Environment

When Trees Are Cut Down, Angkor’s Temples Begin to Crumble

People usually think of trees' destructive impacts on Angkor, but they also protect those iconic temples

The tiny little parasitic wasp Tamarixia radiata.

Scientists Think These Creepy Wasps Are Going to Save Oranges

Biological control—importing predators to fight an invasive species—has a nasty track record

Just Let Detroit’s Vacant Lots Run Wild

Neglected and overgrown lots are, it turns out, a boon to Detroit's allergy sufferers

Leaves of the plant Plantago lanceolata infected with powdery mildew.

What the Spread Of A Plant Mildew Tells Us About Forests

Fragmenting habitats into smaller pieces may let diseases spread more easily, a new study finds

Yan'an, China is flattening some of the mountains surrounding the city, seen here in a photo from 2012

China Is Tearing Down Mountains to Build Cities

Land creation projects are proceeding apace without scientific research to back them up

Here's a Little Perspective On the EPA's New Carbon Rules

A planned reduction in power plant carbon emissions will help with climate change, but it's not a full fix

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Decades of Political Strife Have Left Myanmar's Jungles Unexplored and Unchartered

Now as the country opens up, what will happen to its endangered species? A new three-part series on the Smithsonian Channel explores the issue

The Honda smart home's energy efficient interior features a passive heating and cooling design and an LED lighting system that adapts to the body's natural circadian rhythm.

Checking The Claim: A House That Produces More Energy Than It Consumes

Forget carbon-neutral—Honda and the University of California have built a house that claims to give energy back

The Mississippi River Carries More Than Enough Sand to Rebuild Its Sinking Delta

The mighty Mississippi carries enough sand and silt to rebuild Louisiana's disappearing marshes for the next 600 years

Sound Experts Want to Record One Full Day of Human Noise From All Over the Earth

The project could help scientists better understand the human soundscape and quantify how it changes over time

Organic chicken feed.

Walmart's About to Do for Organic Food What It Did for Every Other Consumer Product

Walmart's going to give organic food a big push

Sea Otters Can Get the Human Flu

Scientists have no idea how the otters contracted the H1N1 virus, however

Young Fish Exposed to Deepwater Horizon Oil Develop Defects in Their Hearts

The impacts extend to economically valuable species such as tuna and amberjack

Exxon Valdez

25 Years Ago, The Exxon Valdez Ran Aground

On March 24, 1989 the Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound

Fallen trees in Chernobyl's infamous red forest.

Forests Around Chernobyl Aren’t Decaying Properly

It wasn't just people, animals and trees that were affected by radiation exposure at Chernobyl, but also the decomposers: insects, microbes, and fungi

Eight Million Tons of Illegal E-Waste Is Smuggled Into China Each Year

Despite the health and environmental issues, a thriving black market makes China the world's biggest e-waste importer

Reusing Hotel Towels Actually Does Make a Difference

Laundry accounts for 16 percent of hotels' water usage, which translates into significant energy costs

A dollar bill found floating in the basement of the offices of Smack Mellon, a Brooklyn arts organization, after flooding due to Superstorm Sandy. Submitted by Adriane Colburn.

A Crowdsourced Collection of Objects That Embody Climate Change

"A People's Archive of Sinking and Melting" features publicly submitted items from places that could be on the brink of disappearance

The 13,000-foot high Grasberg mine contains the largest single gold reserve in the world, and the largest copper deposit as well.

The Environmental Disaster That is the Gold Industry

The mining industry has had a devastating impact on ecosystems worldwide. Is there any hope in sight?

Myth Debunked: Wind Farms Don't Alter the Climate

A model indicates that doubling Europe's number of wind turbines would have a negligible effect on temperature and precipitation

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