HowStuffWorks Newsletter
The environment is truly a thing of beauty and should be protected whenever possible. What can we do to save the environment, and what new technology is available to help us?
Not all fossils are found on dry land. In fact some of the most fascinating fossil finds in history have been submerged for centuries.
By Mark Mancini
It may seem cool to stack rocks for fun or artistic purposes but moving rocks may inadvertently threaten small mammals and insects and contribute to soil erosion.
China has joined the more than 120 countries outlawing certain types of single-use plastics, those convenient but controversial plastics we've all become so used to. What exactly are they, though, and is banning them really necessary?
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Earth is a complex place, and its climate follows suit. That may explain why many of us are still confused about climate change. Think you can tell the facts from myths? Find out with this quiz.
By Mark Mancini
"The 26th century" doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as "the 21st century" does. But that hasn't stopped us from imagining what our hometown planet will be like in a few hundred years. Any guesses?
By Robert Lamb
You've probably heard of the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, but do you know the difference?
You've probably heard of the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, but do you know the difference?
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The Arctic Circle is a region marked by frigid temperatures, strange sunlight and glaciers galore. And for hundreds of thousands of people, it's also home sweet home.
By Mark Mancini
This is not an easy question to answer, thanks to the mists of time. But historians have put forth several possibilities. An ancient tablet claims one king ruled for 28,000 years!
If it looks like a party is on, maybe they'll come back. Playing the sounds of a noisy, healthy coral reef can attract important fish species to devastated reef habitats.
Mountain Lake in Virginia is best known for its starring role in 'Dirty Dancing.' But today, it's nothing more than a muddy pit that's all but dried up ... and geologists think they may know why.
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Gondwana was a humongous landmass that persisted for 300 million years before it began to break up, forming all the continents in the modern Southern Hemisphere.
These new devices may be used in the future to absorb more of the sun's energy than today's solar panels are capable of collecting.
Ice stupas are artificial glaciers that store frozen water to be used for hydrating crops in the driest stretches of the year in the high desert of Himalaya.
By Mark Mancini
The Earth is unique in the solar system because its surface is made of moving plates, which may enable the very existence of life.
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Cultures all over the world have treasured turquoise for its color and rarity for thousands of years — from Native American jewelry and Aztec and Mesoamerican art to King Tutankhamun's death mask.
California's largest inland lake has essentially become a ticking ecological time bomb. And the clock is running out — fast.
Could solar cells be the asphalt of the 21st century?
Wouldn't it be nice if we could pull CO2 out of thin air and transform it into a fuel that's better for the environment?Now we can.
By Mark Mancini
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Climate change is the defining issue of our time, and we are at a defining moment of history. What can you do to make a difference? We've got 10 tips for you.
By Katie Lambert & Sarah Gleim
A group of 21 U.S. kids are taking the government to court for failing to address the climate crisis. Can they possibly win?
By John Donovan
Rising sea levels, increased flood and extreme heat are all signs of climate change. Cities are trying some innovate strategies to cope with and mitigate these events.
By Dave Roos
Scientists are hoping two enzymes are the key to breaking down huge amounts of plastic.
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Many scientists believe that humans influence Earth at a rate so massive that a change to the geologic time scale is in order.
By Mark Mancini
Global warming and climate change are terms often treated like synonyms, but they have different meanings. We'll explain the difference and why both are so important to know.
By Mark Mancini