Carbon future in black and white
<p>Making sense of recent energy trends can seem like a high-stakes Rorschach test. Some experts see the boom in renewable energy and the shift away from coal in many countries as evidence that the world
Jeff Tollefson
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The hostile ocean that slowed climate change
<p>The waters of the Southern Ocean have absorbed much of the excess heat and carbon generated by humanity.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.nature.com/news/how-much-longer-can-antarctica-s-hostile-ocean-delay-global-warming-1.20978"
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Dry Amazon could see record fire season
The Amazon is ready to burn. After an unusually dry rainy season, the southern section of the rainforest is heading into winter with the largest moisture deficit since 1998. This has set the stage for
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Nuclear summit a test for Obama's legacy
US president pushed world to secure radioactive materials, but the threat of nuclear warfare — and terrorism — remains.
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2015 declared the hottest year on record
It’s official: 2015 was the hottest year on record. Global data show that a powerful El Niño, marked by warmer waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean, helped to drive atmospheric temperatures well past 2014's
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Nations approve historic global climate accord
<p>When the gavel came down for the final time at the climate summit in Paris on 12 December, representatives from 195 countries erupted into cheers. They had approved a landmark plan to combat climate
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Millennium Villages Project launches retrospective analysis
<p>The Millennium Villages Project (MVP) stands out among development efforts in Africa. Since its launch in 2004, it has attracted generous donations and high-wattage supporters — including Hollywood
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Can randomized trials eliminate global poverty?
<p>A new generation of economists is trying to transform global development policy through the power of randomized controlled trials.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.nature.com/news/can-randomized-trials-eliminate-global-poverty-1.18176"
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Methane leaks erode green credentials of natural gas
Scientists are once again reporting alarmingly high methane emissions from an oil and gas field, underscoring questions about the environmental benefits of the boom in natural-gas production that is transforming
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Megacities move to track emissions
Scientists monitor greenhouse gases in urban areas as a first step to gauging success of climate initiatives worldwide.