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Western US Sees Record Low Snowfall: What This Means for Winter Weather Trends

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Last weekend’s winter storm may have covered much of the country with significant snow and ice, but winter has yet to fully arrive in the Western United States. Several states are grappling with snow-induced drought.

According to Peter Goble, the assistant state climatologist, Colorado is experiencing its lowest snowfall amounts on record for this time of year. “All of our mountain ranges are well below normal,” he reported.

Utah is facing a similar predicament.

“We’re in uncharted territory right now, heading toward our lowest snowfall ever by February 1,” stated Kevin Perry, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Utah.

Scientists are increasingly alarmed about the implications for water supplies and wildfire risks later this year. Mountain snowpack in Western states serves as a crucial water source in spring and summer, directly impacting agricultural irrigation, wildfire dangers, and hydroelectric power generation.

Western snowpack data is sourced from the National Resource Conservation Service, which monitors more than 800 high-elevation monitoring stations across several mountain basins. Their measurements show that nearly all basins in the continental U.S. West are trending below average.

Only a few basins in the western United States are near average snow levels.
Natural Resource Conservation Services

While it’s not uncommon for some basins to fall below historical averages, it’s rare for nearly all Western regions to be facing snowfall deficits.

In Washington state, a recent climb to Mount St. Helens in mid-January revealed conditions resembling June rather than mid-winter, exposing large areas of volcanic rock near the crater’s rim.

The causes of the snow drought differ by region; however, unusually warm winter temperatures have resulted in more precipitation falling as rain rather than snow. Such was the case during a December atmospheric river storm in the Pacific Northwest.

“Washington, Oregon, California, and many Western states recorded their warmest December on record, leading to torrential rains and flooding not limited to mountainous areas,” mentioned Philip Mort, a professor at Oregon State University’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

Currently, moisture flow has significantly diminished in the northwest.

In Utah, early seasonal rains during November and December melted lower-elevation snow, leaving the Wasatch Mountains looking heavily peak-laden, Perry noted.

“The high-elevation snowpack is relatively good,” said Perry, “but there’s a significant lack of low and mid-elevation snow.”

Colorado continues to experience hot and dry conditions.

“December 2025 was 9 degrees warmer than the statewide average and the warmest recorded since 1895,” Goble noted.

California’s snowpack, known for its boom-bust cycles, is looking better, especially in the southern Sierra Nevada, where several basins report above-average snowpack levels.

December 29th at Lake Tahoe in Glenbrook, Nevada.
Al Drago/Getty Images

However, immediate relief for the remaining areas thirsting for snow is unlikely.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts: Dry weather across much of the West for the next two weeks along with temperatures above average in the coming month.

Mort suggests that regions west of the Cascade Mountains might recover with a few significant storms later this winter or spring.

However, in most parts of eastern Washington and Idaho, “the story seems already written, making change unlikely,” he explains.

Scientists are grappling with measuring climate change impacts on snowpack, as rising temperatures alter precipitation patterns. Snowfall trends are also swayed by natural fluctuations. A 2024 study in *Nature* indicated that climate change is responsible for the snowpack decline across the Northern Hemisphere.

Mort’s data on the western United States indicates a dramatic decrease.

“The narrative becomes clearer and more somber,” he stated.

If low snow conditions persist, it will exacerbate already tense negotiations among seven Western states over the distribution of the Colorado River’s water, crucial for 40 million residents. River flows are diminishing due to prolonged drought and the fact that users are allowed to withdraw more water annually than is available.

Earlier this month, the Bureau of Reclamation released draft water management strategies supporting 5.5 million acres of agricultural and hydropower operations across California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

States are actively negotiating long-term strategies for managing the river’s water to prevent Lake Mead and Lake Powell dams from experiencing “dead pool” conditions that would halt downstream river flows. However, reports indicate that these negotiations have stalled.

“In the short term, a low snow year could heighten the urgency to finalize these agreements,” said Goble.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

EU Carbon Border Tax: What It Means for Global Emissions Reduction by 2026

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New Import Duties for Non-EU Steel

Credit: Yusuf Aslan / Alamy

The European Union is poised to implement carbon tariffs starting January 1, marking a significant shift in international climate policy. This initiative targets countries lagging in carbon emissions reductions, introducing financial penalties that will aim to hold companies accountable for their environmental impact.

Countries affected by these carbon taxes are expressing discontent, as tensions rise around the EU’s carbon border tariffs, officially labeled under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Anticipate trade disputes, but these taxes are expected to persist, with analysts like Ellie Belton from E3G predicting global adoption of similar measures.

Belton notes, “We can foresee carbon border adjustment mechanisms emerging globally.” The UK is set to implement its version by 2027, with countries such as Australia, Canada, and Taiwan also contemplating the adoption of carbon tariffs.

The EU’s carbon border tax extends the existing carbon pricing framework established in 2005. Since then, EU industries with high carbon emissions have been subject to costs associated with carbon allowances under the emissions trading system. Currently, the carbon price stands at approximately 76 euros per tonne of CO2.

This pricing disparity means EU steel producers face higher costs compared to their counterparts in nations without carbon pricing. The newly introduced tariffs strive to level the playing field, adjusting import tariffs to align with internal EU carbon prices.

For countries already employing carbon pricing, the EU will impose only the price difference on imports. Besides steel, other industries affected by border taxes include iron, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, hydrogen, and electricity.

The primary goal is to prevent carbon leakage, where industries relocate to jurisdictions with less stringent environmental regulations. “The EU insists on no exemptions, as these would create pollution havens,” Belton emphasizes.

Additionally, this policy aims to encourage global efforts in reducing carbon emissions. Countries like Brazil and Türkiye have already implemented their own carbon pricing mechanisms in response to the EU’s initiative.

In 2023, the EU finalized plans for the carbon border adjustment mechanism, launching a pilot scheme in October that required businesses to declare emissions. Effective January 1, companies will begin accruing charges, gradually increasing until full implementation by 2034.

British firms are anticipated to avoid taxation under the UK’s own carbon border adjustment mechanism as negotiations continue to ensure compatibility with EU regulations.

Ideally, a unified carbon border adjustment system across nations would enhance economic influence and comparative power in global forums. However, Belton foresees a fragmented landscape of varied carbon pricing approaches worldwide.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Naturally, Mark Zuckerberg is still performing well—he’s just redefined what ‘good’ means

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It’s a narrative straight out of a novel—this heavy-handed tech satire highlights the hypocrisy beneath it all. Yet here we are, digesting The New York Times report that reveals Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, running private schools from their compounds in Palo Alto, California, in breach of urban zoning laws. The school, serving just 14 children—including two of the couple’s three daughters—is located less than a mile from a school they founded in 2016 for low-income families.

Mention “zoning violation” to certain Americans, and it triggers reactions akin to using “cue jumpers” among the British. The real issue here, however, transcends mere permissions. (A spokesperson for Zuckerberg and Chan informed the newspaper that families were unaware of the zoning law and that private schools, or “homeschooner pods,” are relocating elsewhere.) The crux lies in Zuckerberg’s apparent withdrawal from progressive social initiatives, opting instead to realign with the Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), which has slashed funding for diversity programs across numerous charities that support affordable housing and homeless services in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Officially, these adjustments come after CZI spent a decade mastering effective philanthropy, concluding that funding would be better directed towards scientific and medical initiatives. Unofficially, this shift appears to align with a local transformation in Zuckerberg’s worldview—from promoting human potential and equality to the establishment of a “science-first charity.” In essence, it mirrors Metahead’s political maneuverings, echoing feminist t-shirt slogans during the Biden administration while embodying a more “masculine energy” during the Trump era. Trump’s Allies now lurk in the metaverse.

Zuckerberg’s political adaptability mirrors that of other tech leaders, but there may be deeper dynamics at play. Unlike scientific research, philanthropy’s social experiments often reveal uncomfortable truths. Back in 2010, when Zuckerberg donated $100 million to revitalize the Newark Public School System, some educators criticized him for imposing startup ideologies and quick fixes—like charter schools and “parent choices”—on the complex and interconnected issues of the U.S. public school system. Imagining the reactions at headquarters: “We’re trying to help—why the backlash? Why don’t these nobodies behave like billionaires at a dictator’s inauguration?”

Another interesting aspect about billionaires is their rapid loss of interest. Allegedly, one reason Zuckerberg and Chan opted to close charity schools in East Palo Alto is that Chan was reportedly frustrated with the slow progress. Given the intellects involved, that’s not entirely surprising. However, these children seem determined to evade the Ivy League while remaining impoverished. The assumption of limitless adaptability of skills among certain tech leaders is hard to retire. Consider the Bezos Day 1 Academy Fund, where the world’s third-richest man promises to oversee “Montessori-style kindergartens” with zero tuition—a significant portion of taxes directed toward national education funds.

Meanwhile, back in Zuckerberg’s Crescent Park enclave, tensions are palpable. In an area favored by Stanford professors, Zuckerberg acquired 11 properties, transforming them into compounds, complete with pickleball courts and basement excavations, reminiscent of low-rent oligarchs in London’s West End. Following years of noise, construction, and traffic disruptions due to the school, a neighbor was ready to respond when a New York Times reporter called: “I don’t want my neighborhood to be overrun.” He stated that his house is surrounded on three sides by Zuckerberg’s property. “But that’s exactly what they’ve done: they’ve taken over our neighborhood.” Replacing “world” with “neighborhood” succinctly encapsulated the situation.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gene Editing Could Soon Transform Our Meat: Here’s What It Means

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From hot dogs to crispy bacon, by 2026, many food staples in the US will utilize gene-edited meat. Indeed, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently given the green light to the agricultural use of certain genetically enhanced pigs. Other global regulators may soon follow suit.

But should we be concerned? Is this modified pork safe? And what about the ethics of creating these pigs?

Firstly, it’s important to note that not all gene-edited animals are produced in a laboratory setting. Instead, these livestock come from animals whose DNA has been modified early in their development, often conferring advantageous traits starting from a single cell or fertilized egg.

This gene editing isn’t focused on enhancing pork flavor; it’s primarily aimed at safeguarding the pigs from diseases.

For instance, a UK company is currently developing genetic modifications in pigs that render them resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), a virus that significantly weakens the immune system of pigs. PRRS poses a serious threat, leading to the deaths of piglets, miscarriages in pregnant sows, and increased vulnerability to other infections.

Pork is the third most consumed meat in the United States after chicken and beef.

These genetically enhanced pigs are significant particularly because there is currently no effective vaccine for PRRS.

The stakes are high, with efforts to manage PRRS costing the US pork industry about $1.2 billion (£878 million) each year.

When the virus does break through, the implications can be dire. In 2006, a pandemic in China infected over 2 million pigs, resulting in 400,000 deaths.

CRISPR Bacon

How much have these pigs really changed? That’s a valid concern. However, the actual modifications are surprisingly minor.

To combat the PRRS virus, scientists have edited out a portion of the CD163 protein in the pig’s DNA, which the virus uses to invade pig cells.

Pigs with this genetic modification show resistance to nearly all known strains of PRRS, but they are otherwise similar to conventional pigs. Despite initial fears that viruses could evolve to bypass edited proteins, this hasn’t occurred.

Dr. Christine Tait-Burkard, a researcher at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute, describes the original CD163 protein as “like nine beads on a string,” with only one bead—the fifth one—removed during editing.

This minor alteration is sufficient to block viral infection, she elucidates, while not significantly affecting other protein functions (such as those involved in clearing damaged red blood cells).

Interestingly, the gene rearrangement could also occur naturally in some pigs. “It’s possible there is a pig somewhere in the world resistant to this virus,” Tait-Burkard states. “However, we don’t have the luxury of time for natural breeding, so we must utilize biotechnology to introduce it into our breeding programs.”

The editing employs a toolkit known as CRISPR, a Nobel Prize-winning technology that has gained popularity in scientific research for its efficiency, precision, and affordability. The CRISPR tool uses a “guide” sequence to target DNA, employing protein “scissors”—naturally occurring proteins found in bacteria—to make necessary cuts. Minor adjustments, such as those seen in PRRS-resistant pigs, disable particular genes.

A New Norm?

Once they hit grocery store shelves, PRRS-resistant pigs are expected to become the first widely consumed gene-edited animals. However, they are not the first genetically modified products available to consumers.

Hypoallergenic “Gal Safe” Pork, designed for consumers with meat allergies, received approval in 2020. In 2022, the FDA also approved a type of cow known as Smooth cow—a breed enhanced with traits from naturally occurring genetic variants in tropical cows for shorter hair and better heat recovery. Additionally, genetically modified “Aquadvantage” Salmon is available in the US, albeit primarily sold in restaurants.

The situation is more complex across the Atlantic. As it stands, gene-edited foods cannot be marketed in the EU, and legislation for Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) in the UK lays groundwork for breeding gene-edited crops, but it has not yet been extended to animals.

Even if regulations evolve globally, will consumers be eager to purchase gene-edited sausages and bacon?

The labeling for this new gene-edited pork remains undecided, but Dr. Katie Sanders, a communications specialist at North Carolina State University, suggests that there is greater potential for consumer acceptance compared to traditional genetically modified (GM) foods. This perception stems from the belief that gene-edited products appear more natural.

In the past, genetically modified (GM) crops stirred up fears and headlines focused on “frankenfood.” However, many of these crops were ultimately approved, with most scientists considering them safe for consumption. These GM crops often incorporate foreign genes—like “Bt” corn, which carries genes from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis to repel insect pests.

In contrast, the current wave of CRISPR-edited foods only features modifications that could naturally occur within the species. Scientists have not created an entirely new variety of pigs.

Sanders and her colleagues, along with associate professor Jean Parera at Texas A&M University, conducted a national survey of more than 2,000 Americans to gauge attitudes towards CRISPR-edited pork. While results await publication, Sanders notes that respondents generally indicated a likelihood to purchase CRISPR-edited pork.

This trend was especially noted in urban populations (compared to rural ones) and among those with lower educational attainment (as opposed to individuals with degrees).

In 2006, PRRS outbreaks in China affected over 2 million pigs, leading to 400,000 deaths.

When asked how producers can persuade more consumers to adopt gene-edited meat, Parrella emphasized the importance of “responsible use and ethical considerations surrounding CRISPR applications.”

Initial marketing of PRRS-resistant pigs highlights these ethical considerations, demonstrating they have been addressed. A division of the industry, known as The Pig Improvement Company—yes, that’s its actual name—underscores benefits like enhanced animal welfare, reduced antibiotic reliance, and positive environmental effects.

If their messaging resonates, could more gene-edited animals find their way to our dinner tables? Perhaps. Scientists at the Roslin Institute are currently researching edits to combat other livestock diseases, including the bovine diarrhea virus.

However, Tait-Burkard cautions that engineering resistance to specific viruses, like avian influenza, may pose more significant challenges or require edits harmful to animal cells. The proteins they edited for pig PRR resistance are “excellent targets,” but they are challenging to identify.

For traits linked to productivity, such as improved breeding and meat quality, the agricultural sector is already refining efficient breeding techniques to achieve these objectives. As such, it’s unlikely that costly gene editing will be utilized to create “super” meat anytime soon.

Nonetheless, if gene editing can enhance animal protection, minimize antibiotics, and alleviate environmental burdens, it could swiftly transition from novelty to normalcy—provided animal welfare remains uncompromised.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

AI May Have Already Altered One of Your Memories: Here’s What It Means

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You might have come across videos online featuring Donald Trump and Elon Musk. These clips recreate iconic scenes from shows like Breaking Bad. Additionally, you may have seen footage of them dancing to the classic hit “YMCA” at the Great Year Day Party.

The catch is that while one of these scenarios actually took place, the other is a fabrication created using artificial intelligence (AI). You may recall both events, but can you tell which one is *?

In psychological terms, the “source monitoring framework” illustrates how we identify the origins of our memories.

This framework treats the source of a memory as a cohesive unit of information, encoded alongside other elements of our experiences.

However, the “tags” that denote the origins of a memory can easily fade, leaving other aspects intact.

As a result, AI-generated clips may blur in our minds with actual events, which is a growing concern as the quality of AI videos continues to improve.

Many of us hold fragmented memories but often struggle to distinguish what’s real from imagined scenarios – Credit: Gary Yowell via Getty

This dissociation between memory content and its origin is a common occurrence. You may recognize the actor on screen, yet find yourself unable to recall any other films or shows he has appeared in.

Such memory lapses help elucidate how “false memories” can easily form, as demonstrated in studies by Professor Elizabeth Loftus.

Her research indicates that when certain ideas are suggested to us, we may foster them in our own minds but later forget their original source, leading us to confuse them with genuine experiences.

According to Loftus’s findings, AI can easily plant numerous false memories in our minds, particularly when we consume artificial content in environments similar to those where we consume authentic news.

This raises critical questions about how to label AI-generated content and how to help people remember that it is fictional.

*For clarification, the dance at the New Year’s Eve party was indeed real.

This article responds to the inquiry (posed by Christopher Wiley of Birmingham): “Does artificial intelligence give us false memories?”

Please email us your questions at Question @sciencefocus.com or reach out via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (please include your name and location).

Explore more of our ultimate Fun facts and captivating science pages

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Who is Casey Means and Did Trump Appoint Her as Surgeon General?

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On Wednesday, President Trump remarked that, similar to general surgeons, doctors educated at Stanford have increasingly vocalized concerns about the influence of corporations on medicine and health.

Dr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a supporter of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., expressed that founding medicine can lead to feelings of disillusionment. Last year, she and her sibling, Calley Means, gained attention after appearing on Tucker Carlson’s show, where Carlson serves as a White House health advisor and a former food industry lobbyist.

Dr. Means, trained as an ENT and head and neck surgeon, left her surgical training incomplete to pursue functional medicine, which focuses on identifying the underlying causes of disease. Last year, she released a diet and self-help book titled “Good Energy: Amazing Connections between Metabolism and Infinite Health.” Before that, she was primarily known for founding a company that offered wearable glucose monitors for health tracking.

Her work emphasizes the rising prevalence of chronic diseases in the United States, addressing issues related to obesity, diabetes, infertility, chemical and drug therapies, and sedentary lifestyles among the American population.

In line with some of Kennedy’s skepticism regarding vaccines, Dr. Means urged the new administration to reconsider the liability protections granted to vaccine manufacturers in order to promote research into “cumulative effects” and the development of new vaccines.

“Emerging evidence suggests that the heavy burden of the current extensive vaccine schedule is impacting the health of vulnerable children,” she stated. I discussed this in my October newsletter.

Experts in child health remain strongly opposed to reducing the list of recommended vaccinations, warning that such modifications could result in severe outbreaks of infectious diseases. They also emphasize that the government is responsible for both the safety data used in vaccine licensing and that gathered post-implementation.

Dr. Means is spearheading a collaborative initiative to modify corporate-friendly practices concerning food and medical production and sales. This includes promoting healthier diets in public schools, researching chemical usage in American food products, advocating for warning labels on ultra-processed foods, restricting drug company advertising to patients on television, and mitigating the industry’s influence over food and drug regulators.

“American health is being compromised,” she stated. During a Senate Roundtable Event addressing food and nutrition in September, she remarked, “If the current trends persist, we will face social instability at best, diminishing America’s competitiveness, or at worst, a level of health disruption akin to genocide.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

The covert means by which insects (and their excrement) disperse plants globally

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The plant produces a juicy, sweet fruit with a secret seed inside, which entices fruit-eating mammals like toucans, flying foxes, and orangutans to take a bite.

As these animals travel and digest their meals, they pass the fruit seeds through their waste. This method has helped plants that cannot move disperse seeds over larger areas.

This process has been crucial for ecosystems for a long time, but recent research indicates that insects and invertebrates also play a significant role in seed dispersal.

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Ants are the most well-known seed-dispersing insects, spreading seeds from plants containing special oil bodies called elaiosomes. These seeds are then carried to ant nests, where the ants eat the elaiosomes and discard the seeds either on the surface or deep underground.

Other insects are also thought to aid in seed dispersal, particularly for non-green plants that parasitize other plants or consume fungi for nutrients.

For example, small woodlice distribute seeds from parasitic bell-shaped plants, helping in the growth of new plants.

In New Zealand, researchers found that wetter crickets help in the dispersal of plant seeds by feeding on them and spreading them through their waste. This phenomenon is important for areas where ground-dwelling mammals are not present.

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Research also shows that Japanese camel crickets play a role in dispersing seeds by eating and expelling them. This is significant as insects may have a broader role in seed dispersal than previously thought.

This challenges the traditional understanding of seed dispersal and highlights the importance of insects in ecosystem functioning.

About our experts

Professor Ellen Sims is a biologist at the University of California, Berkeley, with published work in magazines such as BMC Ecology and Ecology Letters.

Professor Kevin Banks is a field biologist at Victoria University of Wellington, with work published in journals like Plant Ecology and Ecological Research.

Professor Kenji Suetsugu is a biologist at Kobe University, with work published in journals like Ecology and New Botanist.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com