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Umair Irfan

Umair Irfan

Former correspondent

    Latest articles by Umair Irfan

    Science
    Texas’s wind and sunlight complement each other exceptionally well. That’s huge for its grid.Texas’s wind and sunlight complement each other exceptionally well. That’s huge for its grid.
    Science

    But is the state ready to reimagine its power grid?

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    The Supreme Court just declined to hear Exxon Mobil’s appeal in a climate change lawsuitThe Supreme Court just declined to hear Exxon Mobil’s appeal in a climate change lawsuit
    Climate

    Exxon will now have to turn over internal documents about its knowledge of climate change.

    By Umair Irfan
    Winters are warming faster than summers. These US cities could lose weeks of freezing days by 2050.
    Science

    The dire consequences of having fewer days below freezing, explained.

    By Kavya Sukumar and Umair Irfan
    The 10 new Democratic House committee chairs who are about to make Trump’s life hell
    Explainers

    2019 will be a year of investigations.

    By Andrew Prokop, Umair Irfan and 6 more
    Politics
    Ryan Zinke has resigned as interior secretaryRyan Zinke has resigned as interior secretary
    Politics

    Zinke made his mark opening huge swaths of public lands to fossil fuel interests and still faces numerous ethics investigations.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    Climate and energy news in 2018 actually wasn’t all badClimate and energy news in 2018 actually wasn’t all bad
    Climate

    Three big trends are helping us address the climate crisis: better technology, cheaper technology, and more ambitious policies.

    By David Roberts and Umair Irfan
    10 science stories in 2018 that made us go, “Whoa, that’s awesome”
    Science

    Fat bears, a new kilogram, and the stunning power of trees: our favorite science stories from 2018.

    By Brian Resnick, Umair Irfan and 2 more
    7 bad science and health ideas that should die with 2018
    Science

    Immigrants aren’t a disease risk. Neanderthals weren’t necessarily savages. Juul isn’t cool.

    By Umair Irfan, Julia Belluz and 1 more
    Politics
    The EPA wants to make it harder to limit toxic chemicals from power plantsThe EPA wants to make it harder to limit toxic chemicals from power plants
    Politics

    Toxic pollution standards save up to 17,000 lives per year, but the EPA wants to change how it measures the benefits.

    By Umair Irfan
    Science
    9 questions about climate change you were too embarrassed to ask9 questions about climate change you were too embarrassed to ask
    Science

    Basic answers to basic questions about global warming and the future climate.

    By Brad Plumer, Umair Irfan and 1 more