Environment Maui community mobilizes to protect water quality from runoff after Lahaina fires The debris from Lahaina's fire contains toxic chemicals and sits right next to a coral reef. So the community is collaborating with scientists to track water quality. Lauren Sommer Ryan Kellman
Latin America Brazil's floods leave more than 100 people dead and thousands displaced Unseasonably heavy rains have led to massive flooding in Brazils southern state and at least one hundred people dead and many without shelter. Julia Carneiro
World Federal forecasters say El Nino is waning, after contributing to a record heat year Federal forecasters say the El Nino climate pattern is on its way out, after a year where it helped break global heat records. So what does that mean for this coming year? Lauren Sommer
Business Does mining for batteries erase the climate benefits of EVs? No, and here's why NPR listeners wrote to ask whether the environmental harm from building EVs "cancels out" the cars' climate benefits. Experts say the answer is clear. Camila Domonoske
Environment El Niño is on the way out after a record-breaking year of heat El Niño helped drive global average temperatures to new records over the last year. Forecasters say it's waning, but that 2024 may still be one for the record books. Lauren Sommer
Environment Oil industry could help the Biden administration tap 'invisible' green energy The White House wants a twenty-fold increase in geothermal energy production to fight climate change and it's counting on the oil and gas industry for help. Kirk Siegler
Animals What are sperm whales saying? Researchers find a complex 'alphabet' Researchers say sperm whales have a complex communication system, an example of how new technology is opening up the mysterious world of animal language. Lauren Sommer
Climate A ‘tool of last resort’: PSE may shut off power in some areas when fire risk is high This year’s wildfire season may bring a new wrinkle for some Puget Sound Energy customers. The utility has said it may begin to use temporary power shut-offs in some communities to prevent powerlines from igniting blazes in risky weather conditions. Kate Walters
Business China makes cheap electric vehicles. Why can't American shoppers buy them? American drivers want cheap EVs. Chinese automakers are building them. But you can't buy them in the U.S., thanks to tariffs in the name of U.S. jobs and national security. Two car shoppers weigh in. Camila Domonoske
Environment As Kenya's flood toll rises, Human Rights Watch says officials must step up efforts Human Rights Watch accuses Kenyan authorities of not responding adequately to ongoing floods that have killed more than 170 people since the start of the rainy season. The Associated Press
