The EV Culture Wars Aren’t What They Seem
On the whole, Democrats are going electric and Republicans are not. Partisanship only partly explains the difference.
Planet
Your guide to life on a warming planet
North Carolina’s Coming Run on Electric Cars
More than 1 million Americans are still without electricity. EV owners are using their cars to keep the lights on.
My Friend Was in the Valley
From my front porch, the river banks of North Carolina’s mountains held. But not from his.
Hurricane Helene Created a 30-Foot Chasm of Earth on My Street
We don’t know how long it will take for emergency crews to reach our rural North Carolina community. In the meantime, people aren’t waiting around.
North Carolina Was Set Up for Disaster
The climate deck is so stacked now that even places that seem safe are witnessing dangerous impacts.
America Needs a Disaster Corps
Mutual aid keeps communities afloat in the moments after disasters strike. Why not turn it into a jobs program?
America’s Hurricane Luck Is Running Out
Helene is a harbinger of relentless storm seasons to come.
How Climate Change Is Killing Cities
We mourn glaciers and forests lost to climate change. Why not streets and sewers?
Europe’s Heat Pumps Put America’s to Shame
If switching one home to a heat pump improves energy efficiency, why not whole cities?
How to Save Outdoor Recess
Build more shade.
How to Cool the World Without Blocking the Sun
Microbes may help determine our climate future.
The Cost of Avoiding Microplastics
Even half measures are so expensive, they’re luxury goods.
The Next President Will Be a Climate-Disaster President
How will they help Americans deal with the extreme weather battering the country?
This Fire Is Too Close to L.A. for Comfort
Urban spillover is becoming a greater threat as wildfires grow.
The Most Personal Climate Case in the World
Did Austria’s rising temperatures violate this man’s human rights?
America’s New Climate Delusion
The U.S. could sink billions into curbing emissions without altering the fate of the places climate change affects most.
The Wildfire Risk in America’s Front Yards
If we really want to keep communities safe, we need to think about where we build, and with what.
The Corals That Survive Climate Change Will Be Unrecognizable
They have endured so much, and to endure this, they’ll have to adapt dramatically.
The Hardest Sell in American Car Culture
Ford is pivoting to small electric cars. Will a country of SUV lovers actually buy them?
Are You Sure Your House Is Worth That Much?
Climate risk is still not being priced into American homeownership.
Get Ready for Tesla Cops
Police officers are falling in love with electric cars.
America Has a Hot-Steel Problem
Railways, roads, power lines, batteries—the heat of climate change is making them all falter.
California’s Fire-Insurance Crisis Just Got Real
The Park Fire has sent homeowners falling through the state’s shredded safety net.
The Decline of America’s Public Pools
As summers get hotter, public pools help people stay cool. Why are they so neglected?
Sorry, You Need a Neck Fan
The age of heat gadgets is here.
/media/img/mt/2024/08/engber_final/original.gif)
Your Air Conditioner Is Lying to You
How does money-saver mode make sense?
The Summer Olympics Can’t Keep Up This Speed
The heat will continue to rise and slow athletes down.
Climate Change Is Shifting the Planet’s Most Basic Properties
Humans have managed to slow the Earth’s spin and shift its axis.
Shade Will Make or Break American Cities
Trees are nice and all, but they’re not enough.
California’s Fire Luck Just Ran Out
The Park Fire is already one of the 10 largest recorded in the state’s history.
The Global Temperature Just Went Bump
We’re just sticking a toe into the climatic realm of the previous interglacial period, not living in it—yet.
When Storm Prep Is Left up to Citizens
Rapidly intensifying storms have made it much harder for cities to plan their responses.
The Search for Alien Life Starts on Earth
But the places that could most help scientists find it are melting away.
The MAGA Plan to End Free Weather Reports
Project 2025 would all but dissolve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Houston Is on a Path to an All-Out Power Crisis
The city’s widespread outage is a preview of how bad things could get this hurricane season.
The Awkward Truth About Extinction
The disappearance of species is destructive, but it’s also one of the most natural, creative forces on Earth.
America Finally Has an Answer to the Biggest Problem With EVs
Used electric cars are not just cheap—they are cheaper than similar gas cars.
The Climate Is Falling Apart. Prepare for the Push Alerts.
In our era of extreme weather, this is how we’ll watch the world change.
Hurricane Beryl Is a Terrifying Omen
This season’s first major storm broke records. How bad will the rest be?