A simply bet made nearly 25 years ago demonstrated the power of human ingenuity to overcome material scarcity. But that won’t be enough to save us from global warming
Energy
America’s Oil Boom Won’t Make It Energy-Independent From Middle East Madness
Thanks to increased domestic oil production and falling demand, energy independence is becoming a realistic goal for the U.S. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be vulnerable to price shocks if a Syria attack goes bad
As Obama Visits Upstate New York, the Fracking Debate Takes Center Stage
While the President might want to talk education on his visit to upstate New York, there will be no escaping the war over fracking
The War Over Fracking Comes to the English Countryside
Environmentalists have been fighting against fracking in the U.S. for years — with little success. Now the British government is pushing to allow drilling for shale gas in the U.K. Will British greens stop fracking from starting?
The Surprisingly Large Energy Footprint of the Digital Economy [UPDATE]
Our computers and smartphones might seem clean, but the digital economy uses a tenth of the world’s electricity — and that share will only increase, with serious consequences for the economy and the environment
Amid Economic and Safety Concerns, Nuclear Advocates Pin Their Hopes on New Designs
Nuclear power may be good for the climate, but the industry faces major challenges as it looks to expand. Advanced reactor designs — if they can become a reality — could make the difference
Deep Disposal Wells from Oil and Gas Drilling Linked to Earthquakes
A new study finds that the deep disposal wells used to store drilling wastewater—not fracking per se—may help trigger earthquakes. Regulators and the industry should take notice—and find ways to recycle that wastewater, …
Nuclear Energy Is Largely Safe. But Can It Be Cheap?
Outside of the developing world, nuclear energy is on the retreat, thanks largely to the spiraling costs of new atomic plants. But innovative reactor designs could change the equation
From Forests to Fossil Fuels: U.S. Energy Consumption Since 1776
More than 200 years of U.S. energy statistics show the dominance of fossil fuels like oil and coal. Will the trend change in the future?
Radioactive Green: Pandora’s Promise Rethinks Nuclear Power
Early in the new documentary Pandora’s Promise, which opens nationwide today, British environmental writer Mark Lynas travels to the Japanese town of Fukushima, now famous as the site of a 2011 nuclear meltdown. Lynas is a …