Rachel Carson, marine biologist, author and environmentalist, was born on May 27, 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania. In honor of the 111th anniversary of her birth, we asked The Franklin Institute's Environmental Scientist, Rachel Valletta, to blog about Carson's legacy and the ongoing importance of her work. 

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Climate Central independent organization of leading scientists and journalists researching and reporting the facts about our changing climate and its impact on the American public.

Climate & Urban Systems Partnership (CUSP) is a community of local stakeholders who share a passion for engaging residents in climate change issues and interact frequently to learn how to do so better.

Changing Earth is our permanent exhibit at The Franklin Institute that is about how and what makes our planet constantly transform. In the exhibit, explore how our response to Earth's changes will impact our future on Earth and discover how your choices impact our future Earth.

Climate change is driving up summer temperatures across the country. We often talk about warming in terms average temperatures, which can be perceived as small to the public, but any rise in the average temperature leads to a rise in the the number of days that are extremely hot. There will be a large increase in the number of days above 100-degrees by the year 2020. Get the Facts

The average number of very cold nights each year has declined across much of the country since 1970. As the amount of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels continues to grow, winters are warming and we expect a continued drop in very cold nights. Learn More

There has been an increase in the amount of extreme temperatures occurring compared to the past. Climate change is driving up summer temperatures across the country. We often talk about warming in terms average temperatures, which can be perceived as small to the public, but any rise in the average temperature leads to a rise in the the number of days that are extremely hot. Get the Facts