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Where does charcoal come from—and is it sustainable?
A man tends to a kiln and collects charcoal in front of a eucalyptus plantation.

Penn researchers say that there are more sustainable alternatives to eucalyptus plantation and charcoal production sites like this one in Kyegaliro, Uganda. (Image: Courtesy of Catherine Nabukalu).

Where does charcoal come from—and is it sustainable?

Charcoal energizes everything from backyard barbecues to industrial metallurgy, but its environmental impact is worse than once thought. Research from the School of Arts & Sciences finds that policy changes could make charcoal more sustainable.

Marilyn Perkins

Climate questions: Does what I do matter?
Associated Press

Climate questions: Does what I do matter?

Michael E. Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that individual citizens should minimize their carbon footprints but that true change can only be enacted at the systemic level with pressure on policymakers.

Physics of disaster: How mudslides move
A few people walk along a mountainside as some vegetation regrows after a wildfire

The Thomas Fire charred the hillsides above Montecito in late 2017, setting up conditions for mudslides in early 2018. (Image: Douglas Jerolmack)

Physics of disaster: How mudslides move

Researchers led by Douglas Jerolmack and Paulo Arratia used samples from the deadly 2018 Montecito mudslides to understand the complex forces at work in these disasters.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Cop27 climate summit: Window for avoiding catastrophe is closing fast
The Guardian

Cop27 climate summit: Window for avoiding catastrophe is closing fast

Michael E. Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that many impacts of climate change are playing out faster than predicted, despite the warming itself being in line with model projections.