Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Filtered by: Earth & Environment
Andean volcanism, ocean fertilization, marine ecosystem turnover, and global cooling in the Late Miocene
By integrating paleontological and geochemical data with ash dispersion and Earth system models an international group of scientists shows that Andean volcanism enhanced Southern Ocean productivity, contributing to marine ecosystem turnover, global carbon cycle and the Late Miocene cooling
Greener and safer—but who gets to stay?
Climate adaptation can reduce heat and flood risk, but it can also reshape housing markets and urban inequality. Across 221 urban agglomerations in 32 African countries, we examine how sustained green-blue infrastructure expansion is linked to early-stage gentrification dynamics.
Lasers shine new light on the 70-year-old puzzle of Antarctica’s ice core thermometer
How a 3 500 km traverse across East Antarctica finally explained why one of our most important climate proxy, water isotopes from ice cores, never quite added up.
Behind The Paper: Genetic algorithm-based assessment of kinetic façade prototypes for energy optimization and user comfort: a hotel case study in Iran
Every paper tells a story but most of that story remains invisible behind the final polished version. This research began with a simple question: how can we design building façades that are not only energy-efficient, but also truly responsive to human comfort in challenging climates?
When air pollution changed the rains of the Sahel
Anthropogenic aerosol emissions in Europe and North America caused the catastrophic Sahel climate changes
Lessons learned from adaptation opportunity windows in Europe
In our recent publication we identify examples of adaptation opportunity windows in Europe, and explore how these may be better leveraged using adaptive pathways planning. In this short article we reflect on how we reached our results, and some of our lessons learned.
When drought turns urban green into urban inequality
Across 245 major U.S. cities, we found that drought and compound climate extremes do not affect urban vegetation equally. Marginalized communities often experience more severe vegetation degradation during drought, which can further increase heat exposure and deepen existing inequalities.
Why the world’s enclosed seas are on the frontline of climate change
Enclosed marginal seas are hotspots of environmental change, yet their future has been understudied. We show that these regions are warming rapidly and may shift toward near-permanent marine heatwaves under unmitigated global warming.
Using Nonthermal Plasma to Clean Diesel Exhaust for Ultra-clean Marine Power
Nonthermal plasma offers a promising route to cleaner diesel exhaust without additives such as urea. In this study, we show how surface discharge plasma can remove NOx and hydrocarbons from low-emission diesel engine exhaust, supporting ultra-clean marine power and practical emission control.
