Green Science

Transportation is one of the world's leading causes of pollution. In many urban areas, as much as 90 percent of the pollutants in the air come from motor vehicles alone.

By Christopher Lampton

Landfills have long been the final destination for garbage, but as they start to fill up, we're left to find ways to reduce our waste. What challenges are involved, and why isn't reducing waste as easy as it sounds?

By Jennifer Sellers

Greenhouse gases, CFCs, oil guzzling cars and smoke-belching industry. We don't lack examples of environmental threats that have occupied the previous generations.

By Kate Kershner

Although a certain amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) occurs naturally in the Earth's atmosphere, there are several human activities that increase levels of the greenhouse gas.

By Heather Kolich

No one would blame you if you're sick of hearing about carbon. Every day it seems there are news stories about rising carbon levels, carbon emissions and even the search for new carbon-based life forms

By Jamie Page Deaton

What is waste heat capture and how is it saving the planet and our pockets? This article breaks down waste heat energy and exactly why it's so important.

By Rachel Cemansky

Found in everything from plastic shopping bags to water bottles to adhesives, paints and DVDs, industrial resins tend to have a bad rap when it comes to their environmental impact. Can new, sustainable options turn their image around?

By Chris Warren

Look around you. How many things that you see have some kind of paint, varnish or finish? Coatings are everywhere -- and getting greener by the day.

By Matt Cunningham

You may never have heard of rare earth elements, but they're the force behind today's high-tech gadgets, plus a lot of green technology. Are there any environmental downsides to their use?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Bioplastics, or plastics derived from plant materials, can help alleviate many of the pollution problems that regular plastics create, but this eco-friendly alternative isn't an environmental panacea.

By Ed Grabianowski

You probably think all parasites are disgusting little critters, but that's not always the case. Several are actually critical to the planet.

By Mark Boyer

Plastic's handy, hardy stuff, but we don't want to leave piles of old forks and water bottles for future generations to trip over. Can special additives that break down plastics faster save the day?

By Nathan Chandler

You may have heard of absorbents before, like sponges and paper towels -- but what about adsorbents? And how can they help clean up environmental disasters?

By Jane McGrath

Invasive species are found around the globe, and their presence outside of their native areas is damaging the world's ecosystems and threatening biodiversity. Some -- like the five on this list -- seem almost unstoppable.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

If you're like most people, you probably assume "organic" means no insecticides. But it's not really like that. What do organic farmers use to kill pesky insects?

By Patrick J. Kiger

When you think about it, space travel requires an energy-efficient approach, especially if you're going to make it to another planet. What green technologies are essential for space travel?

By Jonathan Strickland

Sunlight can break plastic down but not very fast. Is there a way to speed up the process so that natural environments like this one aren't cluttered with plastic debris for centuries?

By Nathan Chandler

The green movement isn't going to die just because the world ends. In fact, sustainable types might even have a leg up post-apocalypse. Here's how.

By Robert Lamb

There's no way around it: The world is currently gripped by a global energy crisis. As scientists scramble for answers, hydrogen energy has emerged as a great, yet flawed solution.

By Stephanie Watson

As two of the most important elements to the sustenance of life on Earth, the sun and water are forever intertwined. Just to name one example, the sun's energy can be used to make water palatable to those who wouldn't be able to drink it otherwise.

By Marie Willsey

Researchers have been working hard over the past several years to develop new forms of alternative energy that are both cheap and environmentally friendly. Is there one fuel in particular that will save you the most?

By Gerlinda Grimes

In the wake of the financial crisis, the corporate sector has turned its eye towards green energy -- the kind that's clean and sustainable. What steps have businesses taken to drive the growth of this new market?

By Dave Roos

U.S. President Barack Obama has cited clean energy as the key to economic recovery, but how is the nation promoting clean energy research domestically? It turns out that there's a government office that's already on the case.

By Dave Roos

If you've ever held two magnets close together, you've probably felt their surprising force. Has anyone figured out how to convert that energy into an alternative power source?

By Gerlinda Grimes

Tourism is one of the world's largest exports, but it can often leave the locals with the short end of the stick. Sustainable tourism helps visitors use their vacations to have fun in ways that benefit the local economy and ecology.

By Dave Roos