Why Big Name Brands Lose Out By Going Green
When Morgan Poor gave birth to her son, she and her husband shopped around for the perfect diaper, hoping to find one that was both effective and environmentally friendly. They tried a
Marlene Cimons
Writer and Journalist
Marlene Cimons
Meager Rainfall Is Stunting Kids’ Growth
Matthew Cooper witnessed the heartbreaking effects of malnutrition on young children, first as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kissa, a village in southern Mali, and later as a graduate student doing research
Gender, Sexual Orientation and Recycling
Janet K. Swim has focused a lot of her research on human behavior, especially as it relates to the environment, but she didn’t home in much on the influence of gender — at least
Key Fish in Coral Reefs Could Perish as Their Favorite Foods Disappear
The colorful parrotfish is special. Over its lifetime, it can change its hue — making it a sought-after vision for scuba divers — and even its gender. It poops fine white sand that washes up on
Elephants and Monkeys Are Working to Protect You From Climate Change
Mother Nature has it figured out. She’s designed a master scheme that connects plants and animals, all working in concert to keep every living thing in balance. Imagine a stack of dominoes — knock
Humans Have Reshaped the Water Cycle. Diagrams Don’t Reflect That.
Ben Abbott and David Hannah believe water cycle diagrams — depictions that illustrate how water circulates on Earth — are hopelessly out-of-date because they don’t show the disruptive influence of humans. “It’s as if they were
Powerful Storms Create an Opening for Invading Plants
Powerful winds can topple trees and tear up shrubs in the forest. And this can create an opening for invaders, plants that don’t belong there. To learn more about this post-storm phenomenon,
The Iconic Joshua Tree Is in Trouble
Botanist Lynn Sweet regularly treks through California’s Joshua Tree National Park, nearly 800,000 acres that lie at the intersection of the Mojave and Colorado deserts. She likes to photograph the gnarly, spikey-limbed
Cool Ideas to Clean Up the Pollution from Cars, Trucks, Ships and Planes
Nearly a century ago, German engineer Anton Flettner launched a ship into the ocean. “Without sails or steam, like a ghost ship, it moved mysteriously through the water with no apparent means
There’s a Fungus Among Us — And It’s Deadly.
Most of us know that those mushrooms we love on top of a pizza are a fungus. But not everyone realizes that some fungi also cause disease, unless, of course, you’ve suffered
New Research Shows Malaria Can Spread In Cooler Climates
For nearly a century, scientists thought that malaria could only spread in places where it is really hot. That’s because malaria is spread by a tiny parasite that infects mosquitoes, which then
Island Trees Have Nowhere to Run From Climate Change
Kyle Rosenblad was hiking a steep mountain on the island of Maui in the summer of 2015 when he noticed a ruggedly beautiful tree species scattered around the landscape. Curious, and wondering
The Danger of Living in a Walkable Neighborhood
Nicholas Howell is a walker and a cyclist, both for physical fitness and commuting. “It’s something that is important to me, personally, as a part of my life,” he said. Nevertheless, it
Microbes Help Humans: Our Invisible Allies
Microbes are everywhere — on land, in the sea and in the air. They are on us and inside us. All living things interact daily with bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. We consume them
This Two-Cent Chemical Sensor Can Tell You If Food Is Safe to Eat and Prevent Food Waste
Raw fish. Source: Pixabay Firat Güder admits it, albeit a bit chagrined. He often leaves unopened yogurt in his office at room temperature for several weeks before he eats it. He likes
A Radical Approach to Farming From a New Generation of Growers
Sometimes, it’s easy to get lost in the soil. It’s a relationship that people passionate about farming have with the earth, especially this time of year. It infuses their lives, leaving everything
Steak Made From Insect-Inspired Lab-Grown Meat? Yum!
Edible insects are a great source of protein. But it’s probably folly to think that more than a few people want to swap crickets for steak on the dinner plate. Chomping on
How Humans Fueled Last Summer’s Extreme Heat
The summer of 2018 in Europe, North America and Asia was blistering. People died from the scorching heat. Roads and train tracks cracked. Power fizzled. Wildfires erupted. In Switzerland, climate researcher Martha
Could Snow Be the Next Source of Clean Energy?
When the conversation turns to clean, renewable energy, the talk almost always is about sun and wind. No one ever brings up another natural power source, as yet untapped — snow. Incredible as it
Invisible Heroes of the Sea (PHOTOS)
For nearly two centuries, scientists have pondered “Darwin’s Paradox,” the enduring mystery of why coral reefs thrive in tropical waters, which are woefully short on nutrients. Reefs are teeming oases in aquatic
This Ocean Farmer Is Growing Food That Cleans up Pollution
Catherine Puckett needs to be close to the ocean. That's because she is an ocean farmer. “I just can’t be away from it,” she said. “It means everything to me.” She has
Weather Affects Mood, and Thus, Restaurant Reviews
It’s hard to talk about mood without invoking the weather. When people are cheerful and happy, their outlook is “sunny.” But when they are sad or depressed, the world seems “dark” and
Tropical Forests Will Lose Their ‘Enchanted’ Mist
The gnarled and twisted trees in these tropical forests are cloaked in clouds and mist, much like the fairy tale forests drawn by British illustrator Arthur Rackham for the Brothers Grimm. But
Cars Are Giving Millions of Children Asthma
Children spend a lot of time outdoors playing tag, shooting hoops or climbing trees. If they live in cities, they might run around near busy roads. Parents always teach their kids to
Helping Flint Cope With Lead Pollution
The poisoning of Flint is a tragedy without end. Five years after learning their water supply was laced with lead, the residents of this Michigan town 66 miles northwest of Detroit still