Harvard study strengthens link between breast cancer risk and light exposure at night
Study uses satellite data to add to growing evidence that nighttime light exposure raises risk of breast cancer, with the strongest link among young women.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Environment + Energy – Articles, Analysis, Opinion
Displaying 1 - 25 of 612 articles
Curbing climate change: Why it’s so hard to act in time
Why is it so hard to reach consensus about how to slow climate change? Multiple time lags get in the way: some make it hard to convey the risk, while others prolong the search for solutions.
Trump’s rejection of national climate report would do more damage than exiting the Paris Agreement
The Trump administration's decision to dismiss or accept a government-prepared climate report will have life-or-death consequences, says a climate scientist involved in the previous report.
Bait and switch: Anchovies eat plastic because it smells like prey
A new study shows that anchovies – key food for larger fish – are attracted to plastic trash because it smells like food. This suggests that toxic substances in plastic could move up through food chains.
How safe is chicken imported from China? 5 questions answered
China has started exporting cooked chicken meat to the United States. Is it safe to eat? An agriculture extension specialist discusses possible concerns about food safety and contamination.
Red team-blue team? Debating climate science should not be a cage match
Why assembling two teams to debate climate change is all about political spectacle and sowing doubt – and has nothing to do with actual climate science.
Why the withering nuclear power industry threatens US national security
Nuclear power plants don't just pump out steady, carbon-free electricity; they also help produce the people the US needs for nuclear weapons inspections.
Thinking beyond Trump: Why power companies should be investing now in carbon-free electricity
When utilities plan investments, they think decades ahead. A recent study shows why power companies should be spending more on renewables despite the Trump administration's tilt toward fossil fuels.
Want to fix America’s infrastructure? Build in the places that need help the most
How do you prevent urban sprawl? Researchers look to a program in New Mexico for an answer.
Climate gloom and doom? Bring it on. But we need stories about taking action, too
An experiment in getting people to care about climate change uses slick videos, charismatic scientists and calls to action.
Disasters can harm older adults long after storms have passed
New research shows that older people are especially at risk during and after natural disasters, and may need medical help or other support well after relief operations end.
Cities need more than air conditioning to get through heat waves
How can cities protect residents during heat waves? There's no single solution, but expanding air conditioning, installing passive cooling features in homes and planting shade trees all can help.
Heat waves threaten city dwellers, especially minorities and the poor
Climate change is making heat waves more frequent and intense around the world. Cities are hotter than surrounding areas, so urban dwellers – especially minorities and the poor – are at greatest risk.
Learning new tricks from sea sponges, nature’s most unlikely civil engineers
Bio-inspiration takes cues from natural structures that do certain things very effectively. One example: the strong but flexible fibers that sea sponges use to anchor themselves to the ocean floor.
If we keep subsidizing wind, will the cost of wind energy go down?
If history is a guide, policies that promote wind power expansion will lead to lower prices – potentially beating fossil fuels in the US by 2030.
Why shifting regulatory power to the states won’t improve the environment
Trump administration officials argue that states can regulate more effectively than the federal government. But without leadership from the top, federalism may allow red states to avoid acting.
One way to promote green infrastructure in your city
The US wants to invest in more infrastructure to handle our rainfall and melted snow. Stormwater credits could help cut costs and protect the environment.
Is your drinking water safe? Here’s how you can find out
America's drinking water infrastructure is aging and needs billions of dollars in upgrades. Two extension educators urge consumers to monitor their water and have it tested if they suspect problems.
Nutrient pollution: Voluntary steps are failing to shrink algae blooms and dead zones
Nitrogen and phosphorus are polluting US waters, creating algae blooms and dead zones. New research confirms that voluntary steps are failing in the Gulf of Mexico and unlikely to work in Lake Erie.
Measuring up US infrastructure against other countries
The American Society of Civil Engineers gives US infrastructure a D+. What is it that we're doing wrong?
To restore our soils, feed the microbes
Healthy soil teems with bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms that help store carbon and fend off plant diseases. To restore soil, scientists are finding ways to foster its microbiome.
Do we have too many national monuments? 4 essential reads
Within the next month, the Trump administration may move to abolish or shrink up to two dozen national monuments. Our experts explain why these sites matter and whether presidents can undo them.
How electric vehicles could take a bite out of the oil market
Shifting to plug-in cars wouldn't be enough to max out global oil consumption by 2040. But it could help make that happen if cities pitch in and ride-sharing doesn't crowd out public transportation.
Stranded in our own communities: Transit deserts make it hard for people to find jobs and stay healthy
Many Americans live in transit deserts – areas where demand for transit exceeds the supply. To fix these gaps, we need to find and map them so agencies can add transit options in the right places.
History shows that stacking federal science advisory committees doesn’t work
Can federal agencies stack advisory panels with friendly members? Some have tried, but a scientist who has advised many administrations says they will produce bad policies that lack broad support.