climate risk researchers

New reporting from researchers, including work covered by the Natural History Museum and Phys.org, suggests shifting climate conditions could change the risks humans face from deadly rodent-borne diseases. Changes in temperature and rainfall may alter rodent habitats and populations, potentially bringing infected animals into closer contact with people and expanding where diseases like hantavirus and Lassa fever pose a threat.

Astrophysics researchers suggest Earth's magnetic field may reverse, potentially increasing ionizing radiation reaching the equator by around 25%. Charged particles penetrating the weakened field could damage human cells and interfere with atmospheric processes. The claim is circulating widely online, sparking discussion about what a geomagnetic reversal would mean for health, technology and the planet's climate systems.

A systematic overview published in Nature reviews climate actions taken by cities and assesses their effects on public health. The work compiles existing research on measures such as emissions reduction and urban adaptation, aiming to give policymakers a clearer picture of which interventions deliver health benefits. It arrives as city governments face growing pressure to protect residents from heat, air pollution and other climate-related risks.

A US climate technology company has released its satellite-based model as open source, allowing researchers, businesses and insurers to freely access and adapt the underlying technology. The move is expected to widen use of satellite data in climate risk assessment and environmental monitoring, though details on the firm, the model and licensing terms remain limited in early coverage.

Scientists are warning that a Kelvin wave, a large pulse of warm water moving along the equator toward the West Coast, could raise ocean levels along the California coast by as much as a foot. The phenomenon is being linked to developing warm ocean conditions and could worsen coastal erosion and flooding risks, prompting concern among climate and ocean researchers.