Observations from the Little Bunker
A systematic observation of climate change, extreme weather events, and their cascading effects on society
🌍 Latest Environmental Observations
Subcellular mass spectrometry reveals proteome remodeling in an asymmetrically dividing (frog) embryonic stem cell
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceAsymmetric division partitions molecules into restricted cellular domains that shape future identities,...
Oligomeric assembly of the gatekeeper InvE orchestrates hierarchical type III protein secretion in Salmonella Typhimurium
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceType III secretion systems (T3SSs) are syringe-like machines that inject proteins into...
Identifying variation in dinosaur footprints and classifying problematic specimens via unbiased unsupervised machine learning
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceDinosaur footprints are iconic fossils, but it is challenging to identify their...
A structural model of toxic amyloid oligomers involved in type 2 diabetes
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceProtein oligomers formed from hIAPP are a likely cytotoxic species that drive...
Sharp cutbacks in field tests could threaten quality of 2030 U.S. census
Efforts to correct historic undercount of poor, immigrant, rural, and minority populations are at risk, critics say
Targeted digital voter suppression efforts likely decrease voter turnout
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceAlthough governments have repeatedly flagged digital voter suppression in recent elections, such...
Airborne β-caryophyllene disrupts virus–vector mutualism by priming tomato defenses
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceTomato plants attacked by whiteflies that carry begomoviruses release the volatile compound...
UK plans to cut climate finance to poor countries by a fifth despite promising more help
Exclusive: Campaigners say proposed cut from ÂŁ11.9bn over past five years to ÂŁ9bn over next five years will cost lives and livelihoodsThe UK plans to...
Mammals that can develop type 2 diabetes have a similarly structured β-sheet amyloid oligomer
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceIslet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) oligomers are toxic intermediates in the protein aggregation...
Large declines in organofluorine contamination indicated by subarctic marine mammal tissues
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceDetrimental human and wildlife exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have...
Inside the quest to make a safer football helmet
New energy absorbing designs and materials have revolutionized the iconic safety device
Careful land allocation for carbon dioxide removal is critical for safeguarding biodiversity
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 05 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02567-3A spatial assessment of global decarbonization scenarios reveals that land allocated for carbon dioxide removal substantially overlaps...
Congress rescues aid budget from Trump’s “evisceration” but climate misses out
Under pressure from Congress, President Donald Trump quietly signed into law a funding package that provides billions of dollars more in foreign assistance spending than...
Sustainable Finance in 2026: 6 Opportunities to Move Beyond the Headwinds
2026 is set to be another year of clashing trends in sustainable finance, particularly for emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs), where the greatest capital...
Coordination of cell organelles to promote metabolon formation
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceThe spatial and temporal relationships between sequential metabolic enzymes in a pathway...
Baculoviruses hijack host midgut-derived tachykinin to regulate phototactic climbing behavior and promote viral transmission
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceBaculoviruses can manipulate host behavior, leading to death at elevated positions. Herein,...
A Milestone for Data-Driven Climate Action: Ethiopia Launches Its First National Climate Data Portal
Ethiopia has taken an important step toward stronger climate governance with the Climate Data Portal integrated into the National Digital Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation System....
China Briefing 5 February 2026: Clean energy’s share of economy | Record renewables | Thawing relations with UK
Welcome to Carbon Brief’s China Briefing. China Briefing handpicks and explains the most important climate and energy stories from China over the past fortnight. Subscribe...
Forest loss and landscape pattern change cause watersheds to release more young water
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceAlthough forests have a widely acknowledged relationship with water, how they regulate...
Chronic and acute modulator treatment restore wild-type-like activity and stability to the primary cystic fibrosis–causing CFTR variant
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 5, February 2026. SignificanceThe genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by dysfunction of the...
Integrated Resource Planning Offers a Strategy to Accelerate Clean Energy
Around the world, energy systems are undergoing rapid transformation. Rising demand, climate imperatives and technological innovation are converging to create a complex planning landscape. In...
Green groups sue EU over inclusion of Portuguese lithium mine on priority list
Environmental campaigners and community groups are suing the European Commission over its decision to designate a controversial lithium mine in Portugal as “strategic” to secure...
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