Nicholas School researchers have identified a connection between marine heatwaves and moving bands of moisture in the air, called atmospheric rivers. Their study, funded by NASA, could lead to improved predictions of marine heatwaves and a better understanding of how climate change factors in.

‘Rivers in the Sky’ Influence Marine Heatwaves

The effect depends on the season and the region.

nicholas.duke.edu

You've likely heard of microplastics — tiny bits of colored plastic that contaminate air, food and water. A new study by Drew Shindell and an international team of researchers reveals an unexpected threat: Airborne microplastics are heating the planet.

Microplastics Show Unexpected Link to Climate Warming

A new study indicates that colored bits of airborne plastic absorb heat, warming the atmosphere.

nicholas.duke.edu

Researchers including Dan Richter and Ph.D. student Anselme Dossou analyzed soil and wildfire ash from Southern California neighborhoods burned in 2025. Their findings reveal wide variation in contamination by potentially harmful elements, including lead.

Digging Beneath the Surface: What the Palisades and Eaton Fires Left Behind

A chemical analysis of residential soils and ash around California homes burned by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires in early 2025 revealed wide variation in contamination by potentially harmful eleme...

nicholas.duke.edu

From the Western Antarctic Peninsula to the Arctic tundra, from the microscopic to the titanic, Nicholas School teams have been learning how organisms, cultural practices and physical processes are tied to extreme environments. Read more about our interdisciplinary and collaborative polar research:

Postcards From the Poles

From the Arctic to Antarctica, researchers from the Nicholas School of the Environment are exploring how organisms, cultural practices and physical processes are tied to extreme environments.

nicholas.duke.edu

Can Emerging Tech Help Protect The North Atlantic Right Whale? NYT quotes MGEL on the lab’s efforts to integrate new North Atlantic right whale detection methods into forecasts. There is promise, but practical application will take years, while current regulations are in doubt. shorturl.at/PzvOw

Could New Tech Help Save Some Very Rare Whales?

nytimes.com

Extreme heat is reshaping ecosystems, human health and communities. Nicholas School researchers are studying topics ranging from heat stress on coral reefs to the potential links between rising temperatures and kidney disease in agricultural communities.

Extreme Heat Is Rising. What Are Duke Researchers Learning About Its Impacts? | Duke Today

today.duke.edu

What if offshore wind farms could support marine life and fisheries? New research led by Brian Silliman outlines a roadmap for "ecotech," which draws inspiration from nature to solve environmental, economic and social challenges.

Introducing Ecotech, Nature’s Innovation Accelerator

The field unites principles in biology, engineering and earth sciences to develop scalable solutions to urgent environmental, social and economic challenges.

nicholas.duke.edu

Allergy season is longer & tougher on millions of people. Researchers @dukeenvironment.bsky.social study how changes to the life cycles of trees may fuel rising pollen levels as Duke Health clinicians help patients manage allergy symptoms & related conditions. More: duke.is/r/46ah #allergies

A state government leader. A Disney sustainability manager. A timberland investor. This Earth Day, the latest Nicholas Narratives features seven alumni reflecting on their Duke journeys and where they are now. 🌎💙 duke.is/earthday

Earth Ambassadors

From organizing N.C. government sustainability efforts to tracking carbon emissions for Disney, these Nicholas School alums bring environmental science to bear across economic sectors.

duke.is

The March Research Rundown examines the geochemistry of South America's lithium trove, the impact of tree structure on seasons, how disaster damage shapes policy support, and the influence of stingrays on seagrass growth.

March 2026 Research Rundown: Lithium Brine, Canopy Gaps, Fire Resilience, Stingray Disturbance

Research highlights from across the Nicholas School.

nicholas.duke.edu

The vast, boundless waters surrounding Antarctica play an outsize role in global climate, largely thanks to plankton that soak up carbon. A new DNA survey led by researchers, including Nicolas Cassar, offers fresh insight into their role in climate change.

Researchers Uncover Hidden Genetic World in Antarctic Waters

The discovery of vast numbers of previously unknown microbial genes in Antarctic waters could improve understanding of how the ocean shapes Earth’s climate.

nicholas.duke.edu

New research from the Nicholas School found that certain patterns in ocean salt distribution can drive more intense El Niño events. The work could inform future forecasting efforts.

Does Ocean Saltiness Influence El Niño?

Researchers from the Nicholas School of the Environment found that variability in ocean salt content affects El Niño intensity.

nicholas.duke.edu

In this month's Research Rundown: Tree growth tradeoffs in a warming world, air purifiers and fire smoke, wild rice stewards, and a predator-like threat to whales.

February 2026 Research Rundown: Tree Growth Tradeoffs, Fire Smoke and Air Purifiers, Wild Rice Stewards, and Goose-Beaked Whale Behavior

Research highlights from across the Nicholas School.

nicholas.duke.edu

The Nicholas School and the Duke Divinity School are pleased to announce new concurrent degree programs at the intersection of theological studies and environmental issues.

New Concurrent Degree Programs With Nicholas School of the Environment and Duke Divinity School

The new programs build on Duke University’s unique interdisciplinary connections and academic strengths at the intersection of theological studies, environmental issues and public policy.

nicholas.duke.edu

What do we know about the effects of historic lithium mining on North Carolina water quality? A team from the Nicholas School of the Environment recently reported results from a study on surface water and groundwater:

When Water Meets Rock: Exploring Water Quality Impacts From Legacy Lithium Mining in North Carolina

By investigating the residual effects of lithium mining on the quality of North Carolina water resources, researchers from the Nicholas School of the Environment shed light on potential impacts from f...

nicholas.duke.edu

The Nicholas School and African Parks — a leading conservation nonprofit based in Johannesburg, South Africa — have launched a research partnership to better understand the ripple effects of rewilding on biodiversity. Learn more ⬇️

Duke University to Partner With African Parks to Restore Savannas, Launch Historic Research Partnership

The Nicholas School of the Environment will collaborate with conservationists in Africa to assess and expand upon efforts to restore degraded ecosystems through native species reintroduction.

nicholas.duke.edu

Duke researchers and students traveled across Nepal, from Lumbini to Lo Manthang, to explore how climate change is impacting people and communities. Read the latest Nicholas Narrative ⬇️

Lumbini to Lo Manthang: Exploring Ties Between Climate, Health and Society in Nepal

The effects of climate change are pronounced in Nepal, a country of diverse people and landscapes. During a three-week trip through the South Asian country, Duke students gained perspective on the ine...

nicholas.duke.edu

How can ocean projects better respect Indigenous rights? A new tool called the Ocean Equity Index, developed by an international team including the Nicholas School’s David Gill, offers a framework for fairness.

Researchers Develop User-Friendly Tool for Improving Ocean Equity

The Ocean Equity Index is a scorecard that anyone can use to assess the extent to which ocean projects and policies recognize relevant stakeholders, include them in decision-making and otherwise treat...

nicholas.duke.edu

As a Ph.D. student in marine science and conservation, Dana Grieco brought a community-centered approach to her research at Duke, including a Bass Connections project and a summer fellowship with NC Catch. Read more about her interdisciplinary journey at Duke:

A Community-Centered Path in Marine Science | Office of Interdisciplinary Programs

Dana Grieco’s path in marine science is guided by listening — to fishers, coastal communities and those whose livelihoods are shaped by a changing ocean.

interdisciplinary.duke.edu

Introducing the Research Rundown, a new feature that highlights papers published by faculty and students across the school’s four academic divisions. This month: electric vs. gas vehicles, microbe-embryo interactions, data center energy demand and classifying small-scale fisheries.

January 2026 Research Rundown: Electric Vehicles, Microbes and Embryos, Meta’s Energy Demand, Small-Scale Fisheries

Research highlights from across the Nicholas School.

nicholas.duke.edu

Deepfake whales, lithium mining, urban biodiversity and energy system forecasting are just a few of the topics explored in the Nicholas School’s top research and impact stories of 2025.

2025 in Review: The 10 Most Popular Stories of the Year

Deepfake whales, lithium mining, energy system forecasting: These are just a few of the topics explored in the Nicholas School’s top research and impact stories of 2025.

nicholas.duke.edu

A new Duke-led study has identified chemicals of concern in protective gear worn by firefighters.

Study Documents Potentially Hazardous Flame Retardants in Firefighter Gear

The study, led by Heather Stapleton, is the first published research in the U.S. to investigate and document the use of these flame retardants in firefighter turnout gear, worn for protection on the j...

nicholas.duke.edu

It's been 15 years since an independent performance review of the regulatory bodies that manage fisheries in two-thirds of our oceans. A new analysis led by Gabrielle Carmine, Ph.D.'25, and Pat Halpin’s lab, provides an updated picture.

High Seas Fisheries Management Falls Short of Mandates, Analysis Finds

The review comes as the United Nations prepares to enforce a new oceans treaty that will require collaboration with these management bodies.

nicholas.duke.edu

The late coastal geologist Orrin Pilkey frequently spoke about the dynamic nature of North Carolina's barrier islands. In this essay, Pilkey's son Charles explores the geologic processes that formed those islands, as well as other fascinating ocean features less visible to the eye.

What Lies Beneath

The ocean floor off North Carolina’s coast is a world unto itself, a time capsule of ancient geologic activity punctuated by signs of civilization and creatures rarely seen by human eyes. Essayist Cha...

nicholas.duke.edu

I have a @nytimes.com op-ed today on managing power demand growth. Central point: load growth is an opportunity to *offset* upward rate pressure (and avoid gas overbuild), if we plan the system to make fuller use of infrastructure we’ve already paid for. 🔌💡 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/o...

Congrats to Ph.D. student Tyler Norris, @tnorris.bsky.social, who was named to the 2025 TIME100 Climate list. His research on electric power systems is helping the tech and energy industries find ways to meet rising electricity demand using the existing grid. time.com/collections/...

Tyler Norris: The 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders of 2025

Find out why Tyler Norris is on TIME's 2025 list of the 100 most influential leaders driving business climate action.

time.com

As the anniversary of Hurricane Helene approaches, N.C. educators may be looking for resources to help students navigate challenging times. Ready, Set, Resilience — a middle school program from the Nicholas School and partners — uses nature-based stories to support them.

Roots of Resilience

Two hurricanes and a global pandemic exposed a need for youth mentorship in coastal North Carolina. What began as a training exercise in personal resilience has grown into an expansive middle school c...

nicholas.duke.edu

From studying deepfake whales as a conservation tool to conducting fieldwork in Malawi, it’s been a busy summer at the Nicholas School. Explore recent faculty and student research + impact highlights in our latest newsletter.

During a July ceremony at the 2025 Goldschmidt Conference in Prague, Avner Vengosh accepted the Clair C. Patterson Medal from the Geochemical Society. The annual award recognizes innovative contributions to environmental geochemistry, particularly in service to society.

Vengosh Receives Prestigious Patterson Medal for Innovation in Geochemistry

Named for a 20th-century geochemist who determined the age of Earth and the solar system, and who conducted foundational analyses of lead contamination in the environment, the annual award recognizes ...

nicholas.duke.edu

Duke experts from NSOE and @dukehealth.bsky.social are studying goose‑beaked whales, the ocean’s deepest‑diving mammals. Their extreme tolerance for low oxygen may offer clues for new treatments in humans for stroke, cancer and more. www.yahoo.com/news/article...

The deepest-diving whales could inspire new treatments for stroke and cancer

Goose-beaked whales hold the record for the deepest dive of any mammal. Researchers want to learn their secrets to develop new drugs for human diseases.

yahoo.com