SciAm.com - Earth & Environment

January 25, 2023

I will never fail to be amazed by how much we can learn about the inner workings of our planet, a place we are unable to visit directly and must learn about through other clues. In the latest news, there are some indications that the Earth’s inner core might be slowing down. Find out how scientists figured that out in the story below.

Andrea Thompson, Associate Editor, Sustainability
@AndreaTWeather

Geology

Why Earth's Inner Core May Be Slowing Down

The planet’s solid inner core might rotate at a different rate than the rest of the planet, and that rate might be changing

By Stephanie Pappas

Climate Change

Solving Cement's Massive Carbon Problem

New techniques and novel ingredients can greatly reduce the immense carbon emissions from cement and concrete production

By Mark Fischetti,Nick Bockelman,Wil V. Srubar

Climate Change

Temperatures in One of Earth's Coldest Corners Are the Highest in 1,000 Years

Temperatures in north-central Greenland are the highest in at least a millennium, contributing to ice melt that is raising global sea levels

By Chelsea Harvey,E&E News

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Energy

Government Researchers Aim for Better--And Cheaper--Batteries

Department of Energy researchers are partnering with battery manufacturers to help them find new ways to make cheap batteries that can store a lot of energy

By John Fialka,E&E News

Climate Change

We Can't Solve Our Climate Problems without Removing Their Main Cause: Fossil-Fuel Emissions

“Realists” argue that climate plans need to accommodate oil and gas, but that only perpetuates the climate crisis

By Naomi Oreskes

Natural Disasters

Upstart Flood-Damage Insurer Could Pay Claims within Hours

Sensors installed on clients’ buildings detect water levels and immediately trigger the claims process

By Avery Ellfeldt,E&E News

Climate Change

Global Carbon Removal Efforts Are Off Track for Meeting Climate Goals

Carbon removal is an “unavoidable” part of global climate action, but a new report finds that current efforts aren’t enough to meet the warming limits set by the Paris climate agreement

By Chelsea Harvey,E&E News

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"You wake up at 4 a.m. in the middle of the night and you smell burning rubber. There was even an [asthma] episode where I had to call the paramedics because of it."

Breanne Cook, resident living near Alabama landfill fire, WBRC

FROM THE ARCHIVE