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Environment and Biology

Protecting Earth’s ecosystems and understanding the evolution of life are essential to our shared future. The National Academies study biodiversity, climate change, and the biological sciences to inform conservation and support environmental health. Explore research that helps communities adapt, protect nature, and build a more sustainable world. Learn more about our Climate Crossroads initiative.

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The Science of Extreme Event Attribution — Which Analyzes Climate Change’s Influence on Specific Weather Events — Has Advanced, But Challenges Remain

News Release

A new report from the National Academies provides a comprehensive assessment of the current capabilities of extreme event attribution (EEA) — a scientific field that analyzes whether and to what extent human-caused climate change influenced an individual extreme weather event, such as a heat wave or large-scale heavy rainfall.

Jul 15, 2026
Dry field stock photo cracked ground, small plants

U.S. Needs New Drought Assessment Framework as Droughts Become More Severe and Unpredictable

News Release

As droughts in the United States become more frequent and longer-lasting, new assessment tools are needed. A new National Academies report examines how the field of drought assessment can better account for shifting drought conditions and proposes a framework to support drought monitoring, planning, and decision-making to meet future challenges.

Jun 30, 2026
Low water levels at Oroville Lake during a drought in Oroville, California

Best Practices, Opportunities for Plugging Orphan Wells Identified in New Report

News Release

Potentially hundreds of thousands of orphaned oil and gas wells across the U.S. remain unplugged or were sealed before modern standards existed, and pose risks to public health, the environment, and nearby communities. A new National Academies report examines technologies and best practices for plugging and remediating orphan wells.

Jun 11, 2026
Photo of the old rusty oil rigs with preasure valve

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