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Why meteorologists are comparing Storm Éowyn to a bomb

Storm Éowyn has unleashed strong and damaging winds over the British Isles, and particularly over Ireland and Scotland.

The Conversation · Jan 24, 2025

How solar storms play havoc with our lives

Despite the 150 million kilometres that separate it from the Earth, the Sun does more than just light our way: it also impacts our electricity networks, and even our transport.

The Conversation · Jul 25, 2024

Why Storm Ciarán's winds were so strong

Storm Ciarán made landfall in southern regions of the UK during the evening of November 1, 2023. The UK’s Met Office issued amber weather warnings for November 2 in specific areas in the south of the UK, cautioning about high winds. This amber alert represents the second-highest level in the…

The Conversation · Nov 3, 2023

New research reveals that wildfires can influence El Niño

Wildfire is a phenomenon that has affected pretty much every vegetated environment on Earth for millions of years. However, during the past few decades, the planet has been experiencing extraordinary wildfire activity, with widespread devastation in diverse places such as the Mediterranean, North and South America, Southeast Asia, Australia and…

The Conversation · Aug 1, 2022

Lifesaving maternal health services are so close, yet so far for pregnant women living in sub-Saharan Africa’s largest metropolis

Every year around the world, 295,000 women die due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Seven in 10 of these maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. These deaths are usually caused by excessive bleeding, infection, high blood pressure, obstructed labour and abortion. Many are preventable, especially when pregnant women can…

The Conversation · Jul 24, 2022

How trade regulations may be opening up a new era of sustainable growth in the Global South

You may or may not have noticed from the headlines of the past years: in our interconnected world the food systems are increasingly under pressure.

The Conversation · Jul 19, 2022

Removing alien plants can save water: we measured how much

Humans’ relationship with nature is broken. We’re transforming the Earth so dramatically that almost one million plant and animals species face extinction. Losing species unravels the tapestry of nature, changing how ecosystems function and, ultimately, damaging society too.

The Conversation · May 4, 2022

Behind French election tweets, the far right is hidden in plain sight

During the 2017 French presidential election, Emmanuel Macron was the darling of digital democracy. With his calls for a “startup nation,” the future head of state placed technology at the centre not only of his programme but also of his campaign.

The Conversation · Apr 8, 2022

A billion of the world's most climate-vulnerable people live in informal settlements – here's what they face

Flooding is common in informal settlements in Bwaise, a neighbourhood in the Ugandan capital Kampala. Bwaise’s residents are largely excluded from planning and local decision-making processes, and have poor housing and limited access to sanitation and other essential services.

The Conversation · Mar 22, 2022

Clearing alien trees can help reduce climate change impact on Cape Town's water supply

Droughts in water scarce regions are being aggravated by human-driven climate change. While rainfall reduction is the main driver, increased temperature and evaporation can also play a role.

The Conversation · Mar 14, 2022