
Umair Irfan
Correspondent
Umair Irfan is a correspondent at Vox writing about climate change, energy policy, and science. He has written about universal vaccines, the environmental paradox of air conditioning, and the mysterious rise of food allergies. He has reported on the ground from California’s deadliest wildfire, from the laboratory housing the world’s most powerful laser, and from the tallest structure in Latin America, deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
Irfan is also a regular contributor to and occasional host of the radio program Science Friday. Prior to Vox, he was a reporter for ClimateWire at E&E News in Washington, DC, where he covered environmental health, the Department of Energy, and climate research. His work has also been published in Scientific American and the New York Times. You can DM him on X at @umairfan.
Latest articles by Umair Irfan


If you dislike insects, you’ll hate this.


It’s the worst allergy season ever. Again. Just like last year.


Trump’s EPA claims that climate change isn’t a danger to human beings


How layoffs at NOAA reveal a flaw in the government’s hiring system, briefly explained.


Job cuts, ideology, and a Sharpie: Trump’s beef with an important scientific agency, explained.


These government scientists are likely the next in line for big cuts.


Don’t let the bitter cold fool you — the world just had the hottest January on record.

California’s last resort for fire insurance may fail. We should all pay attention to what happens next.


A policy wish list, according to water, engineering, and legislative experts.


The small and big things that protect homes in wildfires, explained by a fire scientist.
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