How ancient healing hot springs could fuel a clean energy future
One hot spring town shows how Japan could turn its underground cauldron of geothermal heat into clean energy, without risking its centuries-old onsen tradition.
By Nicolás Rivero and Julia Mio Inuma
Does a slushy really help you cool down on a hot day?
Whether it’s a Slurpee, Frappuccino or frozen margarita, a slushy drink can bring your body temperature down fast on a hot day.
By Nicolás Rivero
Scientists may have found a radical solution for making your hamburger less bad for the planet
Scientists are studying how to genetically modify the makeup of cows’ gut microbiomes to prevent their planet-warming methane emissions.
By Shannon Osaka and Emily Wright
How to give your old sneakers a second life
More than 300 million pairs of shoes end up in U.S. landfills each year. Your worn-out sneakers could have more value than you think.
By Allyson Chiu
This appliance might be all you need to ditch your AC this summer
In many parts of the world, on many days, a ceiling fan is all you’ll need.
By Samanth Subramanian
Can rooftop solar panels survive hurricanes?
Rooftop solar panels are surprisingly resilient in the face of extreme weather, but wind and hail damage may not be covered under your home insurance policy.
By Nicolás Rivero
The one thing you should look for on clothing labels when you go shopping
Why 100% cotton, 100% linen and even 100% polyester can be better for the planet than blended fabrics.
By Anna Kramer
Your phone’s emoji library is incomplete. Here’s what’s missing.
Many of Earth’s plants, animals and organisms aren’t in your phone’s emoji library. We’ve created 8 emojis to help compensate.
By Hailey Haymond, Dino Grandoni, Kasha Patel and Emily Sabens
How to stop stains and keep your clothes out of the landfill
These simple tips can help you prevent fashion waste.
By Allyson Chiu
This is the future of lawn mowers
Electric lawn mowers are becoming increasingly popular among homeowners. Here’s why experts say you should consider one.
By Allyson Chiu
Why you shouldn’t buy a basic window AC unit
A basic window unit is typically cheaper than other models and relatively easy to install, but they guzzle energy and can contribute to emissions.
By Allyson Chiu
The future of paper could come from gene-edited trees
Scientists are working to develop a tree that could ease the production of paper, resulting in less energy use and less pollution.
By Dino Grandoni
The surprising thing sharks can teach us about life
In her new memoir, marine biologist Jasmin Graham chronicles her work in creating opportunities for women of color in shark sciences.
By Hope Corrigan
What you can learn about salmon from its packaging
What do all those labels mean? We examined more than a dozen salmon packages and talked to experts to find out.
By Naema Ahmed and Allyson Chiu
Does ‘compostable’ plastic actually break down? Here’s what to know.
Making sure a product has been properly certified is one way to know if it will really break down in commercial composting operations.
By Allyson Chiu
Biden wants government to stop buying single-use plastics
The administration also seeks tougher regulations on plastics manufacturers, which use fossil fuels to make many products in everyday use.
By Allyson Chiu
How the nation’s driest state is using cash to free up water
Nevada is testing out a pilot program that encourages farmers to retire their water rights in an effort to reduce over-drafting of precious groundwater.
By Anna Phillips
How to power your home through an outage without a gas generator
Solar and battery technology doesn’t produce pollution and some home systems can help users save on utility costs.
By Allyson Chiu
Inside America’s billion-dollar quest to squeeze more trees into cities
We followed an arborist around D.C. to find out why it’s so hard to plant urban trees.
By Bishop Sand
Why scientists think they may finally have found a way to recycle clothes
It’s almost impossible to turn old threads into new clothes, but scientists are working to change that.
By Nicolás Rivero