Science

As scientists watch the 11-year cycle of increasing and decreasing sunspots, they are finding that the Sun seems to be in an unusually calm period. The observation raises questions about the Sun's influence on climate.

Marine biologist Jane Lubchenco now heads one of the U.S. government’s key agencies researching climate change -- the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, Lubchenco discusses the central role her agency is playing in understanding the twin threats of global warming and ocean acidification.

"The largest, most sophisticated tornado chase ever assembled has been roaming the Great Plains for the past five weeks looking to crack some of the basic mysteries about the wildest storms on Earth."