Earth

Climate

Olympic Clean Up

Rather than wowing its visitors this summer with world-class air pollution, China wants to impress them with its clean, green Olympics.

Earth

In the aftermath

The charcoal left after a forest fire stimulates microbial activity that boosts carbon loss from organic material covering the ground.

Earth

It’s the meat not the miles

Eating less red meat and dairy may do more to reduce food-associated greenhouse gas emissions than shopping locally.

Earth

Heat relief

A new data-rich climate model foresees a short-term reprieve from warming for parts of western Europe and North America.

Humans

Bear deadline

Court calls for the already overdue decision on listing polar bears as a threatened species.

Earth

Molten salts give biofuels a boost

Making biofuels from the chemical energy locked in plant cell walls has proven difficult, but molten salts may help.

Ecosystems

Building Homes Where the Buffalo Roamed

A new study finds that being environmentally conscious is no guarantee you’ll put your home where you mouth is.

Humans

The Return of EPA’s Libraries

After mothballing five libraries as a purported cost-cutting gesture, the agency is now responding to congressional prodding and unboxing its books.

Climate

Science News for Kids: Polar Ice Feels the Heat

From glaciers to sea ice, the big melt is on.

Earth

Climate fix could deplete polar ozone

Scientists seeking to cool Earth’s climate by injecting sulfuric acid droplets high in the atmosphere might trim rising temperatures but could also destroy much of the ozone in polar regions, a new study suggests.

Ecosystems

Eight-legged bags of poison

Birds eating arachnids get high dose of toxic metal as mercury climbs up the food chain.

Ecosystems

Beetle attack overturns forest carbon regime

Ravaged Canadian region switches from carbon sink to net carbon source.