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Umair Irfan

Umair Irfan

Former correspondent

    Latest articles by Umair Irfan

    Climate
    4 winners and 4 losers from Biden’s climate leader summit4 winners and 4 losers from Biden’s climate leader summit
    Climate

    Winner: Joe Biden. Loser: The coal industry.

    By Benji Jones, Umair Irfan and 3 more
    Explainers
    5 things to know about the new US climate commitment5 things to know about the new US climate commitment
    Explainers

    It’s the most ambitious target to date, but it still may not be big enough to atone for our outsize emissions.

    By Umair Irfan
    Technology
    This climate policy expert is taking over Jeff Bezos’s $10 billion Earth FundThis climate policy expert is taking over Jeff Bezos’s $10 billion Earth Fund
    Technology

    A conversation with Andrew Steer about the US Earth Day climate summit, and how he wants to spend Bezos’s money.

    By Umair Irfan
    Explainers
    It’s not your imagination; allergy season gets worse every year.It’s not your imagination; allergy season gets worse every year.
    Explainers

    The annual pollenocalypse is here.

    By Umair Irfan
    Science
    Why Johnson & Johnson shots were paused — and why that’s so confusingWhy Johnson & Johnson shots were paused — and why that’s so confusing
    Science

    The logic and challenge behind the FDA and CDC’s decision to temporarily halt the one-shot vaccine.

    By Umair Irfan
    Technology
    Biden wants to give electric cars a huge boost. Will people buy them?Biden wants to give electric cars a huge boost. Will people buy them?
    Technology

    His infrastructure plan calls for more EV chargers, incentives for buyers, and more US manufacturing.

    By Umair Irfan
    Explainers
    AstraZeneca’s absurd and unprecedented dispute with regulators, explainedAstraZeneca’s absurd and unprecedented dispute with regulators, explained
    Explainers

    The company said its Covid-19 vaccine developed with Oxford had 76 percent efficacy in the US after a rare public rebuke from the NIH.

    By Umair Irfan
    Explainers
    What the heck is going on with the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe?What the heck is going on with the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe?
    Explainers

    The EU’s top health regulator ruled the vaccine “safe and effective” after a distribution pause.

    By Umair Irfan
    Explainers
    Why the decline in US Covid-19 testing is so alarmingWhy the decline in US Covid-19 testing is so alarming
    Explainers

    Testing is critical for staying ahead of the new variants.

    By Umair Irfan
    Explainers
    Why every state is vulnerable to a Texas-style power crisisWhy every state is vulnerable to a Texas-style power crisis
    Explainers

    “The infrastructure we have built right now really isn’t ready.”

    By Umair Irfan