Environment

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in an attempt to stymie federal carbon emissions regulations, is pressing for a public hearing with the Environmental Protection Agency that could end up in federal court.

According to a new study, simultaneous infection with multiple viruses might be the reason why bee colonies have been mysteriously dying off over the last few years.

The different colors and patterns used to distinguish coral reef cleaner fish are an example of protective camouflage found in nature, and used to great benefit by the wearer.

Farm-to-school and other local food programs are sprouting up across the U.S., as Illinois looks to local farms to boost the economy and fill vacant lots in Chicago.

An internal audit found that the World Bank did not follow environmental and social standards in its interactions with Indonesian palm oil plantations.

A San Francisco design competition calls attention to rising sea levels and rapidly thinning Antarctic glaciers. Some say we should start protecting ourselves now. 

Disease-ridden mosquitoes are threatening diversity in the Galapagos Islands, another indicator of the negative consequences of increased tourism there.

As Americans are rewarded for abandoning gas-guzzling cars, manufacturers are greening up their images with hybrid and electric offerings, and in Volkswagen's case, an entire exhibit on sustainability.

The ecology of Florida Bay is imperiled, and saving it depends largely on the health of the Florida Everglades. How can the bay be revitalized?

New research shows that “benchmark glaciers” are melting more rapidly than in the past, jeopardizing marine and other animal life as well as fresh water supplies. Past studies triggered concerns that glacier activity could aggravate border disputes in areas of political instability.

Late blight, which caused the Irish potato famine, has wreaked havoc on U.S. tomatoes since June. Can late blight be contained before farmers lose even more crops?  

A team of California marine scientists has embarked on a journey to a pile of plastic garbage in the North Pacific Ocean. What are they hoping to find?

Scientists have known that honeybees can dance directions to food, but they recently found that bees can also communicate danger. Other animals have been found to express many complex emotions.

As the recession continues and urban gardening gains popularity among the masses, one study finds that gardening may be the key to a long life.

Almost all companies claiming to be friendly to the environment are making false claims, a study showed. Competitors can challenge each other's green advertising claims in court.

The Indian subcontinent is experiencing a chaotic and uneven monsoon season, causing angry farmers to protest. Could more be done to prepare for such extreme weather?

Indigenous peoples in the Arctic are declaring sovereignty over valuable natural resources. But wealthier nations in the region are also staking claims on the oil- and gas-rich Arctic territory.

Scientists think that samples of the smelly blackish goo floating off the coast of Wainwright, Alaska, will show that the glob is made up of organic matter.

General Electric is working on products and appliances that could slash home energy consumption to zero by 2015. Until then, there are technologies available to help consumers lower their consumption.

Seismic tools along the San Andreas Fault have detected a jump in tremors, bringing scientists closer to being able to predict future quakes.

At the G8 Summit in Italy, world leaders agreed to put $20 billion toward agriculture in developing countries, the culmination of past recommendations within and beyond Africa.

The plight of endangered orangutans in Borneo highlights the controversy surrounding the United Nations' REDD program, which aims to reduce carbon emissions caused by deforestation.

The monumental new climate bill should reach the Senate floor in September, but experts are mixed on the bill, and some are vehemently opposed to it.

An energy bill amendment that would permit offshore drilling in Florida is expected to reach the Senate this fall, but how might it impact Florida tourism and the environment?

Across the United States, residents of industrial areas are suffering the ill effects of poor air quality, but movements led by journalists and student activists could create change.

On his new TV show, “lazy environmentalist” Josh Dorfman teaches people that being good to the environment doesn’t have to be uncomfortable or expensive.

The green energy sector is creating jobs and inspiring ecologically sound investment—and other companies to do likewise.

On June 12, 1979, the human-powered Gossamer Albatross aircraft crosses the English Channel in a historic flight.

U.K. officials are considering getting rid of certain food labels that confuse consumers and can lead to excessive waste.

Laughing is not unique to humans. Researchers tickled infant apes and infant humans and found that the sounds created by the apes indicated a common ancestral link for laughter.