Climate change
![Climate change illustration](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TY6SwtikwK9QzrrmuZcfoj-320-80.jpg)
Climate change is real and it's getting worse. Global temperature averages are creeping upward, seas are warming, rising and becoming more acidic, and extreme weather events such as droughts, wildfires, floods and powerful storms are becoming more common. The threat is so great that humanity must act now to defuse what United Nations scientists call a "climate time bomb" which, if ignored, will yield "untold suffering."
At Live Science, our expert writers and editors cover the impact of global warming, and the measures that scientists, world leaders and innovators are taking to reduce our harmful impact on the planet, with the latest climate change news, features and articles.
Discover more about climate change
Latest about Climate Change
![Two researchers drill into a glacier](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zvCC7zDFgegKV7pDCghcCM-320-80.png)
Ancient viral genomes plucked from glaciers reveal how pathogens have adapted to Earth's shifting climate
By Zhi-Ping Zhong, Ellen Mosley-Thompson, Lonnie Thompson, Matthew Sullivan, Virginia Rich published
Over the past 41,000 years, viral communities have varied significantly between cold and warm climatic periods, scientists found.
![A photo of the ocean around the Bahamas taken from space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mbCSLnDYECHcfALHmZcixU-320-80.jpg)
Large patch of the Atlantic Ocean near the equator has been cooling at record speeds — and scientists can't figure out why
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Scientists are trying to decipher what drove the recent dramatic cooling of the tropical Atlantic, but so far few clues have emerged. "We are still scratching our heads as to what's actually happening," the researchers said.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nRPpw8qowpxG9n24YNFYNX-320-80.jpg)
Climate change may allow the Earth’s oldest, tiniest creatures to dominate — and that's seriously bad news
By Ryan Heneghan published
Creatures that existed billions of years before plants and animals poised to become dangerous climate change winners.
![Looped video footage of Earth spinning](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UHZE4MiFq5vMcG5qCHeC7Q-320-80.gif)
Earth is wobbling and days are getting longer — and humans are to blame
By Harry Baker published
New studies, which utilized AI to monitor the effects of climate change on Earth's spin, have shown that our days are getting increasingly longer and that our planet will get more wobbly in the future. These changes could have major implications for humanity's future.
![A satellite photo of clouds over land and ocean](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WL29AWKXCrhzeK9gvkA73b-320-80.jpg)
Scientists say they can now forecast El Niño Southern Oscillation years in advance
By Kristel Tjandra published
Scientists used thousands of years of climate data to show that El Niño Southern Oscillations can be predicted more than two years in advance.
![Thompson Fire in Oroville County, California on July 2, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LxthuopJ8gHPa9qEBbAjSi-320-80.jpg)
'The last 12 months have broken records like never before': Earth exceeds 1.5 C warming every month for entire year
By Ben Turner published
Every month has broken the temperature record of the previous for the past 12 months, and the signs of climate breakdown are already here, a new analysis shows.
![Icebergs float in Iluissat fjord in Greenland.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/J24UpQ2jag3Q8sJAjFM7yU-320-80.jpg)
Gulf Stream's fate to be decided by climate 'tug-of-war'
By Ben Turner published
New research suggests that runoff from the Greenland Ice Sheet could prevent icebergs from disrupting key ocean currents. But some scientists have cautioned that other factors may be at play.
![sweaty boy with water bottle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8EDCLWvFNwGnZoxF8kWgpg-320-80.jpg)
Is Earth really getting too hot for people to survive?
By Scott Denning published
To assess risk from heat, scientists use the "wet bulb temperature," looking at the point where the human body isn't able to let enough heat out.
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.