Matt Smith

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Articles by Matt Smith

Energy

‘Dieselgate’ Scandal May Have Caused 5,000 Premature Deaths a Year in Europe

A study by Norwegian and Austrian organizations estimates the extra air pollution that resulted from the scandal led to nearly 5,000 premature deaths across Europe in 2013, before the cheating was discovered.

Climate

It Might Still Be Possible to Limit Global Warming to 1.5 Degrees Celsius

A pair of reports argue that the odds of achieving the most ambitious goal of the Paris agreement of climate change — keeping temperature rise to just 1.5 degrees Celsius — may have gone from impossible to very difficult.

Medicine

This Flesh-Eating Parasite Might Soon Be Thwarted by a New Vaccine

Leishmaniasis is a parasite that is moving northward as temperatures warm, but US and Brazilian researchers say a vaccine may be on the way.

Behavior

The Science Behind One-Night Stands and Drunken Hookups

An investigation of the link between alcohol and one-night stands highlights a drinking culture that turns sexual encounters into gratifying sex stories.

Climate

Coffee Production Could Plummet Because of Climate Change

In a novel study, researchers evaluated the likely effects of warming temperatures and changing conditions of pollinator species on Latin American coffee production.

Climate

Here’s How Much Better Hurricane Forecasts Are Today Than Decades Ago

Faster computers, a better satellite, and improved scientific understanding of storm dynamics have brought about a revolution in hurricane forecasting.

Animals

Oh, Snap! Trap-Jaw Ants Clamp Down on Prey in Half a Millisecond

Ants of the genus Myrmoteras have jaws that close at speeds up to 60 mph, and researchers now understand the mechanics of this evolutionary trait.

Energy

Solar Power Is Poised for Big Gains in Global Energy Markets

Rapid growth could see the sun provide 50 percent of global electricity by 2050, but the US could get left behind by withdrawing from the Paris agreement on climate change.

Climate

A ‘Hot Spot’ for Sea Level Rise Whips Up Trouble in the Southeast

Along a stretch of Atlantic shore from the Outer Banks to Miami, sea levels are rising up to six times faster than the global average.

Energy

Here’s How Nearly All Nations Could Run on Renewable Power by 2050

The obstacle to transitioning away from fossil fuels is more a matter of political will than technical limitations, a new Stanford study suggests.