Agriculture
The Traumatic Birth of the Modern (and Vicious) Political Campaign
When Upton Sinclair ran for governor of California in 1934, new media were marshaled to beat him
October 11, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Predictions From The Father of Science Fiction
Hugo Gernsback's predictions give us a look at the most radical of technological utopianism from the 1920s
October 04, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
All the Insane Australian Fruit You Can Eat
What the heck are black sapotes, carambolas and pomelo fruits?
October 02, 2012 |
By Guest Blogger
The Silence that Preceded China’s Great Leap into Famine
Mao Zedong encouraged critics of his government—and then betrayed them just when their advice might have prevented a calamity
September 26, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Next Year, We Start to Run Out of Bacon
This year's US drought is rippling through globalized agriculture. Next on the chopping block? Bacon
September 25, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Honey Was the Wonder Food That Fueled Human Evolution (And Now It’s Disappearing)
Energy-rich honey could have been the food that let humans get so brainy
September 20, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Farming Family Makes High-Tech Crop Circles
An Alberta family won the Guinness World Record for turning the corn field into a QR code
September 14, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
As Global Food Prices Climb, So Does the Probability of Riots
Rising food prices set the stage for riots and instability
September 11, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Why Do Students Give Teachers Apples and More from the Fruit’s Juicy Past
The perfect back-to-school treat has a colorful past that once brought the wrath of an axe-wielding reformer
September 05, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Crazy Lies Haters Threw at Rachel Carson
Silent Spring turns 50 this month, but Rachel Carson's ecological game-changer was not always the beloved green bible it is today
September 04, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Today Was the World’s Biggest Food Fight, Welcome to La Tomatina
What does it look like when 40,000 people start throwing 100 metric tons of tomatoes at each other?
August 29, 2012 |
By Jeanie Riess
41% of Water in the US is Used for Power Generation
The Union of Concerned Scientists describes how warming and drought can cause problems for power generation.
August 03, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
City Officials Declare War on Lawn Gardens
To the urban gardener's dismay, it seems that, at least for city officials, the sight of glistening berries and bountiful veggies is an offense warranting reprimand and bulldozers.
July 20, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
400 Years Worth of Water Discovered in Sub-Saharan Namibia
Three hundred meters below the arid landscape of northern Namibia researchers have discovered a source of fresh water, enough to match the region's current water demand for up to 400 years.
July 20, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Documenting “the Last Green Spot Between NYC and Philly”
The area between New York City and Philadelphia is the most densely populated in the country. Yet documentary filmaker and environmental journalist Jared Flesher managed to pinpoint what he calls "the last green space" situated between these metropolises, depicting it in the new film "Sourlands."
July 19, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
U.S. Faces Worst Drought Since 1956
Drought grips 55% of the US mainland causing a shortfall in crop production, with very low chances of it ending any time soon.
July 17, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Climate Skepticism Could Wipe Out Whole Towns in Australia
Stubborn climate skeptic hold-outs now face more than just the rest of the world's scorn: Their towns might not be on the map in a few years.
July 12, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Blame Your Chicken Dinner for That Persistant Urinary Tract Infection
E. coli, the most common cause of urinary tract infections, has been growing resistant to antibiotics, and chickens may be to blame.
July 12, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Climate Change Will Mean the World Eats Rice
The future under climate change indicates that rice will soon become an even more abundant staple, thanks to a boost in carbon dioxide that make crops like rice thrive
July 11, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Daughters of Wealth, Sisters in Revolt
The Gore-Booth sisters, Constance and Eva, forsook their places amid Ireland's Protestant gentry to fight for the rights of the disenfranchised and the poor
July 10, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
