Shutterstock
A good, clean fight
The New York Times' Elisabeth Rosenthal questions the idea that we "must" use fossil fuels for the foreseeable future. But what is that dispute really about?
Climate & Energy
Protests against tar-sands pipelines heat up in U.S. and Canada
Last week saw more than 50 protests against the Keystone XL and Enbridge Northern Gateway pipelines -- and vows of many more to come.
By Susie Cagle
- 2 hours ago
Food
There are even more dead pigs in a Chinese river
The 16,000 dead pigs floating down the Huangpu River might actually mean that China is making progress on food safety.
By Susie Cagle
- 4 hours ago
Living
Baby chicken whose father is a duck is either a new hope for extinct species or a sign of the End Times
A duck fathered a chicken. This could provide a way for scientists to shore up endangered or even previously extinct species, or it could be the precursor to dogs and cats living together.
By Jess Zimmerman
- 7 hours ago
Living
Potato bred to make perfect potato chips will kiiiiiill you
Scientists don't need fancy GM techniques to make weird plants that are not so good for human beings to consume.
By Sarah Laskow
- 9 hours ago
Food
Idiot shoots horse on camera to promote horsemeat
An employee of a New Mexico slaughterhouse thought it would help bring attention to his horse-eating cause. It brought attention all right.
By John Upton
- 9 hours ago
Food
Is there any point to buying organic baby food?
Organic baby food costs like twice as much as regular baby food. A recent study raises the question: Is this money you really need to spend?
By Sarah Miller
- 9 hours ago
Living
This is the first two-headed bull shark ever seen
This is almost certainly not a result of pollution or the BP spill or whatever, but feel free to freak out, as it is probably a sign of the End Times anyway.
By Jess Zimmerman
- 10 hours ago
Living
Giant pandas get shipped around the world via FedEx
We're going to imagine they're in giant FedEx boxes and that someone has to pull a gigantic tab in order to open them and let the pandas out.
By Sarah Laskow
- 11 hours ago
Climate & Energy
New Weather Channel show talks to the people who are trying to change the climate (with cartoons and jokes!)
The show visits researchers who are coming up with creative, and in some cases cray-cray, solutions to rescue us hapless citizens from the havoc we're wreaking on our world.
By Sarah Miller
- 11 hours ago
Politics
Obama creates five new national monuments
He is protecting land on the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington state, creating a monument to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railway in Maryland, and more.
By John Upton
- 12 hours ago
Living
Noble hunter rescues lost seal pup mysteriously stranded in a Swedish forest
The pup was four miles away from any open body of water.
By Sarah Laskow
- 12 hours ago
Living
Shut up and look at this rescued baby polar bear
JUST LOOK AT HER.
By Jess Zimmerman
- 13 hours ago
Living
The most metal way to recycle your water bottles: Make them into DIY rockets
This may not be a sensible alternative to recycling, but it is an excellent alternative to NOT shooting flaming bottles at stuff.
By Jess Zimmerman
- 14 hours ago
Climate & Energy
Can we 3D print our way out of climate change?
3D printing could slash the carbon footprint of manufacturing and provide nifty solutions for a disaster-prone world.
By James West and Tim McDonnell
- 14 hours ago
Living
Ask Umbra: Is it cruel to kill insects?
A reader wonders if itβs OK to wear earrings made of butterfly wings. Umbra wants you to weigh in.
By Ask Umbra
- 15 hours ago
Food
Sustainable food loses its biggest champion in Washington, D.C.
Kathleen Merrigan promoted local and organic foods in an agency that has for years been infatuated with big commodity ag.
By Tom Laskawy
- 17 hours ago
Climate & Energy
Phoenix is doomed — to be a target for doomsayers
Phoenix may be in the bullseye of climate change, but it's got this over most other cities: It's built for the heat.
By Grady Gammage Jr.
- 2 days ago
Climate & Energy
The worst way to measure energy efficiency
The international focus on "energy intensity" is hurting the fight against climate change.
By Chris Nelder
- 2 days ago
Climate & Energy
Senate gives a big, fat thumbs-up to Keystone XL
The vote was non-binding but all too telling. On Friday, the Senate voted 62 to 37 in favor of building the Keystone XL tar-sands pipeline.
By Lisa Hymas
- 2 days ago