them vulnerable to extremes that now fall outside the historical norm. With the World Meteorological Organization predicting an 80% chance that one of the next five years will be Earth's hottest ever, the window for adapting is narrowing. NASA's findings serve as a warning: the planet is heating up, and the consequences are already surging across every New Data Has Scientists Sounding the Alarm on Climate Extremes first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 22, 2025

Washington Post

2 hours ago

• Washington Post

Bees are in trouble – and the federal lab researching them could close

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