It’s so obvious we forget it: an extreme-weather event becomes a disaster only if it hits where people and their possessions are. Of the 19 tropical storms that were tracked during this summer’s Atlantic hurricane season, 10 …
Going Green
The U.S. Will Be an Oil Giant Again. But It Won’t Be Energy Independent
The IEA predicts that the U.S. will soon become the world’s biggest supplier of crude, thanks to a homegrown boom in production from shale oil. But while more domestic production will help the economy, it won’t ensure that the …
Hurricane Sandy Will Put a Rickety Power Grid to the Test
The U.S. power grid is a 20th century technology powering a 21st century country. Why Hurricane Sandy will stress it to the limit
Why Climate Change Has Become the Missing Issue in the Presidential Campaign
We’re in the final few months of what’s shaping up to be the hottest year on record. In September, Arctic sea ice melted to its smallest extent in satellite records, while the Midwest was rocked by a once-in-a-generation level …
How Countries Like Iraq—Not the U.S.—Will Help Determine Gas Prices to Come
The Presidential candidates love to talk about increasing oil production here in the U.S. But a new report from the International Energy Agency underscores the fact that it will be foreign countries like Iraq that will continue …
A Dark Cloud and a Silver Lining for the World’s Fisheries
A new study reveals that small, unassessed fisheries are in even worse shape than we thought. But the research also provides hope that smarter management could stop the bleeding—and provide more sustainable seafood.
How Silent Spring Became the First Shot in the War Over the Environment
50 years old this month, Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring helped kickstart the environmental movement and led the U.S. to ban the pesticide DDT. So why do some people blame Carson for millions of malaria deaths in Africa?
Urban Planet: How Growing Cities Will Wreck the Environment Unless We Build Them Right
More and more people are moving into cities around the world—and those cities are getting bigger and bigger. The urbanization shift could wreck the environment—unless we can plan the transition.
Arctic Sea Ice Vanishes — and the Oil Rigs Move In
As Arctic sea ice melts to its lowest level on record, oil companies move in to begin drilling the far north.
Sports: The NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles Go Green
The NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles are developing a new source of energy—and it’s not just hooking up wires to red-hot quarterback Michael Vick. The team announced today that it will be installing 2,500 solar panels, 80 20-ft high wind turbines and a generator that runs on natural gas and biodiesel, making its home park Lincoln …