Rebecca Hersher

Focus more on water, less on wind and beware the cone of uncertainty. Here's a simple guide for understanding hurricane risks.

A new study suggests there is far more plastic in the Atlantic Ocean than scientists estimated earlier, especially tiny pieces of plastic that can end up inside fish and other animals.

A new study suggests there is far more plastic in the Atlantic Ocean than scientists previously thought, especially very small pieces of plastic that can end up inside fish and other animals.

Scientists from around the world are writing the next major United Nations climate report. Summarizing the state of the atmosphere without meeting in person is as hard as it sounds.

A new study finds that the U.S. places with the most polluted air in the 1980s remain the most polluted today. Poor people and people of color are more likely to live in places with dirty air.

Domestic violence often spikes after major disasters. It is an increasingly pressing issue as climate change drives more storms and fires, and people worldwide are trapped at home due to the pandemic.

The pandemic has hindered climate data collection from ships and buoys in the oceans. The U.N. warns it could negatively affect climate models' accuracy unless scientists find new ways to gather data.

Family violence increases in places that have been severely burned in bushfires, Australian research finds. The isolation and financial stress of COVID-19 appear to be exacerbating the problem.

States including Virginia and Texas have set aside significant money to address flooding. Local officials hope it will help pay for flood prevention projects that the federal government won't fund.

COVID-19 cases are surging in several states. In some places, officials are urging people to stay home and enjoy July 4th celebrations, like fireworks, from their houses.

Temperatures in a Siberian town were reported to hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday. That would be a record for the highest temperature documented above the Arctic Circle.

Nancy Beck is the Trump administration's nominee to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a seven-year term. Many scientists and public health experts warn she is a dangerous choice.

The EPA does not require companies to notify federal regulators if the pandemic interferes with pollution monitoring or reporting. That leaves states alone on the front lines of pollution control.

Unlike the demonstrations that rocked the city five years ago after Freddie Gray, 25, died in police custody, this week's unfolded peacefully. Local activists are helping to avoid unplanned violence.

Federal forecasters expect 3 to 6 major hurricanes during the 2020 hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 1. Rising seas and a warmer climate make storms of all sizes more damaging.

Car traffic took a big dip beginning in late March, and headlines celebrated clean air around the U.S. But an NPR analysis of EPA data tells a more troubling story.

The agency usually provides funding for legal aid hotlines after disasters. But the White House has not approved such funding for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

It is very difficult for people hospitalized with COVID-19 to communicate with their families. At one medical center, psychologists are helping with some of those tough conversations.

EMTs are offering at-home coronavirus testing in at least four cities including New York City. The goal is to test people who might not seek it out on their own, and find people who need medical care.

Medical staffs are reeling from the changes COVID-19 has brought to intensive care units — from redesigning the spaces to changing what it means to care for patients who are facing death alone.