National Geographic News: Environment

Everest Ice Shrinking Fast, Scientists and Climbers Say

Brian Handwerk — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:34:59 -0400

The world's highest peak has been shedding snow and ice for the past 50 years, possibly due in part to global warming, new research shows.

Wind Energy’s Shadow: Turbines Drag Down Power Potential

David LaGesse — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:53:49 -0400

Wind turbines rob each other of energy if installed too closely together. But the world's fastest-growing source of renewable power still has plenty of room for expansion.

On Mount Everest, Seeking Biogas Energy in a Mountain of Waste

Will Ferguson — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:58:26 -0400

Work is under way on the world's highest-elevation biogas reactor, in an effort to transform a surplus of human waste on Mount Everest into a sustainable energy source.

Climate Milestone: Earth's CO2 Level Passes 400 ppm

Robert Kunzig — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:46:50 -0400

The last time the planet was such a greenhouse, our ancestors were climbing down from the trees—and sea level was tens of feet higher.

Plants "Listen" to the Good Vibes of Other Plants

Ker Than — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:12:23 -0400

Plants might be able to tell good neighbors from bad ones by the sounds they emit.

Solar Impulse's U.S. Expedition Begins

Kate Andries — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:10:21 -0400

Solar Impulse, a solar-powered aircraft able to fly overnight, embarks on a cross-country trip-without a single drop of fuel.

Pro-Environment Light Bulb Labeling Turns off Conservative Buyers, Stu

Brian Handwerk — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:26:03 -0400

Green labeling causes some consumers to shun energy-efficient light bulbs even when they know the choice could save them money, a new study finds.

Sun Plus Nanotechnology: Can Solar Energy Get Bigger by Thinking Small

Patrick J. Kiger — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:04:51 -0400

Nanotechnology could boost solar energy efficiency and cut costs. A slew of recent research is aimed at better capturing energy from the Earth's biggest power source.

Reshaping Flight for Fuel Efficiency: Five Technologies on the Runway

Thomas K. Grose — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:02:29 -0400

The Boeing Dreamliner 787, poised to retake the skies soon, was one approach to more efficient flight. But aviation is looking to geared turbofan engines and radically new shapes and materials for deeper cuts in fuel consumption.

Rare Picture: Male Leopard Kills, Eats Cub

Christine Dell'Amore — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:06:29 -0400

Pictures of a leopard killing a cub may look gruesome, but infanticide in nature is relatively common, scientists say.

Earth Day: When It Is, How It Began, What to Do

John Roach — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:48:46 -0400

Learn how Earth Day became a global environmental event that will include a billion people on April 22.

First Person: My Uncle Was First to Fly Over Everest

Iain Douglas-Hamilton — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:05:39 -0400

A love of aviation runs in the family of the man who made the first flight over Mount Everest.

Cicada DNA Helps Explain Strange Breeding Cycle

Daniel Stone — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:43:03 -0400

Cicadas' puzzling timeline is written in their DNA, possibly as a way to avoid waiting predators.

Explosion Highlights Dangers of Anhydrous Ammonia

Ker Than — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:03:10 -0400

A stray electric or static charge is all that it takes to explode a leaky ammonia gas tank.

Healing the Ozone Layer: Chemist says Treaty is Working

Johnna Rizzo — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:52:11 -0400

Aerosol spray cans have been free of ozone-damaging chemicals since the late '90s—how long will it take for the ozone to recover?

Trees Call for Help—And Now Scientists Can Understand

Gabe Popkin — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:49:52 -0400

Scientists may have learned how to identify the unique sounds made by bubbles forming inside drought-stressed trees.

Finding the Reasons for the 2012 Drought

Jane J. Lee — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:19:27 -0400

An unexpected combo of atmospheric events led to the driest four months in the Great Plains since the 1930s.

New Vineyards Could Create Conservation Challenges

Brian Handwerk — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:52:39 -0400

Winemakers are preparing for the climate and wildlife challenges global warming will bring.

To Stem Fall in Oil Output, Alaska Seeks to Slash Industry Taxes

Joe Eaton — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:58:43 -0400

Facing a decline in oil production that threatens the state's massive pipeline network, Alaska hopes a $1 billion-a-year tax break will boost the industry.

Oil Spill Spotlights Keystone XL Issue: Is Canadian Crude Worse?

Bret Schulte in Fayetteville, Arkansas — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:06:55 -0400

An Arkansas pipeline spill is focusing new attention on a question that may be decisive in the Keystone XL debate: Is oil from Canada's tar sands more damaging than conventional crude?

Berlin Unexploded Bomb Shines Light on Buried Threat

Andrew Curry — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:03:46 -0400

An unexploded World War II bomb discovered in Berlin is part of what experts say is a collection of 2,000 to 4,000 tons of explosive material in the city.

Health Questions Key to New York Fracking Decision, But Answers Scarce

Katherine Hobson — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:23:00 -0400

As debate rages in New York State over whether to allow fracking, researchers are attempting to shed light on its public health effects.

New Theory for Why Antarctic Sea Ice Is Growing

Christine Dell'Amore — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:49:20 -0400

Melting ice shelves are keeping warm water away from the ocean surface, giving ice a chance to build, a new study suggests.

Baseball Spoiled by Nature: Top 10 Moments

Brett Line — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 07:22:03 -0400

Since baseball began, it has had a rivalry with Mother Nature. Earthquakes, heavy rain, insects ... As a new season begins, we revisit ten times when nature won.

Scientists Say Oil Industry Likely Caused Largest Oklahoma Earthquake

Joe Eaton — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:10:40 -0400

The injection of wastewater from oil and gas production deep into the ground has been known to cause quakes within months, but the 2011 temblor in Oklahoma occurred after nearly two decades.