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Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NASA image reveals shocking transformation of world's largest iceberg: 'Thousands of ... pieces litter the ocean's surface'
A massive slab of ice that has been drifting through Antarctic waters is crumbling into smaller pieces, and it's happening just off the coast of a wildlife refuge. According to Live Science, the breakup of iceberg A23a, which is visible via satellite, could have damaging effects on fragile marine ecosystems. A23a is currently the largest iceberg in the world, with a surface area of about 1,200 square miles. Since breaking off Antarctica's mainland in 1986, A23a has made its way toward the territory of South Georgia, becoming stuck about 60 miles off its coast, according to Live Science. South Georgia's shallow waters and weather are chipping away at the iceberg. Earlier this month, NASA's Aqua satellite found multiple broken pieces in the sea, along with a surface area that has decreased "considerably" since the iceberg got stuck. According to NASA, "Thousands of iceberg pieces litter the ocean surface near the main berg, creating a scene reminiscent of a dark starry night." Ice shelves sometimes break off naturally, forming icebergs that can last decades. But the typical formation and breaking patterns of ice shelves have accelerated. According to glaciers have been shrinking each year for 37 years. Scientists and experts attribute much of this phenomenon to rising temperatures from human activities. Rising temperatures supercharge extreme weather, causing hurricanes and storms to be more powerful and dangerous. Stronger storms often lead to changing sea levels and ocean flow patterns. Warmer weather can also increase water temperature. Together, these forces create a perfect recipe for icebergs to break apart. Here's the problem with ice melt: Its impact doesn't usually stay local. When massive icebergs like A23a break apart and melt, sea levels around the world can rise. Higher seas cause higher tides that push water into coastal neighborhoods, flooding roads, damaging homes, and contaminating water supplies. The shift in ocean patterns and temperatures can also disrupt fisheries and agriculture, affecting food supplies that people around the world rely on. Other animals could feel the effects, too. A23a is breaking off near a wildlife refuge that's home to numerous species. According to Oceanwide Expeditions, South Georgia is home to the one of the largest global populations of king penguins. An iceberg and its broken pieces invading their space could disrupt their ability to reach feeding sites, per Dr. Andrew Meijers, an oceanographer at British Antarctic Survey. However, Meijers adds that as long as A23a stays where it currently is, penguin populations shouldn't be affected. The underlying cause of rapid ice melt is rising temperatures from human activities, such as driving gas-powered vehicles and using polluting energy sources like coal and oil. Scientists and policymakers are focusing on cutting down on these drivers through climate agreements, like the Paris Agreement, and promoting cleaner energy alternatives, like solar and wind energy. Scientists also use satellites to monitor icebergs, tracking their changes over time to understand their effects on sea levels, wildlife habitats, and communities. Individuals can explore critical climate issues to learn how everyday choices, from using energy-efficient appliances to choosing to walk instead of driving, can lead to a healthier planet and help slow the retreat of vulnerable ice shelves. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Homeowners reeling as staggering new cost sweeps across thousands of zip codes — here's what's behind the surge
Homeowners across Texas are feeling the financial squeeze as insurance premiums skyrocket, and extreme weather is a major driver. A recent report from the Consumer Federation of America found that Texas has the sixth-highest average home insurance premiums in the U.S., at nearly $4,800. In the Dallas area, it's even worse — $4,900 a year, a 32% jump since 2021, according to the Dallas Morning News. Why? More destructive storms, rising construction costs, and loose state oversight are all playing a part. Texas experienced a 27% increase in premiums over just three years, according to the Dallas Morning News. The national average increase? $648. Insurers hiked rates in 95% of ZIP codes, costing U.S. homeowners an estimated $21 billion more in 2024 compared to 2021, as noted by the report. And as climate disasters pile up, things could get worse. In 2024, the U.S. was hit with 27 billion-dollar weather disasters that totaled nearly $183 billion in damages, according to Insurers have responded by raising rates or pulling out of states like Texas, California, and Florida, citing unsustainable risk. "One of the reasons behind this sharp premium hike is due to the rise of extreme weather events, such as tornados, hail, and severe winds and storms," Sharon Cornelissen, the director of housing for the Consumer Federation of America, said in a statement to the Dallas Morning News. This crisis doesn't just impact insurance. For many, coverage is the only thing keeping them in their homes, especially with most lenders requiring it. Without affordable options, more families could be forced to leave the places they've lived for generations. Officials are scrambling to stabilize markets, even relaxing rules to keep insurers in-state. But these short-term fixes may not be enough as climate risks grow. The root of the crisis is our changing climate, fueled by burning dirty energy like oil and gas. But there's hope. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Global renewable energy capacity grew by 50% in 2023, and Americans now have more access than ever to solar panels and community clean energy programs — many of which come with incentives and savings. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Severe weather season begins at near-record pace in March, April
Peoria, Ill. (WMBD) — The start of the 2025 severe weather season is off to a near record start thanks to repeated rounds of severe storms in March and early April. Even in Illinois, our tornado count is quickly approaching out yearly average and peak tornado season has just begun. According to the Storm Prediction Center there have been 492 preliminary tornado reports across the country in 2025. Mississippi with 92 tornado reports leads the way with Missouri and Illinois following behind with 57 and 55 reports respectively. These reports from SPC are just preliminary and the actual number of confirmed tornadoes is likely a bit less. For instance, the National Weather Service in Lincoln says that so far there have only been 43 confirmed tornadoes across the state of Illinois. The discrepancy comes duplicate reports of the same tornado or gustnadoes that have been misidentified. The official count comes after the NWS has gone out and completed damage surveys to verify where tornadoes have actually occurred. Based on SPC's preliminary reports, this is the third fastest start to tornado season since 2010. Through April 8th, the country experienced 536 tornadoes in 2017, 530 tornadoes in 2023, and 492 in 2025. The fast start to severe weather season hasn't been overly surprising as the Spring Outlook suggested an active pattern, and a pattern that's likely to continue. Research has linked La Niña winters, which we experienced this winter, to increased tornado activity across portions of the Midwest. In a 2017 blog on the ENSO Blog team was able to show how both El Niño and La Niña tend to influence the environment for hail and tornadoes. This research found that more favorable environments for tornadoes and hail were more frequent across the Mississippi River Valley during a La Niña influenced pattern compared to El Niño. We've had a nice break for severe weather this week but the pattern could once again turn more favorable for severe weather towards the later half of the month, so enjoy it while it's here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors are making big strides against an age-old killer: 'We are excited'
A new one-dose malaria vaccine has demonstrated 90% protection against the disease, which kills more than half a million people globally each year. News Medical Life Sciences reported on Sanaria's PfSPZ-LARC2 vaccine, which uses genetically weakened parasites that replicate in the liver but halt progression before reaching the blood stage to ensure that vaccinated individuals do not experience malaria-related symptoms. Clinical trials of PfSPZ are scheduled to start this year in the U.S., Germany, and Burkina Faso, with hopes for global deployment in the next three years. When you're choosing health and beauty products, which of these factors is most important to you? Cost Brand name Ingredients Packaging Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The vaccine comes at a critical moment. Scientists say warming global temperatures are creating the perfect conditions for mosquito populations to thrive and expand, increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, Zika, and dengue. For instance, malaria risk zones have reached higher elevations in the Ethiopian Highlands due to rising temperatures, according to Meanwhile, a recent study predicted that several mosquito species' populations will expand their ranges in North and South America in the coming years thanks to warming weather trends. Though considered a breakthrough, the new malaria vaccine isn't the first. A pilot program testing a GSK-produced vaccine in Africa resulted in a 13% decrease in deaths due to this disease among young children over a four-year period. In early 2024, Cameroon became the first nation to launch a mass vaccination campaign against malaria. Sanaria CEO Stephen L. Hoffman said the company's new PfSPZ-LARC2 vaccine is "expected to be our flagship going forward," according to News Medical Life Sciences Professor Sodiomon Sirima of Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé, who is the principal investigator on the upcoming Burkina Faso trial, added, "We are excited about assessing PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine in Burkina Faso, as it is the only malaria vaccine in development that has the potential of achieving the WHO goal of at least 90% protection against Pf infection." Pf, or Plasmodium falciparum, is the deadliest malaria parasite. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Life-saving drug trials halted after unexpected move by US government: 'Our priority remains the safety and care of participants'
The U.S. funding freeze on international aid has put the development of an anti-malaria drug in jeopardy. Scientists at Oxford University in England halted trials on two innovative malaria vaccines in January after the Trump administration put a 90-day pause on USAID payments. The Telegraph reported on the news, explaining that these vaccines aim to stop the malaria infection from reaching the blood, the most severe stage of the disease. At least 42 volunteers had started a vaccine trial, with some receiving the experimental vaccine within the month leading up to the trial stoppage. The trial was not expected to continue if aid was not received, meaning that volunteers would have put themselves at risk unnecessarily, the publication added. Though rare, possible risks for trial participants included anaphylactic shock and Guillain-Barré syndrome, according to documents cited by the outlet. "We are aware of the current issues affecting USAID funding and are monitoring developments," the university told the Telegraph, which also indicated funding might come from other sources if needed. "Our priority remains the safety and care of participants in any trials." In early March, Reuters reported that some decisions to withdraw U.S. funding would be reversed — and that "work on the USAID-funded supply chain for malaria drugs, nets and tests could also restart." A federal judge has also ruled that the U.S. must make payments to some foreign aid contractors and grant recipients. However, it was not immediately clear if U.S. funding or funding from other sources would fully restore the Oxford trials. Malaria killed close to 600,000 people in 2023, the Telegraph reported in December, and many of them are children in Africa. Scientists have said malaria rates may surge, at least in some places, as warming global temperatures and wetter weather in many areas are creating the perfect conditions for disease-carrying mosquitoes to thrive and expand their territory. For instance, malaria has reached higher elevations in the Ethiopian Highlands due to rising temperatures, according to Plus, a recent study predicts that several mosquito species' populations will expand their ranges in North and South America in the coming years, thanks to warming weather trends. Another vector-borne disease, dengue, exploded in 2024, with the World Mosquito Program calling it the "worst year for dengue cases on record." When you're choosing health and beauty products, which of these factors is most important to you? Cost Brand name Ingredients Packaging Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Scientists are working on a handful of vaccines to help beat malaria. For instance, one vaccine that was deployed during a four-year pilot program in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi resulted in a 13% decrease in malaria-related deaths among young children. Meanwhile, scientists are also working to stop mosquito populations from expanding. For instance, one team in Florida is using special X-rays to wipe out invasive mosquitoes that carry dengue, Zika, and other illnesses. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
