Sand? Mine!
Orca Quarry in British Columbia is one of a handful of mines feeding the nearly insatiable desire for sand and gravel in major West Coast cities.
Is Our Food Supply Toxic?
Yum. Scientists, policymakers, and journalists find that our food is polluted with pesticides, overdosed with antibiotics, and yet teeming with pathogens.
Welcome to the Age of Megafires
It's been a terrible year for fires in California and elsewhere around the world. Because then it always is now in the age of megafires.
Marine Debris and Its Dangerous Hitchhikers
Larger pieces of floating debris, like that caused by the Japanese tsunami, may carry hitchhikers in the form of organisms native to their place of origin.
The Problem With Algae Bloom
Climate change is a wild card that seems to be exacerbating conditions that can lead to Harmful Algae Blooms.
Raging Seas, Blazing Smoke, and (Maybe) a Supervolcano
Have humans angered the planet? Smothering air pollution in California, rising seas in Oceania, and supervocanos that could cause global catastrophe.
Reptiles Need Your Love, Especially Now
A new study from Oxford and Tel Aviv universities found reptiles are underrepresented in conservation efforts, just in time for Reptile Awareness Day.
Company Uses Mushrooms to Grow Plastic Alternatives
Plastic has become ubiquitous in our home and work lives, but is a pollutant that won't break down. Mushrooms may provide a sustainable alternative.
Is Human Mistreatment of Animals Killing Our Planet?
Most people treat animals as tools for improving human lives. But recent reports reveal (mis)treatment of animals is harming the planet as a whole.
Microbes Might Paint Your Next Party Dress
The official “fashion month,” September has concluded its parade of gorgeous outfits. These contain harmful dyes, though. Can microbes make safer colors?