Weathered: Earth's Extremes

Can scientists and engineers slow the loss of sea ice before it's too late?

It turns out that the mysterious cold blob may actually be a bigger deal than we realize…

As climate change worsens, will people stop flocking to the South?

The 2025 LA Wildfires set a record as one of the most expensive and destructive in US history. As environmental shifts accelerate extreme fire conditions and communities expand into fire-prone landscapes, these devastating wildfires are becoming more common. But are they inevitable?

A mysterious patch in the Pacific Ocean is defying all climate models - it is inexplicably cooling while the rest of the world is warming. Stretching off the west coast of Ecuador, this “cold tongue” challenges what we know about fundamental ocean and atmospheric currents, and has big implications for weather systems throughout the world.

After a viral study inspired a campaign to plant 20 million trees, we went to see if they survived. In this episode of Weathered, we get into the surprising origins of the trillion tree campaign, how it nearly ended the careers of the scientists behind it, and what actually works when it comes to storing carbon and tackling climate change. Spoiler: it’s not just planting trees.

New evidence suggests that West Antarctica - which holds around 5 METERS of sea level rise - is melting a lot faster than scientists once thought.

What really causes Earth’s climate to change? Some people point to natural cycles, like solar activity or orbital changes, to explain today’s warming. And they’re not entirely wrong, but they’re missing the full picture. In this episode of Weathered, we break down ice ages, CO2 feedback loops, and why today’s climate change is different from anything in Earth’s past.

Some of the fastest-growing metros in the U.S. are also the riskiest when it comes to climate change. And we’ve long puzzled: WHY? In this episode, we explore how the Great Recession, liberal housing policy and well-intentioned community decision-making have fueled our nationwide housing crisis and helped drive people to move into harm’s way.

Heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the U.S. and many places around the world, and it's only getting worse. The most deadly heat waves so far have been dry heat waves. But a new threat is rising: humid heat waves, aka wet-bulb events.

In this episode of Weathered, we dig into the science behind the Cascadia Megaquake, why the Pacific Northwest is especially vulnerable, and how climate change could make it worse. We explore what you can do to stay safe and why your community might be your best line of defense.

Low-lying island nations are truly ground zero when it comes to sea level rise. But, a series of studies seemed to show that many islands seemed to be GROWING, not sinking as they were predicted to do. So, what’s going on? Are islands invisible to sea level rise, and what does that mean for coastal areas around the world?

For generations, we’ve been pumping water out of the ground assuming it would last forever. But, it’s running out. And a new study shows how global “peak water” could be just around the corner. In this episode, we’ll find out WHEN and WHERE peak water is expected to hit.