Environment and energy

Editor's choice

Clouding over: the clouds that defy climate models

Martin Ryle: an energy visionary

Alan Cottey looks at the life of Nobel-prize-winner Martin Ryle – celebrated astronomer, renewable-energy advocate and peace activist

The curious case of the porpoises and the wind farm

Short film investigates the Dutch wind farm loved (for now) by marine wildlife

Research headlines

Wave concentrator could help capture renewable energy from the sea

New device focusses wave energy and minimizes reflections

How does exclusively grass-fed beef affect the environment?

Only a reduction in beef consumption can guarantee lower environmental impact

Illustration of carbon dioxide emissions

African climate research infrastructure gears up

SEACRIFOG project finds need for extra greenhouse gas monitoring stations

Huge vegetation change could affect Earth

Humans could be about to trigger a huge vegetation change and disrupt their own environment. It has happened before, but this time it is happening fast

World map showing timescales of pink noise emergence in climate data

Climate data exhibit pink noise

Feature is due to natural climate variability, study finds

South America’s cities are not expanding most

Human infrastructure growing fastest in towns of less than 50,000 and remote rural areas

Elliott on Energy

The long goodbye to fossil fuel: what’s the best strategy for renewable energy?

Whatever happened to carbon capture?

Explore our special collection of videos and articles highlighting the latest interdisciplinary research on local and global environmental challenges, plus solutions for creating more sustainable technologies and societies

Video showcase

New Orleans resident during a flood event

Testing the waters in New Orleans

Faces of Physics: working in green energy

Water
Video

Mexico City’s troubled relationship with water

Video abstracts from Environmental Research Letters

Water
Video

Estimating Lake Urmia’s recovery

Abstract image of mountains, grass and forest. Courtesy: istock/suprun

Grasslands may be more reliable carbon sinks than forests in California

Photo of Amazon rainforest (Courtesy: iStock/edsongrandisoli)

Quantifying changes in carbon stocks and forest structure from Amazon degradation

Latest articles

Smartphone apps shake up earthquake early-warning systems

Lucina Melesio examines how companies in Mexico are developing earthquake early-warning smartphone apps to help save lives

Animation of 19 September 2017 earthquake in Central Mexico

19 September 2017 Central Mexico earthquake examined

Mexico City's unique seismic situation leaves it vulnerable to earthquake hazards

Dealing with hurricane hazards now and in the future

Why US building regulations are struggling with hurricane-related flood hazards

Multifunctional carbon fibres could provide energy storage in the body of future cars. Courtesy of Chalmers University of Technology

Multifunctional carbon fibres enable massless energy storage

Studies reveal potential for battery functionality in structural features of vehicles

Renewable energy could green Sahara

Wind and solar farms would increase rainfall, study finds

Martin Ryle’s vision of renewable energy, what twistronics could do for us, big-G remains elusive

Physics World journalists discuss the legacy of Martin Ryle

Photo of landslide following Hurricane Gaston

Landslides are growing risk to poorest

Waterlogged hillsides are dangerous; for those who live on them, or further downhill, they can be deadly. And the global risk from landslides is rising

Medium-height trees survive drought best

Findings could help managers protect their forests against climate change

Flood risk in deltas and estuaries may be higher

Study shows high sea-level often linked to raised river discharge, heightening flood risk

Human activity leaves diminished oceans

Humankind has already disturbed or degraded six-sevenths of the blue planet, with diminished oceans the result. And that is before the impact of climate change