Lyman Stewart: Fundamentalist and Oligarch
American oilman Lyman Stewart embodied the uniquely American paradoxes of what would become capitalist Christian fundamentalism and the prosperity gospel.
The Ecological Prescience of Dune
Frank Herbert’s novel isn't just about space messiahs, giant sandworms, and trippy space drugs. At its core, the sci-fi epic is about ecology.
Where Did the Oil from the Deepwater Horizon Spill Go?
The public's focus eventually turned away from the 2010 disaster. Scientists, however, are still learning the scale of the devastation.
The Mediums Who Helped Kick-Start the Oil Industry
Apparently some people communed with spirits to locate the first underground oil reserves.
What Comes After Oil Culture?
Almost everything about our culture today is built on oil. Can we imagine a world built on a different energy infrastructure?
The Jim Crow Roots of the U.S.-Saudi Arabia Relationship
Americans started pouring into Saudi Arabia in the 1940s to develop the oil fields. They brought their ideas about segregation with them.
Is the “Resource Curse” a Myth?
Countries like Liberia and Chad have a lot of oil, and yet little of their wealth has translated into public welfare. Some blame the "resource curse."
Can Oil Rigs Grow into Ocean Reefs?
Scientists suggest keeping old offshore oil platforms as productive fish habitats.
When Russia Conquered the World with White Oil
Russia was the first source of white oil, a Vaseline-like mix of hydrocarbons used in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and plastics.
History Repeats Itself in a Santa Barbara Oil Spill
Two pieces look at a 1969 oil spill in California