Posts on Understanding Science

Scientists predict that 2025 will be the second or third warmest year on record. We’re emitting more CO2 every year, so why won’t this year be warmer than last year? Even though Earth is warming over the long run, not every single year will be warmer than the one before it. That’s because natural climate patterns, like El Niño and …

Some people who reject climate science claim satellites are the “real truth-tellers” when it comes to Earth’s temperature. But here’s the kicker: satellites don’t actually measure temperature at the surface where we live—they measure microwave radiation coming from oxygen molecules way up in the atmosphere. That data has to be modeled and pieced together like a giant puzzle. Ground thermometers, …

You've probably seen headlines saying that green hydrogen is the next energy savior. Some even say it could help us fight climate change and keep our lights on. But before we celebrate, let’s put it under a microscope. Hydrogen Really Isn't a Fuel Source A lot of articles call hydrogen an “energy source.” But that’s not exactly true. Hydrogen doesn’t …

The current Administration wants to make big changes to NASA—shutting down our eyes on the Earth and beyond. They also want to stop the Agency from working on future science projects, especially those studying Earth and climate. Instead, their plan focuses on a smaller, “leaner” space agency that would send the first American astronaut to Mars. But scientists say this …

Every year, Earth’s temperature changes a little. Sometimes it gets hotter, and sometimes cooler. Scientists track this closely to understand how our climate is changing. But it’s not just about climate change. Natural patterns in the ocean also affect short-term global temperatures. Two of the biggest ones are called El Niño and La Niña. These are part of a system …

For elementary school students I had lunch with a friend of mine yesterday, and she told me how many people she's met who don't understand or remember photosynthesis. Many adults vaguely remember hearing the word, but not how it works or why it matters. I don't know about you, but I first learned about it back in elementary school. No …

Did you know that most of our planet is underwater? The ocean covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface, yet we’ve explored less of it than the surface of the Mars! From glow-in-the-dark creatures to underwater mountains taller than anything on land, the ocean is packed with life and continued surprises. In this blog, we’ll dive into some of the …

Fake graphs pop up on social media all the time. And if graphs confuse you, you’re not alone—I’ve felt that way too! With all the lines, numbers, and labels, they can seem boring, messy, or even like they’re trying to trick you. But once you learn how to read them, graphs actually make things easier. They’re like a shortcut to …

Scientific consensus is when most scientists agree on something after looking at a lot of evidence and doing many studies. Think of it like this: if 100 doctors all study the same illness and 97 of them say, “Yep, we’ve tested this, and this is what we’ve found,” then we say there’s a consensus—a strong agreement—on that topic. But it’s …

People laughed (and still are) at Al Gore over his film, “An Inconvenient Truth”. The planet’s not laughing. I’m frankly tired of the lie that Al Gore’s predictions from his film were all wrong. Yeah, he got a couple of things wrong, especially the timing. But the science behind what he said?  Still very real—and in some cases, it’s even …

Let's Call a Spade a Spade! I'm back, busting yet another myth about climate change! Ever heard of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI)? It’s a “think tank” (a group that shares ideas) that doesn’t believe humans are causing climate change. Sounds wild, right? Even more interesting, they’ve gotten money from groups that don’t like environmental rules, like the Charles Koch …

Climate change is a big issue, and there are a lot of myths about climate change out there that can make it hard to know what’s true. Some people think it’s just a natural cycle, while others believe small actions don’t matter. These ideas can cause confusion and slow down efforts to fix the problem. In this article, we’ll break …

I'd love to share with you my new Fact-Checking Series, where I will focus on uncovering the truth about climate and clarifying misunderstandings. I'll be addressing the usual claims from people who don't believe that Earth's climate is changing because of human activities. I'll start with some of the most common myths I come across on social media every day. …

I spend way too much time on social media platforms. I often come across various forms of propaganda and disinformation, especially about climate change. Bots create some of these posts. Likely bad actors produce others, and some come from people who genuinely can’t distinguish between science and propaganda. Science and propaganda are very different in their purpose, method, and intent. …

Social media spreads a lot of false information about climate change. This really confuses people and slows down progress on environmental solutions. Some people post claims that deny climate change or push strange theories, like saying secret projects cause natural disasters. One common myth is that "they" changed from “global warming” to “climate change”. This is false. Image Credit: lamyai …

Welcome back to my Fact-Checking Series! In this episode, we’re digging into some of the biggest myths about climate change. You’ve probably heard people say things like, ‘The climate has always changed,’ or ‘Humans can’t really make a difference.’ Well, today we’re going to break those myths apart and show you what the science really says—clear, simple, and straight to …

Welcome to the third part of my Fact-Checking Series, where I dig into myths about carbon dioxide and clear up misunderstandings about climate. Image of a carbon dioxide molecule. Credit: Malte Reimold via Pixabay Carbon dioxide, or CO₂, is an invisible gas that is all around us in the air. It's made up of one carbon atom and two oxygen …

You're not alone if you don't know the difference between the two. It's a very common question! Weather and climate are related, but they are not the same thing. Weather is what's happening outside right now or over a short period, like a day or a week. It includes things like temperature, rain, wind, or snow. Is it sunny or …