Anuradha Varanasi, Author at State of the Planet

A comparison of forest cover before the British established a colony in New Zealand (left) versus today (right).

How Colonialism Spawned and Continues to Exacerbate the Climate Crisis

Colonialism was motivated by the promise of plundering the environment and subjugating populations. Its legacy makes it far more challenging to address the climate crisis and implement equitable solutions.

by |September 21, 2022
Paul olsen

You Asked: Dinosaurs Survived When CO2 Was Extremely High. Why Can’t Humans?

Our expert says: Although carbon dioxide levels have been much higher in the past, they generally increased slowly, giving plants and animals time to adapt. When the rate of climate change was staggeringly fast, like today, there were big problems.

by |September 20, 2022
safaa suliman

Safaa Suliman Sees Dental Care as an Integral Part of Public Health

An epidemiology student and pediatric dentist who works with marginalized communities, Suliman wants policymakers to understand the importance of oral health and prioritize it.

by |July 27, 2022
A smoggy sunset in Delhi, India.

Unraveling the Interconnections Between Air Pollutants and Climate Change

Getting rid of some air pollutants might aggravate global warming. Here’s how.

by |July 22, 2022
manishka de mel and cynthia rosenzweig post with their book

Manishka De Mel: Helping People and Ecosystems Adapt to Climate Change

At the Center for Climate Systems Research, she translates information about climate risks to support resilience-building in developing countries.

by |June 24, 2022
nissan leaf charging in a snowy parking lot

How Electric Vehicles Could Fix the Grid

Local governments and policymakers are anxious about the U.S. grid’s ability to withstand ever-increasing demand. Consumers could hold the key to an untapped resource.

by |May 11, 2022
dean linda fried in front of a white board

Linda Fried: From Redefining Aging to Spearheading Research on Climate and Health

She helped establish the nation’s first program in a school of public health that delves into the complexities of climate change’s health impacts, and she continues to be a leader in the field.

by |March 8, 2022
faye mcneill headshot

Faye McNeill Combats Air Pollution, From the Molecular to the Global Scale

The first woman to earn tenure in Columbia’s chemical engineering department, McNeill is working for cleaner air in developing countries.

by |March 8, 2022
raheja posing on a jet

Data Scientist Garima Raheja Is Addressing the Environmental Justice Issues of Air Pollution

She’s using air quality sensors to measure how air pollution impacts disadvantaged people in the U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa.

by |October 19, 2021

Allegra Chen-Carrel Explores How Groups Can Co-Exist Peacefully

She’s working with the Sustaining Peace Project to investigate what helps to maintain long-term peace in societies.

by |July 7, 2021