Category: Environment and Climate
Super El Niño Risk: Pacific Warming Signals Extreme Weather Ahead
NOAA warns of an 80% chance of El Niño by July, with risks of a 'super El Niño' driven by Pacific warming. Climate change amplifies threats of extreme heat and floods globally.
Environmental RNA is reshaping real-time ecosystem surveillance
Scientists are turning to environmental RNA for an immediate read on which organisms are active in lakes and rivers. Unlike DNA, which can linger for weeks, RNA breaks down quickly, giving a near real-time snapshot of ecosystem health. Early field work shows it can detect change faster, support early warnings, and reduce invasive sampling. The next hurdles: standards, handling, and tools for routine use.