Author: Alex Tabibi

Understanding the Essential Role of Coral Reefs If you have had the good fortune of seeing a vibrant coral reef system let’s say ten years ago –  you should not take it for granted that they are still alive today  – or that they will be in short order. It is estimated that the oceans have absorbed as much as 90% of the energy of climate change – thus sparing us on land from even more heat that we would experience otherwise.. But the result is that below the surface finely tuned systems are suffering the significant warming of the…

Introduction to Iran’s Water Crisis This is a personal subject for me as I spent a few years in Iran as a child and I have friends who still live there and I hear their personal stories too. Today – across much of Iran, taps are running dry including in the capital, Tehran – a metropolis of 15 million people who have a sword hanging over their heads with talks of even an evacuation if rain does not come soon. Reservoirs sit low, with several at below 5% – while farmers watch as cracked earth replaces once-verdant fields, and towns…

Introduction to Global Temperature Rise Scientists released another sobering update: the world is still heading toward a 2.6°C rise in average global temperature this century. On a planetary scale, it’s enormous and in some locations the change is much greater. More importantly extreme heat events have already skyrocketed and will continue to do so – having now effectively accelerating past 1.5 degrees (which it kinda has). The difference between a livable Earth and one facing cascading environmental instability often falls within just a few degrees just like the human body. Imagine if your body is running at 2.6°C above normal.…

Facing the Heat: Understanding America’s Growing Climate Challenge As the summer sun blazes down each year, bringing with it the promise of barbecues, beach trips, and outdoor fun, there’s a darker side to this warmth that often goes unnoticed: the rising threat of extreme heat. We have all felt it – extreme heat when you start to feel bad and as if you cannot do anything to reduce your core temperature. Well, recently parts of the U.S. have experienced heat waves that are not just sweltering but sometimes deadly. The impacts of these scorching temperatures reach far beyond merely making…

Energy Policy and Fossil Fuel Promotion When you look out at the globe, you see many countries moving rapidly toward renewable sources of energy, with capacity expected to double worldwide by 2030. While this global “greenification” of energy production is often framed as a political or environmental movement, its true momentum stems from economics: solar and wind power are now among the cheapest forms of energy available, often undercutting coal and gas on price while producing far fewer emissions. Yet even as the world charts this encouraging trajectory, the second Trump administration has taken deliberate policy actions that threaten to…

Plastic-Munching Bacteria Found Across the Seven Seas Introduction to Plastic Pollution in Oceans If you’ve ever walked along a beach and spotted a tangle of plastic bottles, straws, and candy wrappers, you’ve glimpsed just a fraction of a much bigger problem. Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste flow into our oceans, forming swirling gyres of debris and breaking down into microplastics that infiltrate marine life — and eventually, our own food chain. According to recent estimates, some 170 trillion plastic particles now float across the world’s seas, a number that continues to rise as consumption outpaces cleanup efforts.…

Global Power Demand Is Surging Toward 2035 Many of us turn on the air conditioning or heating or lights without a second thought – and that quiet buzz of modern life — our devices, data centers, and climate control — all draws on an energy system now under growing strain as our need for energy globally increases from factors like developing nations using air conditioning to of course the ever accelerating demand for power from AI. According to Rystad Energy, global power demand is set to rise by almost one-third by 2035 which is an enormous leap, even for an…

Satellite Hunt for Superpollutants Wins $100 Million New Funding Not every threat to the planet is visible with some of the most powerful climate-warming gases being  colorless, odorless, and often overlooked—yet they trap heat thousands of times more effectively than carbon dioxide. These are the “superpollutants,” and a growing network of satellites is gearing up to find them from space. Recently, a coalition of climate organizations and philanthropists announced a $100 million boost to this effort, marking one of the largest investments ever made in high-tech pollution tracking with the goal being to sharpen our vision of what’s actually floating…

Understanding Outdoor Air Pollution As an ex-Oncologist who is often fixated on trends and numbers- the subject of the effects of human activity on human health is of utmost importance to me. Also given the increasing frequency of cancer it is clear that something in our environment and/or foods is increasing our chances of getting sick. We know for example that microplastics in the environment can lead to increasing rates of metabolic diseases. We also know that outdoor air pollution —  a mix of substances in the air we breathe that can harm health and the environment be it from…

Introduction to COP30 When world leaders, scientists, and activists gather in Belém, Brazil, for COP30 in 2025, they won’t just be meeting for another round of climate talks—they’ll be standing at a tipping point. COP30, short for the 30th Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), marks three decades of negotiating humanity’s response to a warming planet. These annual gatherings have shaped the global climate playbook, from the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement. The setting itself carries symbolism. Belém, a gateway to the Amazon—the planet’s largest tropical rainforest and one of Earth’s…

The Great Barrier Reef and Its Struggle for Survival Stretching more than 1,400 miles along Australia’s northeast coast, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth — so vast it’s visible from space. It’s not just a tourist magnet or a marine marvel; it’s a crucial ecosystem that supports thousands of species, from tiny plankton to giant sea turtles. But over the past decade, this natural wonder has faced an escalating crisis. Repeated mass bleaching events, fueled by rising ocean temperatures, have left large sections of the reef drained of color and life. Scientists have watched with…

There is in my opinion something that in the conversations about the environment people seldom discuss or appreciate. That is that apart from climate change – there are other important reasons to reduce fossil fuel usage with an improvement in the air quality being primary. In fact in the US alone educing air pollution could potentially save up to 6,000 lives each year by 2030. Air pollution remains a significant environmental health threat, with particles and gases like ozone and nitrogen dioxide contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. There is some growing awareness which has spurred policy initiatives and public…

The 2025 Formula One season is running red-hot—a campaign loaded with unpredictability, technical intrigue, and a rivalry that has seized every racing fan’s attention. McLaren, not long ago far closer to the back of the grid than the front, has become the architects of a narrative none imagined: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, two of the grid’s brightest young stars, are locked in a ferocious, point-for-point dogfight for the drivers’ world championship.  For the last four years, Max Verstappen has been the dominant force, ruling over the rest of the paddock with an iron fist. However, his Red Bull is…

This year marked the hottest summer on record in the UK, a chilling reminder of the impacts of climate change that extends beyond the discomfort of warmer days. As Britain sweats through its unprecedented heat waves, the possibility of such scorching summers becoming the norm raises significant concerns about the resilience of its ecosystems. With climate patterns shifting and temperatures climbing, the stress on biodiversity is intensifying, posing threats to wildlife, plant life, and the natural systems they support. Understanding the Heat Wave The summer of 2025 has been recorded as the hottest in British history, with temperatures consistently soaring…

Australia, a nation often associated with its sunburnt landscapes and vast outback, is making headlines for a different reason. The country’s evolving embrace of clean energy is capturing attention and easing long-standing concerns about power blackouts. Recent advances are not just a testament to innovation but highlight a pivotal shift in Australia’s energy landscape. Australia’s Energy Transition: A New Dawn In recent years, Australians have faced the challenge of balancing energy needs with environmental concerns. Historically, the nation heavily relied on coal, given its abundant reserves. However, as climate awareness grows and the international community places more emphasis on reducing…

It should be pretty obvious to anyone who has given this any thought whatsoever that while the EasyJet flight to Mallorca you get to via the train or on a bus  has a definite negative impact on the environment. However the one holiday a year on a commercial flight is nothing in comparison to those who take almost daily flights on their private jets and certainly it is much less than those who regularly fly for business or pleasure. Indeed the UK is known for its picturesque landscapes and bustling cities, but beneath this charm lies a pressing environmental concern.…

In the last two decades, an alarming revelation has emerged from the scientific community: deforestation has been linked to the premature deaths of approximately half a million people. This shocking figure isn’t just a number—it’s a testament to the far-reaching impacts of deforestation, which extends beyond the loss of trees to encompass profound effects on human health, ecosystems, and climate stability. This finding, unearthed by a comprehensive study, urges us all to re-evaluate our relationship with the environment and highlights the urgent need for sustainable practices. The Silent Killer: How Deforestation Contributes to Mortality Deforestation is often associated with habitat…

China, known as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is making headlines with a significant drop in emissions. However, even as this news brings a glimmer of hope in the global efforts to combat climate change, another challenge is rising. Chemicals, particularly in the form of substances with high global warming potential, are emerging as a new hotspot of concern for environmental watchers. China’s Emissions: A Decrease with Global Significance Recently, China announced a notable reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions. As reported in various sources, including governmental data, the country’s carbon emissions have been on a downward trend.…

As humanity propels itself toward an era increasingly dependent on space exploration, the environmental implications of such endeavors have become increasingly significant. A growing body of scientists is raising alarms about the pollution caused by space launches. While space endeavors promise advancement and knowledge, they also pose tangible threats to our atmosphere. The Growing Concern About Space Launch Emissions Space launches, a spectacle of modern technology, might appear clean and sleek from a distance. However, each rocket launch involves a substantial amount of fuel burning that releases particles and gases into the atmosphere. These emissions contribute notably to air pollution,…

My memories of growing up in Manchester in the North of England are made up of daily rain and drizzle with occasional horizontal winds making it all the more pleasant. On the surface, the prospect of England running out of water seems almost laughable and improbable. After all apart from our excellent cuisine and a collapsed Empire, the country maybe most famous for its rainy weather. Yet, beneath this layer of stereotype lies a worrying truth: parts of England are now indeed facing the threat of water scarcity. A combination of climate change, population growth, and inefficient water management is…