Latest Articles

Phase-Out of the Federal Wind Tax Credit a Good Thing?

Energy and Environment News has a very long story on a new angle for the federal wind tax credit debate: a phaseout. This article raises several issues, apart from that policy strategy, that are worth a quick discussion. 1. Why Would Wind Compete with Natural Gas? The article waxes long about the trials of the […]

Yet another ship makes it through the ice-light Northwest Passage

Little did European explorers know that they only had to burn a shit ton of coal and then wait a bit in order to discover the fabled route.

2012 may not end up being the hottest year ever — just close

The world is hot, getting hotter, and generally getting hotter faster. But not uniformly, so that's good anyway.

America’s silent housing crisis calls for a fresh, greener approach

Habitat for Humanity has made a name for itself building new houses for poor people. Meanwhile, there is a silent crisis among those who can’t afford to keep up the homes they’re already in.

What did you do this weekend? Curiosity took pictures of itself and blew up a rock

It’s been a big weekend for the Curiosity rover. First, it took a new Facebook profile pic (with flattering shot-from-above camera angle, but thankfully free of duck lips). Actually, Curiosity shot this selfie on Aug. 7, but it was just released on Saturday. And somehow it’s even cooler, at least to me, than shots of […]

These dizzy cats would like you to turn up your thermostat to save energy

Kudos to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas — they really understand what the internet says about human psychology. Instead of even trying to use science, economics, or statistics to convince people to stop cooling their homes to 65 degrees while they’re at work, ERCOT is skipping all that nonsense and going straight to what […]

Miners bussed to Romney rally obviously hate Obama, Fox points out

Fox Nation declares that Ohio miners have "turned on" Obama after the mine workers' boss busses them to a Romney rally.

Excuse me but this butterfly can see with its butt

Animals get all the cool accoutrements — tails, wings, prehensile penises — and humans all know which one they’re most jealous of. If you want proof, ask any elementary schooler, most stoned college kids, and certain tags on Tumblr. But the one creature I’ll bet no human has ever, ever envied is the Japanese swallowtail […]

The Midwest gets some rain, as the Mississippi keeps emptying

Rain is bringing relief from the drought, at a pace that will have us back to normal by early 2014.

Newly discovered owl frowns on your shenanigans

This owl, Ninox Spilocephala, is one of 10 new species of owl just discovered in the Philippines. (Researchers found them using recording equipment that can distinguish subtle distinctions between different species’ hoots.)  More importantly, though, he has scary human eyes, hates you, and was clearly born to be a meme.