Scientists Race to Map Dangerous Ultrasmall Space Junk
An ambitious U.S. government program is working to detect and track millions of tiny space junk pieces—down to the size of a sand grain—throughout low-Earth orbit and beyond
Sustainable Fishing with Ancient Chambers and Ocean Tides
A group on the islands of Penghu is restoring ancient fishing weirs, hoping to preserve the sustainable fishing practice and attract ecotourism.
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The Paris Olympics Are a Lesson in Greenwashing
The Olympics are a sustainability nightmare, and Paris, despite its efforts, is no exception
The Supreme Court Threw Us—And the Chevron Deference—Overboard with Its Fish Ruling
A case about Atlantic herring has resulted in SCOTUS ending a 40-year policy to defer to expert agencies when considering regulations. The effects will likely be felt far beyond fishing
First Wooden Satellite Will Test ‘Green’ Space Exploration
Japan’s LignoSat will test wood’s resilience in space and could lead to a new era of more sustainable, less polluting satellites
What Do Google’s AI Answers Cost the Environment?
Google is bringing AI answers to a billion people this year, but generative AI requires much more energy than traditional keyword searches
Sunlight-Dimming Climate Schemes Need Worldwide Oversight
As the climate crisis intensifies, experiments to “cool the planet” by reflecting solar radiation proliferate. Without proper global and national regulation, they will worsen the crisis
Making Chemistry Safer Is Worth the Price Tag
With chemical spills and other accidents a common occurrence, it’s becoming more expensive to maintain the status quo than to make chemistry safer
AI’s Climate Impacts May Hit Marginalized People Hardest
A Brookings Institution report warns that energy-hungry artificial intelligence tech will worsen the climate crisis
Cleaning Water Naturally the Ancient Maya Way
The ancestral Maya lived in better harmony with the environment and kept water clean naturally. We can learn from them
Groundwater Is Declining Globally, but There Are Hopeful Exceptions
The most detailed global look at groundwater yet shows a lot of loss but also stories of success in restoring some aquifers
Parking Lots Cause More Heat and Flooding—Here’s How 100 U.S. Cities Rank
A new index scores U.S. cities by the amount of land they provide for parking. Sunbelt cities top the list