Energy wonks have a meltdown over the US going 100 percent renewable. Why?
How fast can the US transition to clean energy and with what energy sources? Here's why an impassioned debate among energy wonks matters to the rest of us.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Renewable energy
Analysis and Comment
Even ugly animals can win hearts and dollars to save them from extinction
Must the money raised to save wildlife always aid the most popular animals? New research suggests that marketing can persuade donors that northern hairy-nosed wombat lives matter too.
Government action isn’t enough for climate change. The private sector can cut billions of tons of carbon
Without the private sector cutting carbon emissions – rather than just lobbying the government for action on climate – the world will never reach the temperature targets of the Paris Agreement.
Climate change is shrinking the Colorado River
The Colorado River supplies water to millions of people and irrigates thousands of miles of farmland. New research warns that climate change is likely to magnify droughts in the Colorado Basin.
Silent partners: Are earthworms creating pathways for invasive plants?
Most of the earthworms in the US Northeast and upper Midwest are nonnative species. Scientists are finding increasing evidence that invasive worms and invasive plants may help each other.
Cities can jump-start climate progress by plugging in their vehicles
More than 200 mayors have committed their cities to stick with the Paris climate deal no matter what the US does. Electric vehicles offer a promising route to making good on that pledge.
When politicians cherry-pick data and disregard facts, what should we academics do?
Scientists typically stay out of public policy debates, but an academic makes the case that they need to push back against politicians who distort research.
US exit from Paris climate accord makes discussing how and whether to engineer the planet even harder
It's increasingly likely that at some point, the world's nations will need to broach the fraught discussion of geoengineering. The UN climate accord was a natural forum to do it.
Scientists at work: Forecasting the Atlantic hurricane season
Two atmospheric scientists explain how they weigh evidence such as ocean temperatures, wind speeds and other climate patterns to predict how many Atlantic hurricanes are likely to form this year.
What if several of the world’s biggest food crops failed at the same time?
Climate change, rising food demand and globalization are putting pressure on world food production. New research explores the risk of failures in several of the world's breadbasket regions at once.
Saving Javan rhinos from extinction starts with counting them – and it’s not easy
Javan rhinos are among the most endangered mammals in the world: They live on one island in Indonesia, in the path of tsunamis. Saving them will ultimately require establishing additional populations.
Cutting Superfund’s budget will slow toxic waste cleanups, threatening public health and property values
President Trump's budget would cut funding for Superfund, which cleans up the nation's most toxic sites, by nearly one-third. An economist explains how Superfund cleanups benefit local communities.
Getting ready for hurricane season: 6 essential reads
Major hurricanes threaten millions of people and billions of dollars in property along the Atlantic coast. Here experts advise on preparing, understanding forecasts and recovering after a storm.
Understanding tornadoes: 5 questions answered
More tornadoes occur in the United States than in any other country, mainly in the Great Plains, the Midwest and southern states. Two meteorology professors explain what causes these dangerous storms.
With a tight federal budget, here’s where to focus clean energy research funding
President Trump's budget reportedly will slash funding for clean energy research and development. An energy expert explains the importance of government support and spotlights some key opportunities.
In British Columbia, a strange pattern in humpback whale behaviour raises the stakes for conservation
A new study shows that the way humpback whales choose their habitats is affected by humans.
When some US firms move production overseas, they also offshore their pollution
New research shows that importing goods from low-wage countries has helped US manufacturers shift production to less-polluting industries, produce less waste and spend less on pollution control.
Should the US stay in the Paris Agreement? A majority of Democrats and Republicans think so
The White House is deciding whether or not to stay in the Paris climate agreement. But a large majority of Americans – including Trump voters – want the U.S. to participate and lead.
Protecting endangered species: 6 essential reads
Congress is considering proposals to amend the Endangered Species Act. In this roundup we offer views on what's lost when species disappear and the complexities of bringing them back from the brink.
How El Niño forecasts can help prevent cholera deaths in Africa
Cholera kills thousands every year but is treatable if it is caught early. Understanding how El Niño shifts cholera risks in Africa can help countries prepare for outbreaks and save lives.
To curb climate change, we need to protect and expand US forests
A new report calls U.S. forests an undervalued asset for slowing climate change. It warns that they are being degraded by logging for wood, paper and fuel, particularly in the Southeast.
Will optimistic stories get people to care about nature?
'Doom and gloom' messages about nature are less effective than positive ones. The Lost & Found project tells the stories of creatures thought long gone but eventually rediscovered.
Court ruling is a first step toward controlling air pollution from livestock farms
Large livestock farms, known as CAFOs, have polluted air and water in many communities. A recent court decision will force CAFOs to report their air emissions from manure and other sources.
New findings on earthquakes and oil and gas extraction in the United States
Oklahoma is trying to limit the number of earthquakes caused by oil and gas extraction, but some existing faults there – which could be activated by wastewater injection – have never been mapped.
To have impact, the People’s Climate March needs to reach beyond activists
Messaging for the April 29 People's Climate March is stressing collective resistance against President Trump. This theme may appeal to activists, but is unlikely to grow the movement.
Is the paper industry getting greener? Five questions answered
Pulp and paper production is a major industry with a large environmental footprint. Recently, though, paper companies have worked to reduce pollution and promote sustainable forestry and recycling.
Trump’s offshore oil drilling push: Five essential reads
The industry has wanted access to offshore oil for decades, but the Arctic remains challenging. Consumers, meanwhile, seem conflicted on expanded offshore drilling.
The extraordinary return of sea otters to Glacier Bay
Sea otters had been absent from this Alaskan national park for at least 250 years. By marrying math and statistics, scientists map this animal's successful comeback.
Can we design a better fuel economy label?
It's all in the presentation: In studies, consumers were more apt to choose fuel-efficient vehicles depending on how the same pieces of information were displayed on labels.
Scientist at work: Bio-prospecting for better enzymes
Bio-prospecting is the search for useful materials from natural sources. A biologist explains what we can learn from bacteria about breaking down plant material, and how we can use that knowledge.
There’s a new generation of water pollutants in your medicine cabinet
Ingredients from shampoo, sunscreens and other personal care products are turning up in water supplies. Some are toxic or cause hormonal damage to aquatic life, and could threaten human health.
Why environmental groups need more volunteers of color
How could green groups attract more diverse volunteers? Maybe they could put more time and energy into outreach toward the people most affected by environmental injustices.
Large-scale fracking comes to the Arctic in a new Alaska oil boom
Oil production used to fall when prices were low. But a new drilling boom in Alaska, driven by technical advances and global partnerships, spotlights America's rise as a world oil power.
The state of US forests: Six questions answered
Forests are valuable for many uses, including timber, clean water, wildlife habitat and recreation. Stresses on U.S. forests include wildfires, pest invasions and development of private lands.
How will the federal government protect nuclear safety in an anti-regulatory climate?
The U.S. nuclear industry is struggling to compete with cheap natural gas and manage radioactive waste. Budget cuts and anti-regulatory pressure could worsen things by weakening federal oversight.
Make our soil great again
To help feed a growing world population, restore biodiversity and slow climate change, a geologist calls for a moon shot effort to restore healthy soil around the world.
An electric fix for removing long-lasting chemicals in groundwater
Standard methods for removing chemicals from groundwater can be slow and expensive. Now scientists are using electricity to break down long-lived, toxic chemicals called PFASs faster and at less cost.
Watching the planet breathe: Studying Earth’s carbon cycle from space
Why use satellites to study Earth's climate? Researchers leading a new mission explain how images from space will help them analyze which parts of the Americas soak up the most carbon.
To conserve tropical forests and wildlife, protect the rights of people who rely on them
Many human-wildlife conflicts are rooted in struggles over land. Some countries, notably Mexico, have found ways to protect both nature and the rights of indigenous people and forest dwellers.
Yes, we can do ‘sound’ climate science even though it’s projecting the future
People worry Washington is losing respect for science and even the centuries-old scientific method. Two climate scientists explain how science can be done when talking about the future.
Trump administration
The other reason to shift away from coal: Air pollution that kills thousands every year
Coal-fired power plants produce air pollution that kills thousands of Americans every year. President Trump's embrace of coal energy will delay a shift to cleaner fuels that is saving money and lives.
Once at the vanguard of national policy, California plays defense under Trump
Will we reverse the little progress we’ve made on environmental justice?
In planned EPA cuts, US to lose vital connection to at-risk communities
Trump slams brakes on Obama’s climate plan, but there’s still a long road ahead
Why farmers and ranchers think the EPA Clean Water Rule goes too far
What Trump misses about regulations: They produce benefits as well as costs
Can Ryan Zinke balance conservation and development as interior secretary?
Exxon’s Rex Tillerson and the rise of Big Oil in American politics
Will President Obama’s clean energy legacy endure?
EPA
Why Trump’s EPA is far more vulnerable to attack than Reagan’s or Bush’s
Today's political climate gives new EPA head Scott Pruitt a clear path to seriously cut back EPA enforcement – more than previous administrations.
Now under attack, EPA’s work on climate change has been going on for decades
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has said the agency's purview should not include climate change, but a look at its history under both Republican and Democratic presidents says otherwise.
Food security
Healthy soil is the real key to feeding the world
Conventional wisdom says we need industrial agriculture to feed the world. Not so, says geologist David Montgomery: Practices that focus on creating healthy soil can transform agriculture.
Mind the gaps: Reducing hunger by improving yields on small farms
How can we feed a growing world population while protecting the environment? One key strategy is to improve yields on small farms, which produce much of the food in the world's hungriest countries.
Public lands
Trump’s plan to dismantle national monuments comes with steep cultural and ecological costs
Trump wants to scale back national monuments on federal lands in the name of boosting the economy. But this would undo decades of investments to manage our cultural and ecological resources.
Can Ryan Zinke balance conservation and development as interior secretary?
If US Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana is confirmed as interior secretary, he will face difficult choices about balancing extractive activities like energy production with conservation on public lands.
Malheur occupation is over, but the war for America’s public lands rages on
A geography professor reports from the front lines of the Malheur occupation. Despite strong local opposition to occupiers, he foresees more conflicts to come.
National monuments: Presidents can create them, but only Congress can undo them
President Trump has ordered a review of national monuments protected by his predecessors, and may try to abolish or shrink some. But four legal experts say that only Congress has that authority.
Paris climate accord
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Can ocean science bring Cuba and the United States together?
Cuban and US scientists are forming partnerships to protect coral reefs and fisheries in both countries. But President Trump may soon announce steps to slow or reverse the US opening to Cuba.
To slow climate change, India joins the renewable energy revolution
India, the world's fourth-largest carbon emitter, long resisted calls to fight climate change. Now it is investing heavily in clean energy and expects to meet its Paris climate accord target early.
Why killing coyotes doesn’t make livestock safer
The US Department of Agriculture kills thousands of predators yearly, mainly for attacking livestock. A conservation biologist explains why this policy is ineffective and ecologically harmful.
Are solar and wind really killing coal, nuclear and grid reliability?
Energy Secretary Rick Perry wants to know if wind and solar are compromising the reliability of the grid and hurting coal power. The answer lies in his home state of Texas.
Red state rural America is acting on climate change – without calling it climate change
With little action at the national level on climate change, state and city officials are taking the lead – but by emphasizing local benefits.
Earthquakes triggered by humans pose growing risk
A new project tracks earthquakes accidentally induced by human activity. It suggests the problem is bigger than some scientists thought.
How can we predict the hottest year on record when weather forecasts are so uncertain?
For the third consecutive year, it's the hottest year ever. A climate scientist explains how these predictions are made and why they're completely different from forecasting the weather.
For endangered species, the road to recovery can be winding and bumpy
Critics say the Endangered Species Act does not work because only about 1 percent of protected species have officially "recovered." Two biologists explain why recovery is so hard to define.
Scientist at work: Tracking muskoxen in a warming Arctic
How is rapid warming in the Arctic affecting animals that are adapted to cold? A wildlife biologist is using many techniques to find out, including stalking muskoxen in a polar bear costume.
Why politicians think they know better than scientists – and why that’s so dangerous
Scientists are concerned that politics will trump evidence in the new administration. A researcher of political psychology explains why these worries matter far beyond questions of science.
Trump questionnaire recalls dark history of ideology-driven science
A historian of science and technology says Trump team's request for names of Department of Energy employees working on climate change recalls worst excesses of ideology-driven science in government.
Should Florida ‘frack’ its limestone for oil and gas? Two geophysicists weigh in
There's a debate over whether fracking should be introduced into Florida, a state with a unique geology and hydrology that introduces a long list of environmental concerns.
Why is the U.S. unwilling to pay for good public transportation?
How did urban public transport in America, like much of our infrastructure, get to be in such bad shape? Will millennials help turn it around?
Who politicized the environment and climate change?
Historically, environmental causes enjoyed bipartisan support but gains by NGOs and the emergence of climate change as a social issue have created a sharp political divide.
White shark populations are growing. Here’s why that’s good news
A rash of white shark attacks this summer points to a rebounding population in the US – a sign of healthier oceans and the need to coexist with this apex predator.
Most Read past week
- Climate change is shrinking the Colorado River
- Once at the vanguard of national policy, California plays defense under Trump
- A big pawprint: The environmental impact of pet food
- Even ugly animals can win hearts and dollars to save them from extinction
- Yes, we can do ‘sound’ climate science even though it’s projecting the future
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