Lauren Sommer

The abrupt halt of worldwide commerce is having an effect on nature. But are temporary reductions in emissions and other human-caused activities going to make a long-term difference?

An NPR climate change correspondent answers questions about how the transportation slowdown brought on by the coronavirus epidemic has impacted air quality and climate change.

It is starting to take more time for cases, hospitalizations and deaths to double in several states, indicating social distancing is working. Here's how to make sense of those numbers.

Weather forecast models rely on commercial airplanes for massive amounts of real-time data. With widespread flight cancellations, meteorologists are concerned.

With the present need for coronavirus tests, university research labs are rapidly switching to patient testing. Many are calling on graduate student volunteers to make it happen.

Many countries were expected to release ambitious new climate plans at a conference this fall, but United Nations officials say governments are focusing on the coronavirus crisis.

With a lack of tests, epidemiologists say the next best way to monitor the pandemic is by tracking hospitalizations. But hotspots like California and Washington are releasing little information.

Universities around the country are revamping research labs to help process the backlog of coronavirus tests, thanks to help from student volunteers.

Scientists have discovered that deep-sea squid can communicate with glowing patterns on their bodies — basically turning themselves into e-readers.

Cat owners may often wonder what their outdoor cats is doing all day. One study shows outdoor cats are bad news for birds and other critters. But there are some ways to make cats more visible.

As China seeks to control the spread of COVID-19, fewer cars and factories are running. In some places, skies are clearer. But the drop in air pollution and carbon emissions is likely temporary.

Air pollution levels have dropped dramatically as power plants and factories have slowed down — potentially saving lives. But the public health benefits aren't so simple to calculate.

Tiny snapping shrimp are among of the loudest animals in the ocean. And climate change could be making them louder, which affects a lot of other sea life.

Winters are warming faster than summers in many places, and colder parts of the U.S. are warming faster than hotter ones. The warming winter climate has year-round consequences across the country.

Many fruit and nut trees need cold weather to bloom, which is becoming less common in a warming climate. So, farmers and scientists are teaming up to find ways to help orchards chill out and cope.

New research shows that climate change and habitat loss are causing widespread decline among bumblebees in North America and Europe — and putting ecosystems that depend on these pollinators at risk.

Amid widespread blackouts in California, solar companies are seeing a huge spike in interest. They argue the future grid should be local and independent of the massive power lines that spark fires.

As climate change drives temperatures higher, scientists are finding places that are warming slightly less. They're known as "climate refugia."

The move fulfills a Trump campaign promise to help California's farmers. But it ignores the warnings of federal biologists who were sidelined.

Residents are wondering whether widespread power outages are the future and whether they're the only way to prevent wildfires. New technology may help prevent them if utilities are willing to invest.