Latest Articles

Swimming in it: An idyllic New England creek becomes a raging menace

When Hurricane Irene blew through New York state last year, a neighboring creek gushed into Catherine Taylor-Rosenbaum's basement. It wasn't the first flood in recent memory, and she doesn't think it will be the last. The Slow Ride crew has the story.

Of nerds and words: Why everybody must read Joe Romm’s new book

Anyone who cares about why science doesn't get through to the public should read "Language Intelligence."

An idea for something to do this weekend

Almost 40 percent of Americans don't walk more than 10 minutes a week. Come on, America, take a walk!

The backwards, inside-out politics of Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, and coal

The presidential candidates are sparring over the dirtiest of fossil fuels, but the debate isn't nearly as straightforward as it seems.

Deadly Salmonella outbreak in Kentucky linked to cantaloupe

Wash your melons, gang.

Lower river levels threaten New Orleans water supply

But, on the plus side: a lower Missouri River also exposed a sunken boat. So, you know. Not all bad.

Baby octopi look like cartoon characters

Did you have any idea that baby octopi (octopuses? Octopodes? I’ve actually seen a surprising amount of debate about this) were so goshdarn adorable? The top one even has little anime eyelashes!

‘Crash test cow’ video is like a low-budget Mythbusters

Farmers are often injured or even killed when cows crash into gates, which then slam, crush, or pinch any unlucky human standing behind them. So scientists at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization developed a hinged gate which blah blah blah the point is CRASH TEST COW.

U.S. CO2 emissions from power production hit 20-year low

Increased use of natural gas gets a lot of the credit for falling carbon dioxide levels.

Climate change is messing with tropical fish, people in Australia

Climate change is already screwing up Australia's ocean environment, warming the waters, raising the sea levels, and confusing the sea critters.