Environmental Science

Polystyrene -- the plastic used in items ranging from plastic forks to take-out boxes to life rafts -- can be recycled, but not without costs. What does it take to recycle polystyrene?

By John Kelly

The United States has emergency crude oil stored in its Strategic Petroleum Reserve that can be tapped only under certain terms and usually only by the president. So how much is in the reserve and how long can it last?

By Cherise Threewitt & Yara Simón

The U.S. consumes 19.1 million barrels of petroleum each day -- almost half of it in the form of gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

By Alice Truong

What's the smartest step you can take to help reduce pollution and live in a more sustainable way?

By John Kelly

The world is growing at an amazing rate. Currently, the Earth's population is growing by 60,000 people every eight hours -- that's two children born every second somewhere around the globe.

By Danielle Fisher

When people talk about energy and natural gas, opinions differ. Is it harmful to the environment, or the last great clean energy source?

By Linda C. Brinson

Remember those orange juice commercials? The ones where people tried to poke a rolling orange with a straw?

By David DeFranza, Planet Green

Under our toes, a wealth of gas exists that burns clean and could wean the U.S. off energy dependence. But getting to it is a bit tricky.

By Alice Truong

The automobile is one of the most important inventions of the past 150 years. This is not only because it provides convenient personal transport and great independence through mobility, but also because of the problems it can cause.

By Jane McGrath

Alternative energy isn't so "alternative" anymore. It's in the news, on political platforms, atop roofs and filling gas tanks, and the options have grown enough to change the conversation: It's not whether we want it, but which kind we want.

By Julia Layton

Oil drilling has been around for more than a century. But because of the numerous developments in the technology, it has grown leaps and bounds in that time.

By Jane McGrath

Would you buy a home without functioning power outlets? We've come to depend on electric power for many of our day-to-day activities. What innovations have been made in the electric power industry? Keep reading to find out.

Our energy systems are in need of a serious tuneup, for a number of reasons. Keep reading to learn about the Top 6 Innovations in Solar Power.

By Derek Markham, Planet Green

What are natural gas hydrates? Learn what natural gas hydrates are in this article.

By Talal Al-Khatib

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

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

What is coal gasification? Learn what coal gasification is in this article.

By Rachel Cernansky, Planet Green

What is the energy source of the future? Learn more about the energy source of the future in this article.

By Brian Merchant

What is the future of geothermal energy? Learn more about the future of geothermal energy in this article.

By Brian Merchant

America, and really the entire world as a whole, runs on fossil fuels like gasoline and coal. But it's no secret that these resources can't last forever.

By Patrick E. George

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

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

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

Anthropologists specialize in, well, us. But studying humankind doesn't mean you have to hole up in a library or laboratory. Take a peek at this article to learn more about the dynamic, enriching field of anthropology.

By Nathan Chandler