Climate

Better or Worse

The AI Boom Will Increase US Carbon Emissions—but It Doesn’t Have To

A new analysis finds that data centers’ energy demands will drastically increase power plant emissions over the next decade. Renewables, though, could cut them while helping keep prices from rising.

Sun Stroke

China’s Renewable Energy Revolution Is a Huge Mess That Might Save the World

Hot One

The Oceans Just Keep Getting Hotter

Regulations and Solutions

Chinese EV Batteries Are Eating the World

China’s lithium batteries aren’t always “made in China.” Companies like BYD and CATL are building factories on nearly every continent.

The Earth Is Nearing an Environmental Tipping Point

Today’s global coral bleaching events are the worst kind of climate warning.

The Environmental and Human Rights Costs of China’s Clean Energy Investments Abroad

Chinese companies have pledged hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy manufacturing investments overseas, but the projects are having significant social, environmental, and human rights impacts.

The Doomsday Glacier Is Getting Closer and Closer to Irreversible Collapse

An analysis of the expansion of cracks in the Thwaites Glacier over the past 20 years suggests that a total collapse could be only a matter of time.

Oceans and Waterways

The Best Water Leak Detectors for Your Home

Don’t let busted pipes or an overflowing washing machine dampen your day. These WIRED-tested smart water sensors can help you catch problems quicker.

People Who Drink Bottled Water on a Daily Basis Ingest 90,000 More Microplastic Particles Each Year

Drinking water in plastic bottles contains countless particles too small to see. New research finds that people who drink water from them on a daily basis ingest far more microplastics than those who don’t.

How the Next Big Thing in Carbon Removal Sank Without a Trace

With support from Microsoft, Stripe, and Shopify, Running Tide billed itself as on the cutting edge of carbon removal. In the end, it resorted to dumping thousands of tons of wood chips in the sea.