Assisted evolution could help corals survive future heatwaves, but careful trait choice and strong repeated selection will be needed for it to be effective.

A recent study published in National Science Review finds abundant ocean eddies in the Antarctic marginal seas, using unprecedented high-resolution satellite altimetry (SWOT). The observed spatial distribution of these eddies, combined with numerical simulations, suggests that ice shelf basal melting and dense shelf water formation are key processes driving the widespread eddy activity. This discovery unveils Antarctic mesoscale ocean processes for the first time, which improves our ability to predict future climate and sea-level change.

As temperatures rise across the U.S., are Americans really packing up and leaving? New research reveals a more complex story. Analyzing nationwide county-level data, the study finds that jobs, housing costs and quality of life – not heat alone – drive migration decisions, at least for now. While extreme temperatures may deter newcomers, they aren’t triggering mass departures. Instead, climate subtly shapes where people choose to live, working alongside economic and social forces rather than leading the way.

Photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to methane offers a promising route for carbon recycling, but its low efficiency and unclear mechanisms limit its practical use. Researchers at Chiba University have now examined how light-driven and heat-driven processes work together in Ru–Ni–ZrO₂ catalysts, achieving record methane production rates. This work clarifies the reaction pathway and highlights new strategies for designing more efficient systems to convert CO₂ into fuels and valuable chemicals.

As Earth’s climate systems change, polar sea ice is becoming more granular in structure. University of Utah-led research reveals this type of ice is much less permeable than columnar sea ice, with important implications for geophysical processes. This is because water, heat and nutrients move less readily through granular ice than the ice it is replacing.