60-Second Earth

How Much Energy Do You Waste Charging Your Cell Phone?

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:00:08 -0500

Battery chargers are everywhere these days, wasting electricity. California aims to change that. David Biello reports

Worried about Air Pollution? Don't Hide Indoors

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:00:08 -0500

Scientists are uncovering more and more evidence that the air in buildings can be bad for you. David Biello reports

Gee Whiz, Why Not Recycle Urine for Drinking Water?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:32:08 -0500

The U.S. can no longer afford to ignore sewage as a source of drinking water, scientists argue. David Biello reports

Michael Mann Defends Climate Computer Models

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:27:08 -0500

Penn State climate modeler Michael Mann talks about what computer models can tell us--and what they don't need to. David Biello reports

Welcome to the Year of the Lightbulb

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 09:00:08 -0500

Get ready to buy lightbulbs by lumens rather than watts. David Biello reports

What Are the Chances of a White Christmas?

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Climate change is also messing with cherished holiday dreams. David Biello reports

Should the Media Pay for Nature Conservation?

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Given the profits made from filming the natural world, can a scheme be worked out to pay for this ecosystem service? David Biello reports

Durban Deal May Bring Climate Change Action into 21st Century

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:16:08 -0500

As time ran out on the latest international climate change negotiations, an agreement was reached that includes all significant countries in the effort to reduce greenhouse gases. David Biello reports

Simmering Planet Keeps Heating

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 13:00:08 -0500

Despite decades of warnings, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, warming the world. Can such pollution peak this decade? David Biello asks

Give Thanks for Methods to Cut Back on Wasted Food

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:08 -0500

The world wastes more food than all of sub-Saharan Africa produces. Can that be stopped? David Biello reports

Oceans Teem with Tiny Plastic Particles

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Washing machine wastewater carries tiny pieces of plastic to the oceans, where they wind up in sea life. David Biello reports

Flying on a Wing and Oil from Plants

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:00:08 -0500

A new era in aviation dawned this week in the U.S. with the first flights powered by biofuels. David Biello reports

Buried in Coal Ash?

Sun, 6 Nov 2011 10:00:08 -0500

After yet another coal ash spill, is there anything that can be done to deal with the toxic waste? David Biello reports

Halloween Chocolate: More Trick Than Treat?

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Chocolate has a dark side--child slave labor. David Biello reports

Why Is the CIA Keeping Climate Change Secret?

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:00:08 -0500

The Central Intelligence Agency is working on climate change, but you'd never know it. David Biello reports

Disc Spins Its Way to $1-Million Oil Spill Cleanup Prize

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 10:00:08 -0500

Is there a better way to clean up the next oil spill disaster? David Biello reports

How Steve Jobs Tried to Make Apple Green

Sun, 9 Oct 2011 09:00:08 -0500

The environmental and social impacts of all our gadgets are not insignificant. David Biello reports

World's Largest River Restoration Project Begins

Sun, 2 Oct 2011 09:00:08 -0500

The removal of two dams on the Elwha River will help restore once-abundant salmon runs. David Biello reports

Fukushima Fallout in Japan

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 09:00:08 -0500

The melted down reactors are stabilizing, but the real work of repair has yet to begin. David Biello reports

Can the World Handle Chinese Cars?

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 09:00:08 -0500

The first car mostly made in China has arrived for sale in the U.S. David Biello reports

Need a Break? Try Nature

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 10:00:08 -0500

A growing body of research suggests nature walks may be more restorative than traditional stimulants like caffeine. David Biello reports

Need Rain? Try Lasers

Sun, 4 Sep 2011 09:00:08 -0500

New experiments show that firing lasers into the air might help induce or reduce rain. David Biello reports

How Much Life Does Earth Host?

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 09:00:08 -0500

The number of species currently alive is a best guess at best. David Biello reports

Why Environmentalism Is Conservative

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Have conservatives abandoned their roots as environmental leaders? David Biello investigates

Bringing Birds Back to Regrowing Forests

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Once fragmented forests are growing back together, do tropical birds follow? David Biello reports

What If the Smart Grid Isn't So Smart?

Sun, 7 Aug 2011 09:00:08 -0500

New analyses show that equipping consumers with real-time information about electricity prices could crash the grid. David Biello reports

Eating the Lionfish

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 09:00:08 -0500

The answer to an invasive fish species in the Atlantic and Caribbean may just be overfishing. David Biello reports

Feeding the Grid with Sunshine at College

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:00:08 -0500

Butte College in California hosts a massive solar array, which allows it to produce more electricity than it uses. David Biello reports

Absence of Top Predators Brings Unanticipated Changes

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 11:00:08 -0500

Ecologists document the negative ripple effects of removing top predators from ecosystems. David Biello reports

Electric Cars May Need Noisemakers

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:31:08 -0500

Whisper-quiet electric and hybrid cars may need an artificial sound boost to let pedestrians know they're there. David Biello reports

The Buzz on Beer and Soda Fizz

Wed, 6 Jul 2011 08:35:08 -0500

A look at the environmental burden of our favorite summer beverages. David Biello reports

Pacific Plankton Crosses to Atlantic...Thanks to Arctic Meltdown

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Warmer temperatures in the North are allowing species to shift from ocean to ocean. David Biello reports

Sunspot-Related Cooling Can't Offset Greenhouse Warming

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 04:00:08 -0500

Changes to the sunspot cycle will have an impact on our weather and climate--but not a very big one. David Biello reports

Pavement Contributes to Poor Air Quality

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:28:08 -0500

Paved roads and sprawl are likely to blame for summertime smog buildup. David Biello reports

Are Biodegradeable Plastics Doing More Harm Than Good?

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 09:01:08 -0500

Depends on whether one worries about climate change or persistent plastics in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. David Biello reports

Whither the Honey Bee?

Sun, 29 May 2011 09:01:08 -0500

For the fourth consecutive year, roughly one third of managed honey bees died last winter. David Biello reports

What Does the Fukushima Meltdown Mean for U.S. Reactors?

Sun, 22 May 2011 09:00:08 -0500

It is now clear that at least one reactor at Fukushima experienced a full core meltdown, so what does that mean for similar nuclear power plants in the U.S.? David Biello reports

America's Climate Choices Are Narrowing

Sun, 15 May 2011 09:00:08 -0500

With every year of inaction the risks posed by climate change grow, according to a new report requested by Congress. David Biello reports

Whales Return to NYC Harbor

Sun, 8 May 2011 10:00:08 -0500

A variety of species of whales have been rediscovered in the vicinity of New York City. Is it because they love musicals? David Biello investigates

Solar Power Boosts Home Sales?

Sun, 1 May 2011 09:00:08 -0500

A new study finds that photovoltaic systems provide a premium for houses. David Biello reports

Can Re-Wilding Work?

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Introducing animal analogues of their extinct cousins might help repair otherwise irreparable ecosystem damage. David Biello reports

Can Taxes Be Green?

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Could taxing environmental ills prove more of a solution to pollution than dilution? David Biello investigates

How Doth Your Native Flora Grow?

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 09:00:08 -0500

The diversity of local plants goes down when a city springs up. David Biello reports

Will Today's Trash Be Tomorrow's Island?

Sun, 3 Apr 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Ancient trash heaps became modern tree islands in the Everglades. David Biello reports

The Origin of Life

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 10:00:08 -0500

A new analysis suggests lightning and volcanoes helped make life possible. David Biello reports

Chernobyl Opens for Tourism

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Next month marks Chernobyl's 25th anniversary, and the site is now accepting tourists. Christie Nicholson reports

Oil Spills Mean Air Pollution, Too

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 09:00:08 -0500

BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico didn't just foul the ocean, it also tainted the air. David Biello reports

Predicting the Future of Oil

Sun, 6 Mar 2011 09:01:08 -0500

And what does that mean for the U.S. economy and environment? David Biello reports

Global Rise of the Fire Ant? Blame U.S. Trade

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 10:00:08 -0500

A new study shows that the invasive species has spread not from its original home in South America but from its beachhead in the southeastern U.S., David Biello reports

Permafrost Meltdown May Herald Climate Catastrophe

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 10:00:08 -0500

The thawing of a thin layer of frozen Arctic soils will exacerbate global warming. David Biello reports

Does Drilling for Electricity Make Sense?

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 21:20:08 -0500

Harnessing Earth's heat to make electricity is an underrated renewable resource. David Biello reports

Teaching Bankers about Climate Change

Sun, 6 Feb 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Why is HSBC teaching its employees about global warming? David Biello reports

Another Reason to Hate Shopping Sound Tracks

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:00:08 -0500

The background music in stores and shopping malls designed to spur sales also spur emissions of greenhouse gases. David Biello reports

Is Coal Fly Ash Responsible for Mass Extinction?

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 13:01:08 -0500

Forget CO2, the toxic aftermath of coal burning might be responsible for the worst mass extinction event the world has ever known. David Biello reports

Strike Off the Band, Says Penguin Study

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 10:00:08 -0500

Banding penguins to track them is bad for their health, a new study reports. David Biello investigates

No Such Thing as a Free Parking Spot

Sun, 9 Jan 2011 09:00:08 -0500

It's not just driving our cars that harms the environment, parking them also poses a problem. David Biello reports

Drink 'til You're Green

Sun, 2 Jan 2011 09:00:08 -0500

What's worse than a hangover? The environmental impact of your drinking and mine. David Biello reports

The Earth in 2010

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 09:00:08 -0500

What were the biggest environmental stories in 2010? David Biello reports

A Holiday for Consumption?

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 10:00:08 -0500

The (environmental) meaning of Christmas. David Biello reports