The surprisingly powerful force that can help people after a natural disaster

Fires and floods can wreck your mental health. Community can rebuild it.

By Michael J. CorenSeptember 10, 2024

What to do with your old jacket rather than throwing it out

Repair services and programs that allow you to fix or trade in your old gear can extend the life span of your products and keep them out of landfills.

By Allyson Chiu and John FarrellSeptember 3, 2024

How to turn any bike into an electric vehicle

There are about 1 billion bikes in the world. I found an affordable way to make almost any of them electric. 

By Michael J. Coren and Alice LiAugust 20, 2024

How I fed my family for days with food that was bound for the trash

A new generation of apps are rescuing food from the landfills at a fraction of the retail price at restaurants and grocery stores.

By Michael J. CorenAugust 6, 2024

How to make all your food waste disappear

Composting is not for everyone. But you haven’t tried solar digesters.

By Michael J. CorenJuly 30, 2024

You can forage a delicious meal almost anywhere. Here’s how.

Foraging — the act of finding wild, edible food — is a lost art in modern society. Perhaps it’s time for a revival.

By Michael J. CorenJuly 23, 2024

He makes giant trolls out of trash, hides them in woods for people to find

‘My ultimate goal is to have trolls surprising people in every state,’ said Thomas Dambo, whose latest project is in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

By Cathy FreeJuly 9, 2024

Fighting over how to load the dishwasher and save gas? We have the right answers.

Definitive answers to the most common household battles over sustainability.

By Michael J. CorenJuly 9, 2024

There are better ways to protest climate change than spray painting Stonehenge

Just Stop Oil activists could take a page from the civil rights movement, experts say.

By Michael J. CorenJune 25, 2024

What ‘boommates’ are and why you might want to join them

Thousands of baby boomers are living with intergenerational housemates — a setup that could help ease the housing crunch and cut global warming emissions.

By Michael J. CorenJune 18, 2024

The one vegan food that tastes just like the real thing

Scientists finally made fake cheese taste good.

By Michael J. CorenJune 11, 2024

Never wait in the school car line again. Here’s how.

For the first time in decades, a small but critical mass of children are riding their bikes safely to school again.

By Michael J. CorenJune 4, 2024

We taste-tested 9 fake bacons. Here’s how they compare to the real thing.

A pork-free version of bacon could change the game, unlocking methods to make all plant-based meats rival the real thing and put a much bigger dent in emissions.

By Michael J. Coren and Becky KrystalMay 21, 2024

Is mineral sunscreen better for coral reefs than chemical sunscreen?

Whether chemical sunscreens damage or kill corals in the wild is still the subject of scientific debate.

By Michael J. CorenMay 16, 2024

Why you should become a volunteer urban biodiversity scientist

Next time you pick up your phone to snap a seflie, try grabbing a photo of the life around you.

By Michael J. CorenMay 14, 2024

How to avoid a contractor nightmare when electrifying your home

Seven steps to cut your energy bill, upgrade your home and bid farewell to fossil fuels.

By Michael J. CorenMay 7, 2024

I found a $2,100 EV. Here’s how you can, too.

There’s never been a better time to buy a used EV.

By Michael J. CorenApril 30, 2024

Your yard can help avert the insect apocalypse. Here’s how.

Bees and the rest of class Insecta need you. Here’s how to build bug mansions on your balcony or in your backyard. The best part? The laziest gardeners make the best bug architects.

By Michael J. CorenApril 23, 2024

Can we eat our way out of America’s invasive species problem?

The United States, besieged by invasive species, is hoping we can hunt — and eat — our way out of the ecological problem.

By Michael J. CorenApril 16, 2024

HOAs are blocking solar panels and native lawns. Here’s how to fight back.

The law may be in your corner if you’re making environmental updates to your home.

By Michael J. CorenApril 2, 2024