The editorial highlights the need for disaster preparedness tailored to older adults' unique circumstances, including chronic health conditions and social supports. It suggests interventions that integrate disaster planning into routine clinical care and build organizational capacity in assisted living communities and nursing homes.
A new University of Washington study shows that past emissions from carbon majors will continue to impact the environment for decades to come. The research, published in PLOS Climate, highlights the long-term effects of fossil fuel emissions on global warming.
Analysis of 20 years and 194 countries reveals epidemic disasters disproportionately affect health workforce equality in low- and middle-income countries. Global losses in human resources for health are estimated due to infectious disease epidemics, with significant impacts on healthcare systems.
A new study identifies five recurring themes in European flood events: urbanization, climate-induced extremes, and inadequate governance. The research emphasizes the need for rethinking urban development in flood-prone areas and integrating flood-risk information into urban planning.
A new study published in PNAS finds that countries with high resilience can break the link between shocks and food insecurity, despite being more severely affected by disasters. The study highlights the importance of government effectiveness, diverse food systems, and human capabilities in reducing the risks of crises.
A study analyzing international reporting on natural disasters found that spectacular images, high death tolls, and personal ties drive cross-border coverage. Droughts and floods, key effects of climate change, are underreported due to low newsworthiness.
Invasive species, such as Opuntia stricta and little fire ants, are displacing communities globally. At least 123.2 million people were forcibly displaced at the end of 2024, with food insecurity and competition over resources being major drivers.
Researchers found that when bedding strata incline above the topographic slope, rainwater infiltrates deep into the subsurface through fractures. In contrast, on dip slopes with aligned bedding direction, landslide landforms develop due to rapid runoff after rainfall events.
A study by Penn State researchers found that severe flooding in rural Appalachia can lead to a significant increase in opioid overdose deaths, persisting up to 10 years after the event. The study suggests that decreased access to treatment services, increased trauma, and persistent stigma are key contributing factors.
A study analyzing 60,000 records of flooding, waterlogging, flash floods, landslides, storms, and droughts in Brazil reveals regional impacts. The Northeast had the most affected cities, with landslides and droughts affecting this region the most.
Researchers identified nine typical disaster chain types driven by endogenic and exogenic dynamics, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary integration to understand complex geological disaster chains. The study also emphasizes the importance of 'multi-critical phase transitions' in understanding dynamic processes of disaster chains.
A study found that forecast error types influence public emotion during disasters, with anxiety and worry being the most common emotions. The researchers suggest that communicating forecast uncertainty effectively could improve public trust and reduce emotional distress during future extreme weather events.
Researchers at Hiroshima University have applied black-box optimization algorithms to model rainfall minimization through weather control. They demonstrated that Bayesian optimization can effectively design weather interventions, even under a limited budget of expensive weather simulations, by optimizing only a small number of trials.
Planted forests in China experience more frequent flash droughts than natural forests, averaging 7.05 events every five years. In contrast, natural forests face more slow droughts, with a 12% lower risk of prolonged droughts.
A recent study found that maternal exposure to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill was associated with worse children's mental health outcomes, mediated by financial and social resource loss. The study highlights the indirect negative impact of disasters on families' wellbeing.
The NEEDS 2026 Conference brought together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to address complex challenges of interconnected global crises. Key findings include the importance of civil society as watchdogs and local communities being co-owners of transition projects. The DeCrises project emphasizes the need for a fundamental sh...
A study using real-time data from the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake response found that unclear tasks, command structures, and lack of meal and rest breaks significantly contributed to self-reported fatigue among disaster responders. Fatigue can compromise decision-making, lead to poor care outcomes, and affect public safety.
A new international study confirms that erosion plays a key role in forming and accumulating natural hydrogen in mountain ranges. The Pyrenees and Alps are identified as key targets for natural hydrogen exploration, with the right conditions allowing for efficient serpentinization and hydrogen production.
Researchers propose that ibasho, community-led spaces of belonging and social purpose, support long-term recovery and resilience. By restoring routines, roles, and neighborhood connections, ibasho helps individuals regain stability, dignity, and a sense of purpose after disasters.
A University of Maryland study attributes record-breaking heat in 2023 and 2024 to the Indian Ocean Dipole, a climate cycle similar to El Niño. The research found that the IOD explained nearly all of the temperature anomaly in both years.
The new facility enables scientists to observe and measure detonation forces in unprecedented detail, shedding light on industrial safety risks and potential breakthroughs. Researchers aim to develop safer designs and protocols by examining detonation disasters like the Buncefield Fire.
Researchers found at least 94 elections and referendums across 52 countries were disrupted by natural hazards between 2006 and 2025. The report highlights the importance of election timing, coordination with meteorological agencies, and preparedness measures to safeguard democratic processes under increasing environmental pressure.
A study published in Geology found that up to 75.7% of landslides occur during low or no rainfall periods, with early-stage rainfall reaching the sliding surface through three runoff supply modes and two migration stages. The team recommends mass monitoring, public education, and engineering mitigation measures to prevent such disasters.
Researchers found that maternal anxiety about radiation exposure during the Fukushima nuclear accident was linked to increased rates of preterm births, lower birth weights, and severe birth outcomes. Socioeconomic factors, such as education level and income, played a role in mitigating these effects.
A new study reveals that natural disasters lead to a 69% spike in public protests across Latin America. Smaller communities tend to face the longest economic recoveries, with damage persisting for up to four months.
A new study found that eviction moratoria and climate disasters explain US homelessness surges, with longer protections linked to smaller increases. Climate-related displacement accelerated homeless rises, emphasizing the need for resilient housing and disaster response plans.
Researchers from Kyoto University developed a numerical model to evaluate mangrove wave attenuation, revealing that root submersion and water depth significantly impact wave reduction. The study's findings suggest that mangroves can mitigate disasters and help communities adapt to climate change.
A recent study by Bas Heerma van Voss found that governments are prone to cognitive biases when it comes to major risks like pandemics and climate change. Debiasing training for risk analysts can help recognize and avoid these biases, but such training is rarely implemented systematically.
A recent study compares two devastating ice avalanches in the Indian Himalayas and Switzerland, revealing drastically different consequences despite similar physical characteristics. Climate change is destabilizing high mountain slopes due to glacier retreat, permafrost thaw, and extreme precipitation, making such hazards more frequent.
Researchers use machine learning to characterize recovery processes, predict outcomes, and optimize strategies for restoring critical infrastructure systems. The review highlights the potential of reinforcement learning to identify effective repair sequences.
Researchers developed a color-guided depth recovery method for non-repetitive LiDAR images to improve real-time crowd monitoring during disasters. The method reconstructs continuous depth structures while preventing over-smoothing and overfilling gaps, achieving improved depth accuracy and structural consistency.
Current early warning systems often fail to lead to action due to varied reactions to general messages. Researchers propose EW4All+U with personalized information based on location, mobility and circumstances. The technology exists, but challenges remain in scaling up solutions.
A new Concordia-led study found that CEOs who experienced natural disasters in childhood tend to run firms with better workplace safety records. The research analyzed data from over 500 CEOs and found that these executives' companies reported significantly fewer work-related injuries.
A systematic review examines how social media users can be utilized as a 'human sensor network' for disaster management. The study finds that refined social media data contributes strongly to identifying needs during disasters, strengthening community resilience and allocating resources faster.
SPH simulations provide physically consistent insights into flow dynamics, impact forces, and affected areas in catastrophic hazard scenarios. High-quality visualization enables intuitive representations that support emergency planning and decision-making.
A University of Michigan study found that older adults exposed to heavy rainfall after Hurricane Harvey faced a higher risk of death within the following year. The research identified populations at heightened risk and highlights disparities in vulnerability to disasters among different groups.
A new seafloor study revealed that a thin, clay-rich layer hidden beneath the seafloor enabled the 2011 Japan earthquake to rupture all the way to the trench, producing massive displacement. This finding could help scientists better understand and respond to other intense earthquakes and tsunamis.
A narrative review reveals that disaster-related prenatal maternal stress can lead to epigenetic modifications in offspring, affecting child health outcomes. Epigenetic markers show promise for shaping interventions to mitigate the effects of stress on health outcomes.
Nature-based solutions can significantly reduce flood impacts by slowing and absorbing runoff, offering added benefits such as improved air quality and biodiversity. Public awareness and education are key to expanding support for these approaches, with communities needing clear communication about flood risks and benefits.
Research reveals that single-celled organisms are among the first to colonize newly formed lava environments, thriving in scarce water and nutrient conditions. As diversity stabilizes over time, rainwater plays a critical role in shaping microbial communities, suggesting an unexpected link between weather phenomena and life on Earth.
A study analyzing Medicare claims data found that older adults who lived through Hurricane Harvey had a 3% elevated risk of dying within 1 year. Mortality risk was highest among those with chronic health conditions like Alzheimer's disease, and Black and Hispanic/Latino populations experienced higher mortality risks than other groups.
This study provides the first nationwide map of urban gullies in the DRC, quantifying their extent, recent dynamics, and human impacts. Researchers found that gullies were formed mainly due to anthropogenic factors such as unplanned urbanization and inadequate infrastructure.
The upgraded facility enables testing of hydrogen-natural gas blends, exploring effects on pipeline systems and flow measurement technologies. SwRI aims to demonstrate the process needed to upgrade natural gas infrastructure to accommodate hydrogen, supporting efforts to decarbonize industries.
A new study led by Dr Elisa Fuentes-Montemayor identifies key ecological factors supporting natural colonisation, which can provide environmental and societal benefits. Hybrid approaches combining tree planting and natural colonisation offer intermediate values of forest growth and structural complexity.
A UBC Okanagan study reveals that strategic alliances are key to protecting global supply chains from political trade disruptions. The research shows that such alliances can reduce risk by up to eight times, and boost profits by 50% in high-uncertainty environments.
The Japan Science and Technology Agency hosts an international symposium on weather controllability technologies as part of Moonshot Goal 8. The goal aims to mitigate the effects of extreme weather disasters by 2050 through innovative research and development of weather-control technologies.
A new study found that people who have experienced extreme weather events are more likely to view climate change as a serious threat. The study analyzed data from over 128,000 people across 142 countries and found that heatwaves had the strongest effect on risk perception, increasing it by about the same extent as having a university e...
A study of 744 bridges worldwide reveals that North American and African bridges are most at risk, with spaceborne monitoring able to detect problems before they become disasters. The proposed solution integrates satellite data into risk frameworks to significantly lower the number of high-risk bridges.
Wildfire disasters worldwide have become markedly more burdensome over the last 40 years, tripling in fatality events and increasing economic losses fourfold since 1980. The escalation is driven by intensifying climate conditions and human activities such as land-use shifts and fire suppression policies.
A study of 9/11 first responders found mutations in blood-forming cells may explain increased leukemia risk, suggesting a targeted intervention against environmental toxins. The research also identified IL1RAP as a protein culprit, which could be used to prevent or treat blood cancers in individuals exposed to similar disasters.
Economist Andrea Titton's models show that acting cautiously on climate change is cheaper than taking the gamble of hitting a tipping point. Preparing for climate disasters can disrupt supply chains and cost trillions annually, but investing in green energy now may be more cost-effective.
Researchers have synthesized four natural products using a novel biomimetic Schenck-ene/Hock/aldol tandem rearrangement reaction. The reaction conditions are mild, and the strategy can be used for molecular backbone editing of natural products.
Researchers will generate maps showing the intensity and extent of an earthquake, helping to identify regions with a higher probability of infrastructure damage. The simulation will recreate a hypothetical scenario of an 8.1 magnitude earthquake in Mexico's Michoacán state.
The Center for Land Surface Hazards will develop new scientific frameworks and modeling tools to forecast and mitigate cascading hazards. CLaSH also aims to broaden and grow a workforce of experts in land surface hazards and foster community engagement.
A new global study shows that hotter and drier conditions are affecting yield swings of three major food crops: corn, soybean, and sorghum. The study highlights a compounding danger: instability. Crop failures could become more frequent, with 'once-in-a-century' crop disasters happening every decade by 2100.
A study found that disaster-induced displacement from home was associated with increased depression and anxiety symptoms, especially among those who never returned home. This highlights the urgent need for mental health care for displaced populations, particularly socially vulnerable groups.
A new study reveals a 40% global increase in wildland fire exposures from 2002 to 2021, mainly driven by people living in the wildland-urban interface. In Africa, 85% of these exposures occurred, with devastating consequences for human health and life.
The EBD dataset leverages deep learning to speed up disaster recovery efforts, providing rapid and accurate building damage assessments. The semi-automated labeling system reduces manual workload by 80% and improves model accuracy, particularly in situations with limited labeled samples.
Climate-related disasters pose significant disruptions to US drug manufacturing facilities, affecting nearly two-thirds of production sites. Researchers assessed the impact of disaster events on counties with US drug production facilities and found that nearly two-thirds were located in areas affected by at least one disaster declaration.
A new paper warns that the world's reliance on submarine cables poses significant risks to global communication, commerce, and security. The study highlights growing vulnerabilities to natural disasters and deliberate sabotage, sparking calls for diversification of global communications infrastructure beyond the ocean floor. Experts pr...