In 2023, a basin-wide marine heatwave swept across the North Atlantic Ocean. Now, scientists have revealed what drove this unprecedented event.

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to examine the impact of climate-related risks on cryptocurrency volatility during crisis periods, focusing on the physical risk index (PRI)and transition risk index(TRI). It investigates how acute and chronic climate events, alongside regulatory and technological changes, influence market dynamics in major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Ripple.

Design/methodology/approach – A fuzzy logic model is employed to evaluate the effects of PRI and TRI on cryptocurrency volatility. The model’s accuracy is validated using root mean square error (RMSE) metrics to ensure reliability.

Findings – The results reveal that acute events (e.g. hurricanes and wildfires) and chronic risks (e.g. long-term environmental disruptions) significantly heighten cryptocurrency volatility. Transition risks, including regulatory and technological shifts, also play a pivotal role. Bitcoin and Ethereum exhibit the highest sensitivities, reflecting the critical influence of climate risks on market stability.

Research limitations/implications – This study enriches the literature by integrating climate risk factors into cryptocurrency market analysis and advancing fuzzy logic models to assess non-linear interactions in financial markets. It provides a novel framework for evaluating external shocks’ impact on digital assets.

Practical implications – Investors and market participants can use these findings to incorporate climate risks into their investment strategies, diversify portfolios and anticipate periods of instability. The insights also guide policymakers in developing resilient frameworks that align cryptocurrency regulations with environmental goals.

Social implications – By linking climate risks to cryptocurrency market behavior, this research emphasizes the need for sustainable investment practices and collaborative policy efforts. It advocates for integrating environmental sustainability into financial systems to mitigate systemic risks and promote economic resilience. Originality/value– This research is among the first to apply PRI and TRI within a fuzzy logic framework to cryptocurrency markets, offering new insights into how climate risks drive financial volatility during crisis periods.

A new study investigates the environmental factors affecting the occurrence and state of palsa mires, as well as the degradation of palsas. The study covers the entire Northern Hemisphere. The new results are part of a doctoral dissertation to be examined at the University of Oulu, Finland on 6 June 2025.

Microplastics (MPs) and freshwater acidification jointly threaten aquatic ecosystems. This 21-day study on Eriocheir sinensis revealed synergistic toxicity: combined low pH (6.5) and MPs exacerbated oxidative stress and immune suppression, disrupted the TCA cycle and arginine biosynthesis, and altered gut microbiota function. While MPs alone affected pyrimidine metabolism, acidification amplified MPs' toxicity via immune-metabolic crosstalk. The findings underscore the need to evaluate multiple stressors under climate change, providing critical insights for aquatic risk assessment.

Officially started on 1 June 2025, the newly-funded Horizon Europe project GREEN TALENT is to run for 4 years with the overall objectives to unite 17 academic, public and private sector partner institutions from 9 European countries, and the United States. The project’s goal is to develop the capacity of organisations and pathways to combat climate change and biodiversity loss, and support secondments across these countries, fostering international collaboration in research and innovation (R&I), as well as public and private decision-making.

Quaise Energy has moved out of the lab and into the field with the first demonstration of its novel drilling technique on a full-scale oil rig just outside of Houston. The company, formed only seven years ago, is on track to prove that clean, renewable geothermal energy could power the world, according to Carlos Araque, CEO of Quaise and a co-founder.