Environmental Science

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

About 70 percent of our energy comes from non-renewable sources like oil and natural gas. When they're gone, they're gone for good. Learn some simple ways to conserve energy through these five simple experiments.

By John Kelly

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

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

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

We argue that living well requires wine and cheese, but what does living at all require? You might be surprised to find out that there's no single definition.

By Kate Kershner

To say geologic time moves at a snail's pace is an insult to snails. Our planet's continents are always in flux: Could a new ocean grow amid those incredibly slow changes?

By Laurie L. Dove

At best, fossilization is a long and tricky process that mineralizes an occasional Tyrannosaurus rex or other extraordinary find. How has that affected our chances at charting a model of life itself?

By Robert Lamb

It's not so much about time as it is about money. What dictates how long an archeological team is permitted to dig at a particular site?

By Charles W. Bryant

Each country and each region within each country has its own laws regarding the right to cultural property. So, how do you know which artifacts belong to the government and which are "finders keepers"?

By Charles W. Bryant

In "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," Dr. Jones battles the Nazis for the Holy Grail. Did the Nazis really have an interest in archaeology? And if so, what fueled it?

By Charles W. Bryant

In "The Raiders of the Lost Ark," Indiana Jones competes with grave-robbing Nazis for the lost Ark of the Covenant. But what defined Dr. Jones as legit and the Nazis as grave robbers?

By Charles W. Bryant

Men have been hunting and killing whales for centuries. Early whalers hunted for survival, but their motivation may have changed once there was money to be made. Whaling for profit has been banned since 1986, but whaling for scientific research is still allowed in certain areas, causing much debate.

By Alison Kim Perry

Without its keystone, a Roman aqueduct collapses. Does the same travesty befall an ecosystem when a keystone species goes missing from the ecological equation?

By William Harris

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

When it comes to fossils, specimens like Sue the Tyrannosaurus rex grab much of the attention. And while Sue is a staggering 67 million years old, she's a new kid on the block, compared to some of the oldest fossils ever found. What's older than Sue?

By Jonathan Atteberry

Archaeologists dig up and study the material remains of human civilizations. Bioarchaeologists do the same thing, except they focus on the remains of, well, us. What's the big deal about old bones and teeth?

By Nathan Chandler

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 the world deals with a global food crisis, farmers need to figure out how to grow crops in a clean and sustainable way. What does sustainable agriculture accomplish that conventional farming can't?

By Dave Roos

The world's forests hold some of its most precious natural resources -- its trees. Sustainable forestry encourages attention to the forests' long-term health so they retain their value.

By Ed Grabianowski

In the race to find alternative energy sources, wind power is a strong contender. In fact, it's already making its mark. How much do you know about this up-and-coming energy source?

By Lance Looper

Not only do cars produce a large portion of the world's pollution, but airplanes, boats, trucks, trains and buses also contribute to pollution. Is there one magic solution to pollution?

By Eric Baxter