Bringing up baby
Beware the return of the world’s most powerful climatic phenomenon
IT IS a long way from the western Pacific Ocean to the flooded streets of Buenos Aires where, this month, the city’s Good Samaritans have been distributing food and candles by kayak after some unseasonably heavy rain. But there is a link. Its name is El Niño.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Bringing up baby”
From the August 22nd 2015 edition
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Elon Musk is causing problems for the Royal Society
His continued membership has led to a high-profile resignation
Deforestation is costing Brazilian farmers millions
Without trees to circulate moisture, the land is getting hotter and drier
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They could soon show their moves in settings from car factories to care homes
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A mystery is finally being solved
Scientific publishers are producing more papers than ever
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The two types of human laugh
One is caused by tickling; the other by everything else