All Environment
Schwarzenegger filming documentary on climate change and wildfiresActor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is at work on a documentary on climate change and how it impacts the fire season. Mr. Schwarzenegger was in western Montana,聽profiling the Snake River Hotshots as they work on the lines of the 9.6-square-mile West Mullan Fire burning north of the town of Superior.
Hydropower: the unsung hero of renewable energyHydropower accounts for more electricity production than solar, wind, and geothermal combined, but gets far less press because it is a mature technology with a much lower annual growth rate than most renewables. Still,聽hydropower will likely continue its leading role as the world鈥檚 most important producer of renewable electricity until well into the next decade.聽
Why oil companies are leaving the Gulf of MexicoNew drilling technologies have contributed to exponential production gains for onshore oil and natural gas in the United States.聽The Gulf of Mexico is still giving up substantial amounts of oil, but some companies seem to be betting the biggest bonanza will be onshore.
Idyllwild fire: Rain aids fight against California wildfireIdyllwild fire continued to burn across southern California Monday morning, but heavy rain helped firefighters make聽substantial gains against a week-old wildfire that burned across 42 square miles.聽With the arrival of an inch and a half of rain Sunday, firefighters began to beat back the Idyllwild fire and had the blaze 68 percent contained.
State department approves pipeline to Canada. No, it's not Keystone XL.A 430-mile-long pipeline from North Dakota to Alberta was approved by the US State Department Wednesday. The so-called Vantage Pipeline, not to be confused with Keystone XL,聽will mark the first time that liquids from North Dakota's reservoirs will flow into existing Albertan infrastructure.
June 2013 was world's fifth-hottest June on record, says NOAAJune 2013 broke monthly records over much of northern Canada, western Russia, southern Japan, the Philippines, part of southwestern China, and central southern Africa.
Idyllwild fire grows to more than 35 square milesIdyllwild fire threatened聽a popular tourist destination Thursday and聽destroyed at least six houses and mobile homes. Tensions heightened late Wednesday after winds shifted, causing the Idyllwild聽fire to change course and head in the direction of Idyllwild, an artist community and hiking destination in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Heat wave spreads across US. When will it end?The largest heat wave of the summer has spiked dangerously high temperatures across large swaths of the country for days. Relief from the heat wave is within sight, but cooler weather can't come soon enough.
Two years after Fukushima, Japan eyes return to nuclear powerNew safety regulations are clearing the way for a return to nuclear power in Japan, two years after an earthquake and tsunami caused a meltdown at the聽Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.聽
Power plant implosion: Florida utility dynamites old plantPower plant implosion levels a 1960s power plant in Fort Lauderdale to make way for a new power plant that runs on natural gas. The power plant implosion took 450 pounds of dynamite and 90 controlled explosions Tuesday morning.
Ash borer beetle shows up in Iowa (again)Ash borer beetle, first spotted in Iowa three years ago, has now appeared in a second location in the state, officials announced Tuesday.聽Most ash borer beetle infestations have been caused by people unknowingly moving infested firewood, nursery plants and sawmill logs across county and state lines.聽
NYC to LA in 45 minutes? Tesla Motors CEO says 'Hyperloop' could do it.Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is throwing his weight behind a 'Hyperloop' network of pneumatic tubes that could transport travelers at high speeds along a magnetic-levitation track. The 'Hyperloop' could take聽someone from New York to Los Angeles in 45 minutes and New York to Beijing in just 2 hours, according to the Tesla CEO.
Idyllwild fire a 'rapidly changing animal'Idyllwild fire burned seven homes in the mountains west of Palm Springs, Calif., late Monday and early Tuesday聽as the fire more than doubled in size. The Idyllwild聽fire was mostly moving away from small communities and toward the desert, but officials said a shift in wind could聽easily sweep it back toward homes.
Baby panda twins born at Zoo AtlantaPanda twins were born at Zoo Atlanta Monday, the first twin pandas聽born in the United States since 1987. Zookeepers were expecting only one cub and were surprised when the聽giant聽panda聽named Lun Lun gave birth to baby panda twins.
The dirty coal behind Germany's clean energyGermany's energy portfolio may not be as green as you think, Grealy writes. Coal-fired power plants made up 52 percent of Germany's electricity demand in the first half of 2013, while output from natural gas and wind turbines is falling.聽
Gas prices: why $2 gas isn't happening anytime soonGas prices rose 4 percent in the US this week, according to AAA. Despite a boom in North American oil production, gas prices won't be approaching $2 anytime soon.聽
Fracking research: What's behind EPA's abandoned studies?Fracking studies have pit the Environmental Protection Agency against the oil and gas industry, which says the agency has聽over-reached on fracking and that its science has been critically flawed. The recent closing of EPA fracking investigations has some environmentalists worried that the agency is feeling the effects of industry pressure and tight budgets.
Fukushima nuclear plant likely leaking contaminated water into oceanThe nuclear power plant at Fukushima has been leaking contaminated water into the ocean for the two years since the accident that saw three of the plants six reactors suffer a meltdown, according to the head of the Nuclear Regulation Authority in Japan.聽
Fracking at the corner of energy abundance and water scarcityFracking for oil and gas amid water scarcity聽has created a public-private crossroads, with both sides attempting to further their goals, Warren writes. Nowhere is the water-energy nexus so apparent as it is in the fracking (hydraulic fracturing) for oil and gas.
Katmai bears star in nature's 'Jersey Shore'Katmai bears are the star of an Internet 'reality show' based in the Katmai National Park and Preserve in remote Alaska. Eight web cams have been set up at various parts of the park to livestream the daily life and drama of the park's famed Katmai bears.