Yvaine Ye

1 month ago | colorado.edu | Yvaine Ye

Warming in the Arctic is intensifying methane emissions, contributing to a vicious feedback loop that could accelerate climate change even more, according to a new study published May 7 in Nature. "Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas that we need to address urgently," said co-author Xin (Lindsay) Lan, a climate scientist at CU Boulder's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES).

1 month ago | colorado.edu | Yvaine Ye

In the world of ants, order isn’t optional. These tiny insects live in colonies with millions of others, working together as a team to forage, defend their nests and care for their young. As spring arrives, ants emerge from their winter hiding places and quickly organize themselves into perfect lines, weaving across patios, yards and kitchen floors in search of food for the colony.

2 months ago | colorado.edu | Yvaine Ye

The ocean has absorbed about 30% of carbon dioxide emissions from human activities since the Industrial Revolution, significantly slowing the pace of climate change. But as emissions continue to rise, scientists have warned that the ocean could eventually become too saturated with carbon to absorb more. Has the day arrived?

2 months ago | colorado.edu | Yvaine Ye

The electricity needs of data centers, especially those powering artificial intelligence (AI), could double worldwide by 2030, according to a new report released this month from the International Energy Agency (IEA). In the U.S., a major AI powerhouse, the forecast looks particularly stark. The IEA suggests that the country’s AI data centers will consume more power than the production of energy-intensive materials— including aluminum, steel, cement and chemicals combined— in the next five years.

2 months ago | colorado.edu | Yvaine Ye

When Hurricane Helene made landfall in the southeastern U.S. last September, it brought record-breaking rainfall to states including North Carolina, dumping as much as 2 feet of water in some rural communities. It was the hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland since 2005, killing more than 200 people. Despite authorities’ efforts to evacuate residents in the region, many people had no choice but to stay put, some due to a lack of resources or unwillingness to leave their homes or pets behind.