Natural Disasters
How Archaeological Methods Are Helping Identify Victims of the Hawaii Wildfires
Identifying wildfire victims through DNA is difficult, but archaeological methods can help
Natural Disasters769 articles archived since 1845
Climate Change
Some Surprising Places Are at Risk of Devastating Urban Wildfires like Maui’s
Hundreds of communities across the U.S.—many in unexpected places—are at risk from an urban wildfire like the one that tore through the Hawaiian town of Lahaina
Pollution
How to Protect Yourself from Smoky Wildfire Air
As giant plumes from fires in Canada billow over the U.S., experts explain what smoke does to your health—and how to protect yourself
Natural Disasters
Americans Have Breathed More Wildfire Smoke in Eight Months Than in Entire Years
Smoke from wildfires that have been exacerbated by climate change is complicating the picture of air pollution in the U.S.
Natural Disasters
The Dangers of Wildfire Smoke
Climate change is making wildfires more likely and more intense, exposing more people to dangerous wildfire smoke. Scientists are continuing to learn how much damage that smoke can do to the environment and human health...
Natural Disasters
A Defiant Volcanologist Survived 5 Eruptions while Living on Mount Vesuvius
Luigi Palmieri, at times reckless, persevered on Vesuvius for 40 years, solidifying the nascent field of volcanology
Natural Disasters
Why a Banyan Tree Damaged in the Maui Wildfire Was So Beloved
This 150-year-old tree has been a cultural hub for Hawaii’s town of Lahaina for centuries
Natural Disasters
Wildfires Are Becoming Increasingly Devastating in Hawaii
More traditional land use and better data dissemination could help to prevent future tragedies
Natural Disasters
How Wildfires Kill People
The deadly wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, has killed dozens of people so far. Here’s how fires threaten human health
Climate Change
Maui’s Deadly Wildfires Are a Reminder of Growing Risks
Human exposure to wildfires in the U.S. more than doubled in the past two decades. A climate scientist looks at who is at risk and why
Natural Disasters
What Caused Maui’s Devastating Wildfires?
Dry conditions and strong winds set the stage for the disastrous wildfires that tore through the historic town of Lahaina and other areas of Hawaii
Epidemiology
Six Ways to Stay Safe Outdoors in Extreme Heat
As summers get hotter and longer, experts provide advice on how to survive heat-related emergencies
Climate Change
Climate Change Is Stressing Thousands of Aging Dams across the U.S.
As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of flooding, aging dams across the U.S. are becoming more in danger of breaching or overtopping
Natural Disasters
U.S. Wildfires Threaten More People Than Ever
About eight in 10 people in the highest-risk fire areas of the U.S. live in Western states, notably California. But other states such as Florida face threats, too
Natural Disasters
Earthquake Resilience in Kashmir Lies in Traditional Architecture
The Kashmir region of Asia is due for another major earthquake, and its modern architecture is ill-prepared to withstand such an event
Mental Health
Wildfires and Smoke Are Harming People’s Mental Health. Here’s How to Cope
Wildfires can have mental health impacts, both among those who are directly affected and those who find themselves under a blanket of smoke
Natural Disasters
Is Fukushima Wastewater Release Safe? What the Science Says
Radiation in water from Fukushima will be diluted to almost background levels, but some researchers are not sure this will be sufficient to mitigate the risks
Climate Change
Climate Change Has Made California’s Wildfires Five Times Bigger
New research finds that the area burned by wildfires during summer in California has increased fivefold since 1971 because of more arid conditions caused by climate change
Climate Change
Canada’s Wildfires Are a Warning of the East Coast’s Smoky Future
Ontario and Quebec could see wildfires grow more intense and frequent as a changing climate brings unusually hot and dry conditions
Natural Disasters
See How the Wildfire Smoke Spread Across the U.S.
Most of the eastern U.S. has been swathed in smoke billowing off more than 400 wildfires across Canada
