green science library

Green Science is the application of eco-friendly thinking to scientific disciplines. Learn about global warming, pollution and other impacts on nature and the planet, plus what we can do to combat them.

Featured Article: How Eco-anxiety Works

While it's good to be environmentally accountable, too much eco-angst can spiral into an actual anxiety disorder. What makes people lose sleep thinking about their big, muddy carbon footprints? See more »

Articles 41-60 of 155

How Biodynamic Viticulture Works

Biodynamic viticulture can get downright spiritual with its attention to lunar cycles and other cosmic forces. So why would a vineyard need to pay attention to such things, and what do manure-filled horns have to do with it?

How can a plastic bag be green?

Plastic bags are generally unsustainable. Even if they are biodegradable, they take roughly 1,000 years to fully break down. Minnesota company NatureWorks has come up with a green plastic bag, but how eco-friendly is it?

How can a tent use solar power?

When you're camping, it's nice to have a light in your tent. But lanterns can catch fire and flashlights eventually run out of batteries. Does the sun offer a better solution?

How can adding iron to the oceans slow global warming?

Popeye used the iron from spinach to morph into a formidable sailor. We know that iron is an essential component of the human body. But could it also be the answer to global warming?

How can electricity increase my car's fuel efficiency?

Alternative energy sources like hydrogen and electricity are promising, but they require totally different engines from what we use now. Can we increase the efficiency of regular old fossil fuel, or are we stuck with what we've got?

How Carbon Capture Works

We know that we fuel global warming with our carbon emissions. What if we could seize all that carbon and squirrel it away in a safe place? Well, we can.

How Carbon Footprints Work

While actual footprints measure size, weight and speed, carbon footprints measure how much carbon dioxide (CO2) we produce in our daily lives. Do you know how big your carbon footprint is?

How Carbon Offsets Work

Eco-conscious people purchase carbon offsets to help reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. But do offsets actually help, and what does Pink Floyd have to do with them?

How Carbon Tax Works

How do we reduce greenhouse gas emissions? A carbon tax is one answer. A simpler alternative to cap-and-trade schemes, a carbon tax encourages energy efficiency and reduced consumption.

How Carbon Trading Works

Carbon trading, sometimes called emissions trading, is a market-based tool to limit greenhouse gases. The carbon market trades emissions under cap-and-trade schemes or with credits that pay for or offset GHG reductions.

How China's Pollution Sniffers Work

In an effort to detect areas with poor air quality, China is training people to sniff out harmful levels of pollution. But what effect does this have on the human body? Learn about how the brain identifies and distinguishes among scents as well as new odor-detecting technology.