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How can it be that more bluefin tuna are sold than reported caught each year? On its face, this seems an impossibility. What it strongly indicates is that fishermen are being dishonest about their catches. Bluefin tuna is a critically endangered fish, but since it brings very high prices on the market, it's relentlessly hunted. The World Wildlife Fund and some other environmental groups had predicted that the fish would be extinct by now. Though it’s not yet, marine scientists are slated to reassess the health of the bluefin population in 2012. Read on...

Located high above the western tree lines, from British Columbia to New Mexico, live a small species of rabbits called the American Pika. While these diminutive critters, otherwise known as the Little Chief Hare, may be cute and cuddly, they also have a much more serious and important role. They are among the best early indicators of climate change. Pika cannot survive longer than an hour in temperatures exceeding 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and their disappearance from their typical colonies has convinced scientists that climate change is happening much faster than expected in North America. Read on…

To some, nuclear reactors are the face of the future; to others, the ticking time bombs of the past. The recent nuclear meltdowns in Japan, after the earthquake and resulting tsunami knocked out the cooling systems of several Japanese nuclear reactors, have lead to a renewed interest in alternatives and next-generation, safer nukes. In this piece, Steven Kotler examines the evolution of nuclear technology and explains how the new wave of nuclear reactors is cleaner, safer and less vulnerable to both terrorist attack and natural disaster. Read on...

Coal has been an integral part of American power generation since the late 1800s. While that technology has in some ways benefited our society, we now recognize the ecological hazards and health risks associated with using coal as an energy source. Coal by itself is not harmful; however, the byproducts of burning coal raise serious health and environmental issues. Another cause for concern is the vague laws governing the disposal of the toxic byproducts of coal-fired power plants, laws that allow each state to determine its own rules for its plant sites. Read on…

Reward or penalty, carrot or stick—which provides the most motivation to recycle household waste?

Recycling programs not only vary from country to country—different local authorities within the same nation often have contrasting ideas as to what works best. The success and failure of diverse recycling philosophies around the world, from pay-as-you-throw charges to voucher rewards, are instructive in this regard. And they can provide a template for countries and local authorities in creating their own recycling operations. Read on…