Boston University

Environment & Ecology

Early Fall view of a green BU Beach wtih the College of Arts & Sciences building in the background.

Fossil Fuel Divestment

Campus Reacts to BU’s Commitment to Divest from Fossil Fuels

September 23, 2021

View of Lake Powell in July 2021. The water level is noticeably very low. Water levels in the lake hit a historic low this summer.

Climate Science

IPCC Climate Report: In New England, Extreme Heat and Sea Level Rise Are Biggest Climate Threats

August 10, 2021

Thick haze from wildfire smoke in New England is shown hanging over the Boston skyline as viewed from Fenway Park.

Climate Science

Wildfire Smoke in New England Is “Pretty Severe from Public Health Perspective”

July 27, 2021

A photo of Dragon Man's skull

Paleoanthropology

Is “Dragon Man” a Missing Link in Human Evolution?

July 9, 2021

A photo of a beetle

Sustainable Tech

Could Technology Inspired by Beetles and Underground Fungi Solve the Water Scarcity Problem in Morocco’s Rural Villages?

June 14, 2021

Photo of Daylin Frantin, left, in a gray long-sleeve and black pants, with one hand on a boat engine, while Sam Gallipeau, Flux’s in-house designer, in a gray quarter zip, inspects the other side of the engine. Behind them are work benches and industrial shelves. A small crane lifts the engine

Innovation

Reinventing the Outboard

June 9, 2021

A photo of food shaped to look like microbes

Microbiomes

“Synthetic Ecology” Seeks to Boost Health by Engineering the Environment

May 20, 2021

A photo of a mushroom with a red head and white dots

Soil Microbiome

Why Scientists Want to Solve an Underground Mystery about Where Microbes Live

May 7, 2021

An aerial view of a forest

Climate Change

Northern Forest Fires Could Accelerate Climate Change

April 29, 2021

A photo of Mario Kart. Mario is visible in his kart holding a coin on the Rainbow Road level.

Sustainable Development

Could Mario Kart Teach Us How to Reduce World Poverty and Improve Sustainability?

April 5, 2021

Photo of large white wind turbines in a dry, flat landscape. A blue sky with small clouds are seen.

Accolades

Bill Gates Climate Change Nonprofit Gives Kudos to BU Wind Farm Project

March 26, 2021

A composite of all 11 illustrations that appear below. From left to right -- Top Row: an illustration showing a man wearing a mask on his computer video chatting with a doctor. Crutches are seen leaning against a wall. Two orange prescription bottles are sitting on the desk next to the man. They are are the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration; an illustration of a woman sitting a cubicle with yellow and pink colored post it notes. The notes are the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration. Behind the woman's cubicle appears her kitchen; an illustration of an outdoor cafe dining area with several tables of people eating and conversing. The yellow table tops are the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration; an illustration of four people working on a mural. One of them is on a lift working higher up on the wall. The word "Justice" appears in red on the mural and is the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration. Second Row: An illustration of someone filling out a ballot with the word "Vote" printed at the top. Their phone and a cup of coffee next to the ballot indicate they are filling the ballot out at home. A red and blue stripe on the ballot are the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration;an illustration of a woman holding a child in her lap while working at a laptop. The child is holding a brown teddy bear, which is the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration; an illustration of two vehicles driving past a field that has wind turbines in it. The greenish yellow color of the vehicles is the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration; a photo of two children completing schoolwork at a laptop computer. The blue color of the computer screen is the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration. Third Row: An illustration of hands with different skin tones with fingers open and palms facing forward. An equal sign appears in front of the hands. The different skin tones are the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration; a photo of a group of cyclists. The green wheels on their bikes are the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration; an illustration of two hands holding a bowl with a fork in it. Behind the hands appear a house, factory, and trucks -- illustrating the food supply chain. The skin tone of the hands is the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration; an illustration of two people facing one another with transparent heads. Lines are drawn connecting the inside of their heads illustrating empathy. Yellow circles in the center of each head are the only color in the otherwise black and white illustration.

Essay Collection

What if Real Change—for a Better World—Came from the Pandemic?

March 17, 2021

Detail photo of a fluorescent pink deep sea soft coral with a squat lobster peaking out from inside the coral

Marine Science

The Deep Ocean Reveals Surprising Discovery about Immunity

March 12, 2021

A photo of a snow covered highway in The Woodlands, Texas. Only one or two cars are visible on the road.

Earth & Environment

Texas Deep Freeze Is a Reminder That Bad Weather Is Getting Worse

February 23, 2021

A photo of Joe Biden signing climate legislation at a desk in front of Vice President Kamala Harris and another administration officials

Environmental Policy

Three Key Takeaways from President Biden’s Rapid Movement on Climate Policy

January 29, 2021

Photo of Macken Murphy (CAS’20) sitting on a rock outside and staring of into the middle distance. He wears a black headband, black button down, and has a tattoo of an anchor on his left arm.

Environment & Ecology

CAS Alum Creates a Different Species of Podcast

January 13, 2021

A photo of a truck approaching a fracking rig

Fracking

What Is Biden’s Stance on Fracking?

December 9, 2020

Estimated fair market value of all properties in the United States (3D visualization).

Conservation Cost

Map of US Land Value Reveals Interplay of Climate Change, Conservation Efforts, Real Estate, and Environmental Values

November 20, 2020

A portrait photo of Tyler Sit

Religion

Tyler Sit, founding pastor, New City Church

November 18, 2020

A photo of water buffalo grazing

Wetlands

When Wildlife, Politics, and Morals Collide

November 5, 2020

When Wildlife, Politics, and Morals Collide