A fire burns in a section of the Amazon rain forest on August 25, 2019 in the Candeias do Jamari region near Porto Velho, Brazil

Can Fire Destroy the Amazon?

The massive fires of 2019 have many asking the question: is there a "tipping point" beyond which the Amazon cannot recover?
A man looking at land affected by drought

Climate Change and Syria’s Civil War

Some scholars and scientists are calling climate change the invisible player in Syria's ongoing civil war. But is that too simplistic an explanation?
An electric school bus

Why Aren’t Yellow School Buses Green?

There is a new push for electric school buses, which would pollute less. But the electric-powered vehicle is actually a very old technology.
A green meadow

The Conservatism of Conservation

Ecological conservation was originally focused on keeping things the way they were, and in that spirit, was closely connected with political conservatism.
A schematic of manganese nodules mining on the deep sea floor.

The Potential Pros and Cons of Seabed Mining

Concentrations of iron manganese nuggets and other metals in the deep seabed have stirred up interest in mining. But at what cost?
A road beside some mountains and a lake

Why Plastic Roads Lead to a Cleaner Ocean

To prevent several millions tons of plastic from flushing into the ocean every year, engineers are paving roads with it.
Polar Bear Walking On A Rocky Shore Line

Climate Change and the Endangered Species Act

The Trump administration has moved to significantly weaken the ESA, limiting consideration of climate change when identifying species as endangered.
Ira Jackson pulls his boat through a flooded street September 5, 2005 in New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina

How Toxic Are Flood Waters?

While flood waters can be extremely polluted, researchers have found the lasting impact is different from what one might expect.
A person swimming near a coral reef

Can Eco-Tourism Save Coral Reefs?

Eco-tourism can be a boon—or an ecosystem destroyer.
Illustration of reservoir in Austrian mountains supplying water for storage in hydroelectric turbines

Renewable Resources Call For Increased Power Storage

Solar and wind power are great renewable options, but to store the energy that's produced, we're going to to need bigger batteries.