Latest Articles
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Your beach has a good chance of being contaminated with bacteria
When mulling over that eternal 4th of July question, Mountains v. Beach, consider that mountains are never closed because of bacteria that transmit rashes, pink eye, respiratory infections, meningitis, and hepatitis. Beaches, on the other hand, are closed for exactly that reason. And last year the number of beach closings and advisories, most of which were connected to bacteria, reached the second highest level in the past two decades, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
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Critical List: Texas drought is a natural disaster; climate change causes extreme weather
After months of drought, the federal government declared 213 counties in Texas natural disasters.
Even if wildfires stay clear of Los Alamos, burning trees and heated soil contaminated with residual radiation from old nuclear tests could be a problem.
Here's the scientific explanation for why extreme weather can be connected to climate change. -
Are energy subsidies really in danger?
Has energy-subsidy reform become more likely in recent days and weeks? That would be nice, but don't hold your breath.
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Lost boys: In a warmer world, will males die sooner?
New research shows climate change could have biological impacts that shorten the lifespans of many men.
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Who's down with (more) MPG?
The Pew Clean Energy Program and other environmental groups are calling on Obama to raise fuel efficiency standards in the auto industry to 60 MPG.
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Natural gas, war of words
Citizens blocked a proposal to build a liquefied natural gas terminal on tribal land in Maine, but the battle isn't over yet.
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Did ExxonMobil break its promise to stop funding climate deniers?
The oil giant ExxonMobil may have given big bucks to scientist Wei Hock "Willie" Soon, who blames global warming on the sun.
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How the meat industry turned abuse into a business model
As a long-time student of the meat industry, I read Ted Genoways' extraordinary article on conditions at the "head table" of a factory-scale pig-processing plant with delight. As a human being, my reaction was revulsion.
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Your bike seat could ruin your sex life
Bike seats may contribute to erectile dysfunction -- and it's no surprise, when you consider where you shove 'em. “When you sit on a regular bike saddle, you’re sitting on your penis,” says reproductive physiologist Steven Schrader. If that didn't just make you cross your legs, don't get comfortable, ladies: More than 60 percent of you will experience genital pain, numbness, or tingling from sitting on a bike seat. According to this New York Times article, at least, bike seats are the worst threat to your junk since America's Funniest Home Videos.
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When it comes to green, what you buy matters more than where you live
Get off your high horse, New Yorkers! City dwellers might do some environmental good by driving less and living in smaller spaces. But living in a city doesn't affect a person's carbon footprint as much as the amount that he or she buys.
