Stories by David Biello

The warmer, drier conditions of El Nino have had a baleful effect on conflict in the tropics since 1950, research shows

China has plans for ecofriendly cities that may prove unrealistic. Instead, it could do a lot for the environment simply through sturdier construction

Masdar aims to be the source for a environmentally friendly urban future, but some planners doubt it offers much for other cities to emulate

The public-transit goals of "new urbanism" can fail if residents don't foresee true travel benefits

Mathematical models help assess risk, but woe betide those who think math can predict stock market gains and losses

Making biofuels from waste makes dollars--and sense

The breakthroughs needed to replace oil with plant-based fuels are proving difficult to achieve

In deciding what to do with nuclear waste and where to put it, a blue ribbon commission recommends a consent-based approach rather than congressional fiat

The U.S. is drunk on ethanol--but whether it is made from corn or sugarcane, the crop-derived biofuel raises a host of questions

Addiction starts with genetics and the environment, but is triggered by stress

Particles of sulfuric acid--injected by volcanoes or humans--have slowed the pace of climate change in the past decade

Re-wilding islands and even continents could prove an effective method for reversing ecological catastrophe

What the future holds for Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant

Three months after its meltdown, the stricken nuclear power plant continues to struggle to cool its nuclear fuel--and cope with growing amounts of radioactive cooling water