TED - Changing Climate

TED - ED

COLLECTIONS

LITERATURE

MATH IN REAL LIFE

UNDER OUR SKIN

CHANGING CLIMATE

OUT OF THIS WORLD

CAN YOU SOLVE IT?

A 40-year plan for energy - Amory Lovins In this intimate talk filmed at TED's offices, energy innovator Amory Lovins shows how to get the US off oil and coal by 2050, $5 trillion cheaper, with no Act of Congress, led by business for profit. The key is integrating all four energy-using sectors—and four kinds of innovation.

300 years of fossil fuels in 300 secondsFossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. The age of the organisms and their resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes exceeds 650 million years. Explore this lesson to learn all you ever needed to know about fossil fuels.

Phenology and nature's shifting rhythms - Regina BrinkerWith rapidly rising global temperatures come seasonal changes. As spring comes earlier for some plant species, there are ripple effects throughout the food web. Regina Brinker explains how phenology, or the natural cycles of plants and animals, can be affected by these changes.

The carbon cycle - Nathaniel ManningWhat exactly is the carbon cycle? Nathaniel Manning provides a basic look into the cyclical relationship of carbon, humans and the environment.

Time-lapse proof of extreme ice loss - James Balog Photographer James Balog shares new image sequences from the Extreme Ice Survey, a network of time-lapse cameras recording glaciers receding at an alarming rate, some of the most vivid evidence yet of climate change.

Inside an Antarctic time machine - Lee Hotz Science columnist Lee Hotz describes a remarkable project at WAIS Divide, Antarctica, where a hardy team are drilling into ten-thousand-year-old ice to extract vital data on our changing climate. Robert Lee Hotz is the science columnist for the Wall Street Journal, where he writes about cutting-edge research on climate change, cosmology, molecular medicine, the human brain and much more ... He has traveled three times to the South Pole.

The secret to rising sea levels Of the many environmental impacts imposed by climate change, rising sea levels are often discussed. The cause of this may not be as obvious as it seems. While a portion of the increase comes from the likes of melting glaciers, another more surprising phenomenon helps to explain the increase in water volume: Thermal Expansion. Check out AsapSCIENCE's video explaining this natural phenomenon.

Are GMOs good or bad?Are GMOs bad for your health? Or is this fear unfounded? Kurzgesagt investigates the impact genetic engineering has on our food.

How did the deepest part of the ocean get so polluted?The Mariana trench, the deepest place in the Pacific Ocean is also one of the most polluted places in the world. How does that happen?

Why your phone battery gets worse over time - George Zaidan

The one thing stopping jellyfish from taking over - Mariela Pajuelo & Javier Antonio Quinones Over the past two decades, jellyfish have begun to overwhelm our oceans. If things stay on their current trajectory, we could be headed for a future where the entire ocean is thick with jellyfish. So, is there anything that can keep these gelatinous creatures under control? Mariela Pajuelo and Javier Antonio Quinones take a look at the jellyfish’s most ancient predator.

Can alligators survive this apex predator? - Kenny Coogan Despite alligators ruling the swamplands of the Everglades for millennia, the last 500 years have brought deadly new predators that challenge their reign. And the origins of these international invaders are just as unexpected as their impact on the Everglades. So, what exactly is threatening this biodiverse region? Kenny Coogan explores the unique and precious ecosystem.

Which is better for you: "Real" meat or "fake" meat? - Carolyn Beans In 2021, a survey of over 1,000 Americans found that nearly two-thirds had eaten plant-based meat alternatives in the past year. Many cited potential health and environmental benefits as their motivation. But are these alternative meats actually better for us and the planet? Carolyn Beans investigates the differences between farmed meat, plant-based meat, and lab-grown meat.

How the water you flush becomes the water you drink - Francis de los Reyes In 2003, Singapore’s national water agency launched an unprecedented program to provide more than 50% of their nation’s water supply by recycling wastewater. The program had been planned for decades to ensure the island nation never ran out of clean water. But is it really safe to reuse anything we flush down the toilet? Francis de los Reyes explains the science of wastewater treatment.

What's happening to Earth's core? - Shannon Odell A hydrogen atom is traveling high within the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere. This particular atom first entered the exosphere millions of years ago, but today it overcomes Earth’s gravitational pull and escapes, joining the roughly 90 tons of material that leak out of our atmosphere each day. Should we be worried about these leaks? Shannon Odell digs into our planet’s imperfect plumbing.

Food expiration dates don’t mean what you think - Carolyn Beans Countries around the world waste huge amounts of food every year: roughly a fifth of food items in the US are tossed because consumers aren’t sure how to interpret expiration labels. But most groceries are still perfectly safe to eat past their expiration dates. If the dates on our food don’t tell us that something’s gone bad, what do they tell us? Carolyn Beans shares how to prevent food waste.

Where do your online returns go? - Aparna Mehta Do you ever order clothes online in different sizes and colors, just to try them on and then send back what doesn't work? Aparna Mehta used to do this all time, until she one day asked herself: Where do all these returned clothes go? In an eye-opening talk, she reveals the unseen world of "free" online returns and shares a plan to help put an end to this growing environmental catastrophe.

Meet the microbes that could eat your trash - Tierney Thys and Christian Sardet Each year humanity produces roughly 400 million tons of plastic, 80% of which is discarded as trash. Of that plastic waste, only one-tenth is recycled. 60% gets incinerated or goes into the landfills, and 30% leaks out into the environment. Fortunately, there are microbes that may be able to take a bite out of this growing problem. Tierney Thys and Christian Sardet explore the future of recycling.

Just add water: The garden insect that can turn into a plague - Jeffrey A. Lockwood A ravenous swarm stretches as far as the eye can see. It has no leader or strategic plan; its only goals are to eat, breed, and move on. These are desert locusts— infamous for their capacity for destruction. But most of the time desert locusts are no more dangerous than grasshoppers. So what does it take to turn these harmless insects into a crop-consuming plague? Jeffrey A. Lockwood investigates.

The surprisingly long history of electric cars - Daniel Sperling and Gil Tal By the end of the 19th century, nearly 40% of American cars were electric. But these vehicles had a few major problems — early car batteries were expensive and inefficient, and the vehicles were twice the price of a gas-powered car. And so for the next several decades, gas-powered cars dominated the market. Can electric cars reclaim their place on the road? Daniel Sperling and Gil Tal investigate.

The infamous overpopulation bet: Simon vs. Ehrlich - Soraya Field Fiorio In 1980, Paul Ehrlich and Julian Simon bet $1,000 on a question with stakes that couldn’t be higher: would the earth run out of resources to sustain a growing human population? They bet $200 on the price of five metals. If the price of a metal decreased or held steady over the next decade, Simon won. If the price increased, Ehrlich won. So, what happened? Soraya Field Fiorio investigates.

How we can detect pretty much anything - Hélène Morlon and Anna Papadopoulou Scientists have been staking out a forest in Montana for an animal that’s notoriously tricky to find. Camera traps haven’t offered definitive evidence, and experts can’t identify its tracks with certainty. But within the past decades, researchers have developed methods that can detect even the most elusive species. So how does it work? Hélène Morlon & Anna Papadopoulou dig into DNA metabarcoding.

The life cycle of a pair of jeans - Madhavi Venkatesan The first pairs of jeans were designed for durability; denim was constructed as a sturdy weave worn by sailors and miners. But over the course of the 20th century, as the demand for jeans has gone up, their durability has gone down. Today, most pairs last no longer than a year. And each new pair you buy has a much higher cost than you might think. Madhavi Venkatesan traces the life cycle of jeans.

The sharks that hunt in forests - Luka Seamus Wright Forests don’t usually come to mind as a habitat for sharks. But marine forests provide a home for 35% of the world’s sharks. Mangrove forests in particular function as an essential bridge between land and sea and have evolved various adaptations that protect them and their resident sharks. Luka Seamus Wright explores these unique and vital ecosystems.

The 4 greatest threats to the survival of humanity With the invention of the atomic bomb, humanity gained the power to destroy itself for the first time in our history. Since then, our risk of either extinction or the collapse of civilization has steadily increased. Just how likely are we to destroy ourselves? And what poses the greatest threat to our survival? Dig into four existential threats and explore how we can safeguard our future.

The world’s most dangerous fart - Nick Caruso and Dani Rabaiotti For most humans, farts are a welcome relief, an embarrassing incident, or an opportunity for a gas-based gag. But for many other creatures, farts are no laughing matter. Deep in the bowels of the animal kingdom, farts can serve as tools of intimidation, acts of self-defense, and weapons of malodorous murder. Nick Caruso and Dani Rabaiotti dig into the funky and foul world of animal flatulence.

What’s the best fuel for your car? Historically, most cars have run on gasoline, but that doesn’t have to be the case in the future: other liquid fuels and electricity can also power cars. So what are the differences between these options? And which one’s best? Dig into which fuel— gasoline, electric, biofuels, or electrofuels— is both affordable for consumers and sustainable for the planet.

How do wind turbines work? - Rebecca J. Barthelmie and Sara C. Pryor Every 24 hours, wind generates enough kinetic energy to produce roughly 35 times more electricity than humanity uses each day. And unlike coal or oil, this resource is totally renewed each day. So how can we harness this incredible amount of energy, and is it possible to create a world powered entirely by wind? Rebecca Barthelmie and Sara Pryor dig into the science of wind turbine technology.

The world’s largest organism - Alex Rosenthal The largest animal in the world is the blue whale, which weighs a massive 150 metric tons. Even so, it’s not remotely close to being the largest organism by weight. That title goes to an organism so huge that it’s estimated to weigh the equivalent of 40 blue whales. So what is this behemoth? And… where is it? Alex Rosenthal shares the story of the enormous and ancient Pando.

Which bag should you use? - Luka Seamus Wright and Imogen Ellen Napper You’ve filled up your cart and made it to the front of the grocery line when you’re confronted with yet another choice: what kind of bag should you use? It might seem obvious that plastic is bad for the environment, and that a paper bag or a cotton tote would be the better option. But is that really true? Luka Seamus Wright and Imogen Ellen Napper explore the environmental impact of each material.

Meet the bluefin tuna, the toughest fish in the sea - Grantly Galland and Raiana McKinney What’s as big as a polar bear, swallows its prey whole, and swims at forty miles an hour? It’s not a shark or a killer whale... it’s the Atlantic bluefin tuna— the largest and longest-lived of the 15 tuna species. Its unique set of adaptations make it one of the most dominant predators in the ocean. Grantly Galland and Raiana McKinney detail how these fish go from tiny hatchling to ocean giant.

What if there were 1 trillion more trees? - Jean-François Bastin Today humanity produces more than 1,400 tons of carbon every minute. To combat climate change, we need to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and draw down excess CO2 to restore the balance of greenhouse gases. Like all plants, trees consume atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis. So what can trees do to help in this fight? Jean-François Bastin digs into the efforts to restore depleted ecosystems.

Can we create the "perfect" farm? - Brent Loken About 10,000 years ago, humans began to farm. This agricultural revolution was a turning point in our history and enabled the existence of civilization. Today, nearly 40% of our planet is farmland. Spread all over the world, these lands are the pieces to a global puzzle we’re all facing: in the future, how can we feed every member of a growing population a healthy diet? Brent Loken investigates.

A brief history of plastic For centuries, billiard balls were made of ivory from elephant tusks. But when excessive hunting caused elephant populations to decline, they began to look for alternatives. John Wesley Hyatt took up the challenge. In five years, he invented a new material called celluloid, which would become known as the first plastic. Trace the history of the material that ushered in the “plastics century.”

The most horrifying parasites on the planetSpooky movies, zombies, ghost and goblins?  Who needs these scary things when we have science?  Learn more about parasites and their effects and be sure to visit the Dig Deeper section for further gross and scary nature!

What happens when nature goes viral? Pristine areas with beautiful views are wonderful and amazing to visit. But over the past few years, little known hidden treasures like Horseshoe Bend have witnessed a dramatic increase in popularity. The main culprit for that uptick? Social media. So what happens to these places when they become suddenly popular? And what can we do to help? Vox investigates.

The big-beaked, rock-munching fish that protect coral reefs - Mike GilAs the sun rises over a quiet coral reef, one animal breaks the morning silence. Named for its vibrant scales and beak-like teeth, the parrotfish devours a particularly crunchy breakfast: rocks. Why would any creature take bites out of the seafloor? Mike Gil explores how these quirky and flashy foragers play a key role in defending the essential coral reef ecosystem.

Volcanic eruption explained - Steven AndersonIn February of 1942, Mexican farmer Dionisio Pulido thought he heard thunder coming from his cornfield. However, the sound wasn’t coming from the sky. The source was a large, smoking crack emitting gas and ejecting rocks, and would come to be known as the volcano Paricutin. Where do new volcanoes like this come from, and what triggers their unpredictable eruption? Steven Anderson investigates.

3 bizarre (and delightful) ancient theories about bird migration - Lucy Cooke In 1822, Count von Bothmer shot down a stork in Germany. However, the bird had already been impaled by a yard-long wooden spear. The stork had been speared in Africa and then flew over 2,500 km. This astonishing flight proved to be an essential clue in a mystery that had plagued scientists for centuries: the seasonal disappearance of birds. Lucy Cooke digs into the discovery of bird migration.

The dark history of bananas - John Soluri In December 1910, the exiled former leader Manuel Bonilla boarded a borrowed yacht and set sail for Honduras in hopes of reclaiming power by whatever means necessary. Bonilla had a powerful backer: the notorious organization known throughout Latin America as “El Pulpo.” It was a U.S. corporation trafficking in, of all things, bananas. John Soluri investigates the United Fruit Company.

Is the weather actually becoming more extreme? - R. Saravanan From 2016 to 2019, the world saw record-breaking heat waves, rampant wildfires, and the longest run of category 5 tropical cyclones on record. The number of extreme weather events has been increasing for the last 40 years, and current predictions suggest that trend will continue. So, is the increase in extreme weather due to random chance, or changing climate? R. Saravanan investigates.

“What happened when we all stopped” narrated by Jane GoodallAs millions around the world shelter at home, the smog melts away, the birds sing, and the waters run clear. What if we used this moment in our lives and in history as an opportunity to jumpstart the rebirth and rewilding of our planet when we go back to work and school? This moment can lead us to a healthier, cleaner, greener future, if only we grasp it. Tom Rivett-Carnac tells the story of what happened when we all stopped.

Why bats don't get sick - Arinjay Banerjee Consider a bat that is infected with several deadly viruses, including ones that cause rabies, SARS, and Ebola. While this diagnosis would be lethal for other mammals, the winged wonder is totally unfazed, and may even spend the next 30 years living as if this were totally normal— because for bats, it is. So what’s protecting bats from these dangerous infections? Arinjay Banerjee investigates.

The life cycle of a cup of coffee - A.J. Jacobs How many people does it take to make a cup of coffee? For many of us, all it takes is a short walk and a quick pour. But this simple staple is the result of a globe-spanning process whose cost and complexity are far greater than you might imagine. AJ Jacobs traces the journey of this caffeinated elixir from seed to cup.

Why do bats carry so many diseases? (like coronavirus) Many of the world's scariest viruses come from bats, yet these viruses have little effect on the bats themselves. Why is this the case? Secondly, how do these viruses move from bats to humans?

Fabulous food chains Think of your body as a complex battery that has to be recharged on a daily basis to work at it's best. Where does the energy come from? In this lesson we will discover how the sun's rays provide enough energy to start and sustain the entire food chain that sustains and powers you.

Can the ocean run out of oxygen? - Kate SlaboskyFor most of the year, the Gulf of Mexico is teeming with marine life, from tiny crustaceans to massive whales. But every summer, disaster strikes. Around May, animals begin to flee the area. And soon, creatures that can’t swim or can’t swim fast enough begin to suffocate and die off in massive numbers. What's going on? Kate Slabosky dives into the lethal conditions that create dead zones.

What if all the ice melted on Earth?My grade 6 class was discussing climate change as part of our Science course, and I asked this question. What one species could we afford to lose to make the planet a better place? A student puts her hand up and says, "Us." The class then began to look at all of the things humans(Us) have done to this planet which have negatively impacted it. All agreed-either we have to change or we will all go.

The wildly complex anatomy of a sneaker - Angel ChangAustralians call them “runners." The British know them as “trainers.” Americans refer to them as “sneakers.” Whatever you call them, these casual shoes are worn by billions of people around the world. Today, roughly 23 billion shoes are produced each year. So, how can we balance our love of sneakers with the need for sustainability? Angel Chang explores how shoe manufacturing impacts our planet.

What happens if you cut down all of a city's trees? - Stefan AlBy 2050, it’s estimated that over 65% of the world will be living in cities. We may think of nature as being unconnected to our urban spaces, but trees have always been an essential part of successful cities. Humanity has been uncovering these arboreal benefits since the creation of our first cities thousands of years ago. So what makes trees so important to a city’s survival? Stefan Al explains.

This sea creature breathes through its butt - Cella WrightIs it a fuzzy sock? An overripe banana? A moldy tube of toothpaste? No! In fact, it’s a humble sea cucumber: a brainless, fleshy form surrounding a digestive tract, and bookended by a mouth and an anus. And while it might look odd, its daily toil paves the way for entire ecosystems to thrive. Cella Wright journeys to the bottom of the ocean to explore the lives of these sausage-shaped wonders.

Why don't we throw trash in volcanoes? Humans make a lot of garbage, and we don’t have any perfect solutions for what to do with it. So instead of putting it under the ground, why don’t we just throw it into the volcanoes? SciShow explores the major reasons as to why this isn’t the best idea.

Vultures: The acid-puking, plague-busting heroes of the ecosystem - Kenny CooganIn the African grasslands, a gazelle suffering from tuberculosis takes its last breath. The animal's corpse threatens to infect the water, but for the vulture, this isn't a problem: it's a feast. With a stomach of steel that can digest diseased meat and waste, vultures are essential to removing dangerous pathogens from ecosystems. Kenny Coogan explores the importance of the desert's cleanup crew.

Licking bees and pulping trees: The reign of a wasp queen - Kenny CooganAs the sun rises, something royal stirs inside a pile of firewood. It's the wasp queen; one of thousands who mated in late autumn and hibernated through the winter. Now she must emerge into the spring air to begin her reign. This queen is the lone survivor of her old hive, and now, she must become the foundress of a new one. Kenny Coogan details a year in the life of a wasp queen.

What if all the sea water became fresh water? Where do you go to quench your thirst? The kitchen sink? The local bar? The mineral-rich springs of Bergamo, Italy? In the 21st century, you don’t have to go that far for fresh water. But still, supply is running out. What if we didn’t have to worry about water consumption? What If investigates.

Underwater farms vs. Climate change - Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Megan DavisFor billions of people, seafood provides a significant source of protein and nutrition, but over half the seafood we eat isn’t caught in the wild, it’s grown through aquaculture. Farmed seafood is one of the fastest-growing food industries, but the farming methods echo the problems we’ve seen in industrial agriculture. Is there a way to sustainably farm the ocean? Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Megan Davis investigate.

Why can't we get power from waves? The ocean is covered with literal waves of energy, and if we could convert this energy into electricity, we could power all of humanity’s electrical needs. But for now, that’s just a dream. MinuteEarth dives into why we haven’t been able to harness the power of waves.

What's the difference between weather and climate? We have weather and we have climate… but are they the same thing? The short answer is no, but they are both incredibly important to how the geosphere is shaped. Crash Course dives into the differences between weather and climate.

How to grow a glacier - M JacksonIn the 13th century, Genghis Khan embarked on a mission to take over Eurasia, swiftly conquering countries and drawing them into his empire. But, legend has it that there was one obstacle that even he couldn’t overcome: a towering wall of ice, grown by locals across a mountain pass. M Jackson explores the ancient methods of growing glaciers and how they can be used to combat climate change.

The disarming case to act right now on climate change - Greta Thunberg In this passionate call to action, 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg explains why, in August 2018, she walked out of school and organized a strike to raise awareness of global warming, protesting outside the Swedish parliament and grabbing the world's attention.

Are we running out of clean water? - Balsher Singh SidhuDespite water covering 71% of the planet’s surface, more than half the world’s population endures extreme water scarcity for at least one month a year. Current estimates predict that by 2040, up to 20 more countries could be experiencing water shortages. These statistics raise a startling question: is the Earth running out of clean water? Balsher Singh Sidhu takes a closer look at water consumption.

The environmental cost of free two-day shipping You place an order online and are offered many delivery options. Who wouldn't choose the fastest option? After all, you want that product as soon as feasibly possible. But, which delivery choice is best for the environment? Vox takes a closer look. 

Are GMOs good or bad?Are GMOs bad for your health? Or is this fear unfounded? Kurzgesagt investigates the impact genetic engineering has on our food.

When will the next ice age happen? - Lorraine LisieckiThroughout Earth’s history, climate has varied greatly. For hundreds of millions of years, the planet had no polar ice caps. Without this ice, the sea level was 70 meters higher. At the other extreme, about 700 million years ago, Earth became almost entirely covered in ice, during an event known as “Snowball Earth.” What causes these swings in the planet’s climate? Lorraine Lisiecki investigates.

Can 100% renewable energy power the world? - Federico Rosei and Renzo RoseiEvery year, the world uses 35 billion barrels of oil. This massive scale of fossil fuel dependence pollutes the earth, and it won’t last forever. On the other hand, we have abundant sun, water and wind, which are all renewable energy sources. So why don’t we exchange our fossil fuel dependence for an existence based only on renewables? Federico Rosei and Renzo Rosei describe the challenges.

How long will human impacts last? - David BielloImagine aliens land on Earth a million years from now. What will these curious searchers find of us? They will find what geologists, scientists, and other experts are increasingly calling the Anthropocene, or new age of mankind. David Biello explains how the impacts that humans have made have become so pervasive, profound, and permanent that some geologists believe we merit our own epoch.

The science of smog - Kim PreshoffOn July 26, 1943, Los Angeles was blanketed by a thick gas that stung people’s eyes and blocked out the Sun. Panicked residents believed their city had been attacked using chemical warfare. But the cloud wasn’t an act of war. It was smog. So what is this thick gray haze actually made of? And why does it affect some cities and not others? Kim Preshoff details the science behind smog.

Meet The Frog That Barfs Up Its BabiesThese extinct frogs used to barf up their babies—and now scientists are trying to bring them back from the dead. Here's the scoop from Gross Science.

Neil deGrasse Tyson Replies to Lincoln's Gettysburg AddressIn 2015, the astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson accepted the National Academy of Science's most prestigious award. His acceptance speech makes the argument for ensuring that science plays a big role in policymaking. Inspired by the short and eloquent Gettysburg Address, Dr. Tyson makes his case in just 272 words. Check out GatesNotes for more videos on the relationship between science and society. 

What would happen if the world went vegetarian?What would the planet look like if everyone became a vegetarian right now? AsapSCIENCE takes a look at the numbers.

Living with Less WaterThe Western United States has been suffering from a drought for approximately 15 years, which has particularly impacted California's groundwater and reservoirs. Communities and farmers in California are facing a future with less water. In this lesson, watch a film about a California farming town affected by the drought and explore the effects of environmental change.

The complicated journey of marine plastic pollution Welcome to the Plastic Vagabond: a short film co-produced by Parafilms and Tara Expeditions with help from the Conservation Media Group that follows the journey of marine plastic pollution and encourages people to take action. The original idea and scenario in this video was created by Christian Sardet and Tierney Thys.

Can wildlife adapt to climate change? - Erin EastwoodWith rising temperatures and seas, massive droughts, and changing landscapes, successfully adapting to climate change is increasingly important. For humans, this can mean using technology to find solutions. But for some plants and animals, adapting to these changes involves the most ancient solution of all: evolution. Erin Eastwood explains how animals are adapting to climate change.

The terrifying truth about bananasYes, we might eventually have no bananas.  Is it really true?  Why are bananas, as we know them, now under the threat of extinction?  Can the fate of the Cavendish banana be changed?

Why the Arctic is climate change's canary in the coal mine - William ChapmanThe Arctic may seem like a frozen and desolate environment where nothing ever changes. But the climate of this unique and remote region can be both an early indicator of the climate of the rest of the Earth and a driver for weather patterns across the globe. William Chapman explains why scientists often describe the Arctic as the “canary in the coal mine” when it comes to climate change.

How to create cleaner coal - Emma BryceIt takes a lot of fuel to heat our homes, preserve our food, and power our gadgets. And for 40 percent of the world, cheap, plentiful coal gets the job done. But coal also releases pollutants into the air, causing environmental damage like acid rain and serious health problems. Can we create a cleaner version of coal? Emma Bryce details the three ways we might strip coal of its foul forces.

Is our climate headed for a mathematical tipping point? - Victor J. DonnayScientists have warned that as CO2 levels in the atmosphere rise an increase in Earth’s temperature by even two degrees could lead to catastrophic effects across the world. But how can such a tiny, measurable change in one factor lead to huge, unpredictable changes elsewhere? Victor J. Donnay uses billiards to illustrate tipping points, chaotic motion and their implications on climate change.

Cloudy climate change: How clouds affect Earth's temperature - Jasper KirkbyAs the Earth’s surface temperature gradually rises, it has become vital for us to predict the rate of this increase with as much precision as possible. In order to do that, scientists need to understand more about aerosols and clouds. Jasper Kirkby details an experiment at CERN that aims to do just that.

How quantum mechanics explains global warming - Lieven ScheireYou’ve probably heard that carbon dioxide is warming the Earth. But how exactly is it doing it? Lieven Scheire uses a rainbow, a light bulb and a bit of quantum physics to describe the science behind global warming.

A guide to the energy of the Earth - Joshua M. SneidemanEnergy is neither created nor destroyed — and yet the global demand for it continues to increase. But where does energy come from, and where does it go? Joshua M. Sneideman examines the many ways in which energy cycles through our planet, from the sun to our food chain to electricity and beyond.

Climate change: Earth's giant game of Tetris - Joss FongThere's a game of Tetris happening on a global scale: The playing space is planet Earth, and all those pesky, stacking blocks represent carbon dioxide -- a greenhouse gas that is piling up ever more rapidly as we burn the fossil fuels that run our cars, factories and power plants. Joss Fong outlines how this overload of CO2 leads to climate change and reminds us that, unlike Tetris, we won't get an opportunity to start over and try again.

The science behind a climate headline - Rachel Pike In 4 minutes, atmospheric chemist Rachel Pike provides a glimpse of the massive scientific effort behind the bold headlines on climate change, with her team -- one of thousands who contributed -- taking a risky flight over the rainforest in pursuit of data on a key molecule.

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