All Environment
Points of ProgressGreen energy from sewage, and furniture from plastic wasteProgress roundup: An Oregon county funds cogeneration water plant, Dutch open-source nonprofit helps refugees make new plastics from old, and more.
Difference MakerMeet the volunteers maintaining the Appalachian TrailDedication. Love. Humility. Those are just a few of the qualities volunteers who maintain the Appalachian Trail bring to the paths year after year.聽
FocusHow Florida became the leader in fighting fire with fireWhen you fight fire with fire, the problem and solution look identical. But planning and discretion distinguish controlled burns from wildfires聽鈥� and help combat them.聽
Points of ProgressFault, justice, and firsts in court, nature, and the newsroomIn our progress roundup: no-fault divorce spreads in the U.K., data on exonerations aids advocates, Nepal and British Columbia preserve species, and more.
First LookLos Alamos lab helps fight fires, now it's threatened by oneFrom nuclear bombs to climate change the Los Alamos National Laboratory specializes in existential threats, including predicting and preventing wildfires. But now a massive wildfire threatens the historic New Mexico lab itself.
First LookBuried treasure: Divers surface trash and data at Lake TahoeScuba divers at Lake Tahoe spent a year retrieving 25,000 pounds of trash from off its shores and sorting it by type and location. It鈥檚 a first-of-its-kind effort to learn more about the potential harm caused by plastics and other pollutants found in its waters.
Can country living and a new EV plant coexist? Some Georgians say no.In rural Georgia, building a better future can be hard to define 鈥� much less agree on 鈥� even when 7,500 good jobs are on the line. What鈥檚 the right balance between conservation and progress?
First Look鈥楾ilos is a pioneer鈥�: Small Greek island makes big green shiftThe remote Greek island of Tilos, like many islands in the Aegean sea, has long struggled with electrical outages, overflowing landfills, and a lack of reliable drinking water. Now, Tilos is going green, offering a blueprint for other islands to follow.
鈥業f our animals survive, we will.鈥� Somaliland grapples with drought.As the Horn of Africa faces its worst drought in 40 years, conflict and climate change have made the situation worse. Locals hope climate-smart agriculture can mitigate future crises.聽
The ExplainerOfficial climate reports pile up. But do they connect with the public?What do IPCC reports on climate change really mean? Their acronyms can overwhelm, but the message from their scientific consensus is important.
Puerto Rico seeks clean-energy revolution. It is getting blackouts.After Hurricane Maria upended its electricity grid, Puerto Rico has a huge clean energy ambition 鈥� but ongoing power outages, too.
Points of ProgressOcean surprises: Get out your microscope and headphonesIn our progress roundup, scientists used sound to confirm a healthy coral reef, found two new phytoplankton, and tested an anti-malaria mosquito net.
Meet the nurdle hunter combing the beach for hidden pollutionMark McReynolds鈥� nurdle hunters scour the sands for a tiny pollutant most beachgoers don鈥檛 even know exists.
Grounded, and loving it. Can giving up air travel bring joy?A small but growing number of people have given up flying because of climate concerns. What surprised them, they say, is the joy they gained from the journey.
Cover StoryDemand for oil is spiking. So why are North Dakota rigs lying idle?Demand for oil is surging, but rigs in North Dakota are lying idle as聽the U.S. tries to figure out the future of its energy supply.
How a war in Europe brings climate urgency homeClimate scientists now look to individuals to limit their carbon emissions. Many Europeans say they are ready to start by doing without Russian gas.
FocusHow Navajo are turning on taps 鈥� even in remote, dry areasTaking a severe toll on the Navajo Nation, the pandemic also highlighted how many residents lack running water 鈥� spurring ingenuity-based solutions.
Roads broke up an endangered monkey's habitat. Can bridges fix it?Jo Leen Yap鈥檚 upcycled canopy bridge has helped thousands of animals cross the road safely, including the dusky langur.
First LookEarth needs climate action, not climate 'doomism,' scientists sayThe latest report from U.N. climate experts shows that without drastic action soon, the Earth could become unlivable in many places. But many scientists are pushing back on the idea that the planet is doomed, saying there is still room for hope.聽
Points of ProgressHome again: Bison in Oklahoma and anteaters in ArgentinaOur progress briefs include species reintroductions, restitution for Latvian Jewish communities, and an overturned anti-transgender law in Kuwait.