climate change

Environment

Carolina Curious: How are North Carolina's sea turtles affected by climate change?

5:00am June 09, 2025

A brutal cold snap in January left hundreds of the state’s turtles cold-stunned. And a gender imbalance among new hatchlings has sparked concern among researchers. All this had WFDD’s April Laissle wondering: How is climate change affecting the state’s sea turtle population? For this edition of Carolina Curious, she traveled to a sea turtle hospital in Surf City to find the answer.

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These researchers think the sludge in your home may help save the planet

8:28am June 02, 2025

What if the solutions to some of Earth's biggest problems could be found in some of its smallest creatures? That bet has led a team of researchers to places both remote and — lately — rather familiar.

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Some clownfish are shrinking, according to new study. Here's why

4:14am June 02, 2025

Clownfish in Papua New Guinea are temporarily shrinking in response to heat stress caused by climate change, a new study found. Here's how that might help them deal with warmer water temps.

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Penguins in Antarctica could actually be helping cool the climate… with their poop

5:57pm May 30, 2025

by Lauren Sommer

In places like Antarctica, small things can make a difference. Scientists are finding that penguin waste is helping form clouds, which could be offsetting the effects of climate change.

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Phillips 66 To Close Los-Angeles Area Refinery In 2025

Oil companies face a wrongful death suit tied to climate change

5:30am May 30, 2025

Julie Leon died of hyperthermia in Seattle on June 28, 2021 — the hottest day in the city's history. A lawsuit claims she was a victim of oil companies' "misrepresentations" about climate change.

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Peruvian farmer loses landmark climate case against German energy giant

3:42pm May 28, 2025

A Peruvian farmer has lost a decade-long legal climate case against Germany energy giant RWE. Saúl Luciano Lliuya claimed the company's emissions had contributed to glacial melt threatening his Andean hometown.

Large tornado outbreaks are becoming more common. But it's unclear why

4:27am May 20, 2025

by Steve Inskeep

It's getting more common for a lot of tornadoes to form over a big area in a short period of time. But the total number of tornadoes each year in the U.S. is stable.

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Where does your weather forecast come from?

5:30am May 19, 2025

Whether you get your forecast from an app on your phone, a website or a meteorologist on TV, most of the underlying information comes from the federal government.

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Environment

Experts warn of rapid climate change in NC as White House moves to boost fossil fuels

2:41pm May 16, 2025

by David Ford

As global temperatures reach new records, subtle changes are taking place in North Carolina. The shift can be seen in nature, with new subtropical plant species and trees taking root here, and in the animal kingdom with the recent arrivals of armadillos — now found in more than two dozen North Carolina counties — and manatee sightings in Wilmington.

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Need help switching appliances from gas to electric? A 'coach' can help

7:08am May 12, 2025

by Jeff Brady

Government incentives for climate-friendly upgrades are confusing to navigate, and it can be hard to find businesses that sell them. So a new industry is emerging to help: the decarbonization coach.

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