Environment

Fast-moving wildfires in Spokane, Washington, destroy hundreds of homes: "Worst natural disaster our region has faced"

Update: Arson arrest in Spokane wildfires (see post below) . . . Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown called the wildfires burning through the area the "worst natural disaster our region has faced."

Wind-driven wildfire prompts evacuations in eastern Washington

A fast-moving wildfire driven by strong winds has swept across northwest Spokane, Washington. The Old Trails Fire jumped the Spokane River and prompted the evacuation of thousands of people.

A first-of-its-kind U.S. study suggests invasive mold infections may be an underappreciated — and potentially deadly — threat.

The researchers detected about 450 cases in Atlanta-area hospitals over five years. About a third of the patients died in the hospital.

Map Shows States Under Air Quality Alerts as Thousands Told Stay Inside

Air quality alerts spanned large swaths of the western United States on Sunday as wildfire smoke and high ozone levels triggered unhealthy breathing conditions across Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Montana, Colorado, and California.

Firefighters battle to contain France and Spain wildfires as thousands more evacuated

Firefighters are struggling to contain wildfires raging in France and Spain - nearly 200,000 people are evacuated near Bordeaux - where are the fires burning?

Wildfires expose millions in Midwest, Northeast to dangerous smoke: "Perfect storm for really dry conditions"

Heavy smoke from several large wildfires blazing in Canada and Minnesota is expected to engulf large swaths of the Midwest and Northeast U.S. this week, exposing millions of people to dangerous air pollution.

Regenerative Agriculture Forum 2026: Accelerating the Transition

The land already knows how to heal, and across the world, communities have been showing us the way. For generations, Indigenous Peoples and traditional farmers have practiced forms of regeneration that restore soils, water and biodiversity. Today, science is proving their wisdom, and markets are finally beginning to listen.

World Enters “Era of Global Water Bankruptcy” UN Scientists Formally Define New Post-Crisis Reality for Billions

Flagship report calls for fundamental reset of global water agenda as irreversible damage pushes many basins beyond recovery

A mysterious ‘cold blob’ in the ocean has puzzled scientists. A new study says it’s an ominous sign

A new study says it has the answer to this mystery — and it’s an ominous sign the world is hurtling toward one of the most alarming climate tipping points.

UN issues AI warning after new data reveals major impact on the planet and its resources

AI data centres are energy-hungry and resource-intensive, requiring huge amounts of electricity generation, cooling systems, land and water supplies

Back-to-Back Chemical Disasters Strike as Trump Seeks to Roll Back Safety Rules

But despite a spate of similar incidents over the last year, the Trump Administration is planning to roll back federal regulations designed to prevent similar disasters. Experts and environmental groups have warned that such a move would make chemical accidents far more common.

Erin Brockovich Launches Map to Track Controversial AI Data Centers, Which Reportedly Cost $25B in Environmental Damages Last Year

Erin Brockovich has launched a map to track AI data centers across the country that are impacting residents' electricity, water and even their health.

Public Health Alerts: Detection of a single measles infection using untargeted ultra-deep metagenomic sequencing of wastewater in Cook County, Illinois

The authors conclude, “The detection of measles RNA through ultra‐deep MGS of municipal wastewater appeared to capture a single case within the population of more than 1 million people and wastewater flow exceeding 300 million gallons per day.”

Valero refinery blast released 157K pounds of chemicals over 10 days, state report reveals

“They have been left in a dangerous situation." . . . The report also identified additional chemicals released during the event, including benzene, ethylene, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides — all substances that can pose health risks.

Scientists have found an alarming environmental impact of vast data centers

They found surface temperatures increased by an average of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit after a data center started operations. In extreme cases, nearby temperatures reached up to 16.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Detailed Harris County cancer prevalence maps released

Houston, Texas - Harris County Public Health has released comprehensive cancer prevalence data, including interactive maps accessible online. Brain cancer occurrence is abnormally high in much of Harris County. Environmental advocates praised county leaders for the new level of transparency.

Newer Groundwater Linked to Increased Parkinson’s Disease Risk

PD risk was 24% higher among individuals whose drinking water came from municipal groundwater systems or private wells on carbonate aquifers — the most common aquifer type in the US — compared with those whose drinking water came from all other aquifer types.

US navy accused of cover-up over dangerous plutonium in San Francisco

Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low-likelihood, study finds