Fossil Fuels | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/fossil-fuels/RSS feed for Fossil FuelsenThu, 21 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000This Canadian Mine Might Release Enough Natural Hydrogen Each Year to Power 400 Homes, Hinting at an Untapped Source of Clean Energyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-canadian-mine-might-release-enough-natural-hydrogen-each-year-to-power-400-homes-hinting-at-an-untapped-source-of-clean-energy-180988773/Many of the country's metal mines are embedded in an ancient rock formation that probably also houses a lot of the resource, referred to as "white hydrogen"Thu, 21 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-canadian-mine-might-release-enough-natural-hydrogen-each-year-to-power-400-homes-hinting-at-an-untapped-source-of-clean-energy-180988773/Ancient Humans Mastered Fire. Now, Burning Fossil Fuels and Blazing Landscapes Threaten to ‘Undo the World’https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ancient-humans-mastered-fire-now-burning-fossil-fuels-and-blazing-landscapes-threaten-to-undo-the-world-180988531/Intensifying wildfires across the continent are spewing air pollution, putting human health at risk, particularly Americans living with chronic illnessesThu, 16 Apr 2026 11:00:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ancient-humans-mastered-fire-now-burning-fossil-fuels-and-blazing-landscapes-threaten-to-undo-the-world-180988531/Earth's Smells Are Disappearing Because of Climate Change, and It's a Vast Cultural Losshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earths-smells-are-disappearing-because-of-climate-change-and-its-a-vast-cultural-loss-180988496/A triple threat of pollution, extinction and warming temperatures is altering the way the planet smells. Scientists are only beginning to understand the stakes for humansWed, 08 Apr 2026 12:57:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earths-smells-are-disappearing-because-of-climate-change-and-its-a-vast-cultural-loss-180988496/When Human Activity Dropped During Covid-19, Methane Levels Surprisingly Spiked. Now, a Study Points to Two Reasons Whyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-human-activity-dropped-during-covid-19-methane-emissions-surprisingly-spiked-now-a-study-points-to-two-reasons-why-180988166/In a paradox of air pollution, a decrease in man-made pollutants led to more methane in our atmosphere. And natural wetlands released more of the planet-warming gas at the same timeTue, 10 Feb 2026 18:47:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-human-activity-dropped-during-covid-19-methane-emissions-surprisingly-spiked-now-a-study-points-to-two-reasons-why-180988166/Gas Stoves Are Poisoning Americans by Releasing Toxic Fumes Associated With Asthma and Lung Cancerhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/gas-stoves-are-poisoning-americans-by-releasing-toxic-fumes-associated-with-asthma-and-lung-cancer-180987836/In the United States, gas stoves are the main source of indoor nitrogen dioxide—a toxic gas tied to many health problems—according to a new studyThu, 11 Dec 2025 14:13:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/gas-stoves-are-poisoning-americans-by-releasing-toxic-fumes-associated-with-asthma-and-lung-cancer-180987836/Australian Rainforests Become the First to Emit More Carbon Than They Absorbhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/australian-rainforests-become-the-first-to-emit-more-carbon-than-they-absorb-180987532/A new analysis finds tropical forests in Australia are not taking in enough carbon dioxide to keep up with the emissions from their decaying trunks, holding possible implications for global ecosystemsTue, 21 Oct 2025 20:38:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/australian-rainforests-become-the-first-to-emit-more-carbon-than-they-absorb-180987532/New, 'Living' Building Material Made From Fungi and Bacteria Could Pave the Way to Self-Healing Structureshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-living-building-material-made-from-fungi-and-bacteria-could-pave-the-way-to-self-healing-structures-180986479/Researchers are developing the biomaterial as a more environmentally friendly alternative to concrete, but any wide-scale use is still far awayThu, 24 Apr 2025 14:48:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-living-building-material-made-from-fungi-and-bacteria-could-pave-the-way-to-self-healing-structures-180986479/Making Ride Hailing, Bike Shares and Other Transportation Options Accessible to Allhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/making-ride-hailing-bike-shares-and-other-transportation-options-accessible-to-all-180986468/Shared mobility is good for the environment, but not equal opportunity. What can be done to make travel easier for everyone?Tue, 22 Apr 2025 12:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/making-ride-hailing-bike-shares-and-other-transportation-options-accessible-to-all-180986468/Climate Activists Say They Will Stop Throwing Soup and Halt Disruptive Protest Tacticshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/climate-activists-say-they-will-stop-throwing-soup-and-halt-disruptive-protest-tactics-180986368/Members of Just Stop Oil made headlines for their controversial demonstrations involving valuable artworks and artifacts. Now, they say they've achieved their initial goalFri, 04 Apr 2025 16:40:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/climate-activists-say-they-will-stop-throwing-soup-and-halt-disruptive-protest-tactics-180986368/Climate Change Might Increase Satellite Collisions, Limiting How Many Can Safely Orbit Earth, Study Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/climate-change-might-increase-satellite-collisions-limiting-how-many-can-safely-orbit-earth-study-finds-180986207/Greenhouse gas emissions could reduce drag in the upper atmosphere, leaving more space debris in orbit and making satellites more vulnerable to damage, according to new researchWed, 12 Mar 2025 18:04:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/climate-change-might-increase-satellite-collisions-limiting-how-many-can-safely-orbit-earth-study-finds-180986207/