Discovered near the port of Savannah, Georgia, in 2002, the invasive redbay ambrosia beetle and its symbiotic laurel wilt fungus have already destroyed an estimated 500 million redbay, sassafras, spicebush, camphor, and swamp bay trees.

New research reveals that Arctic diatoms—microscopic algae—can actively move and survive in sea ice at temperatures as low as −15° C (5° F). This groundbreaking discovery means that these tiny organisms play a far more dynamic role in the Arctic food chain than previously thought and serve as a vital and active food source for marine life during the long, dark Arctic winter.

Incongruously, new research indicates that while wildfire incidence is down worldwide, the threat of wildfires to people and homes is rising precipitously.