Stories by David Biello

The long-term winter warming of Russia’s far north has gotten a boost from industrialization. David Biello reports

The biggest single source of global warming pollution actually started to shrink in 2014. David Biello reports

Books and recommendations from Scientific American

The U.S. Senate voted 62 to 36 yesterday to build the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline that would bring oil from tar sands in Canada down through the U.S.

The value of recycling depends on the material in question and whether all hidden costs and benefits go into the analysis. David Biello reports

 

A bacterium famous for food poisoning has its genetics altered to produce fuel or pharmaceuticals—and to keep it from escaping the lab

Scientists have identified key factors that enable corals to recover from bleaching events brought on by global warming

Low oil prices present an opportunity to come to grips with our crumbling infrastructure and the cost of climate change. David Biello reports

 

A new analysis reveals the nations—U.S. included—that must sacrifice exploiting much of their carbon-based energy resources if they are serious about combating climate change

Researchers announced the discovery of 98 beetle species previously unknown to science. David Biello reports

 

The Sundarbans, part of the world's largest mangrove forest and stretching across India and Bangladesh, have been tarnished by a 350,000-liter oil spill. David Biello reports

 

‘Tis the season for year end lists. The problem is: news keeps happening. One of the members of this list only happened just last week.

Fracking, as it looks across the New York State border, in Pennsylvania. Fracking has been banned in New York State since 2008. Then-Governor David Paterson imposed a moratorium on the controversial technique— which fractures shale rock using high pressure, specially treated water to release gas trapped inside—citing the need for further study of health and [...]

“There will be coal burning.” Negotiators from around the world produced a four-page climate-change accord (pdf) after some sleep-deprived haggling over the weekend in Lima, Peru, but the agreement could be summed up in those five words.

Good news for gas and oil consumers can be bad news for the environment. David Biello reports

Neither blocking sunlight nor capturing carbon can stop climate change

Imagine if the world’s two largest polluters unilaterally decide to cut emissions of carbon dioxide, the ubiquitous gas responsible for the bulk of global warming.

As nations dither on meaningful steps to combat climate change, localities are stepping in with their own measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases

The pattern that stores a film on a Blu-ray disc also can help improve photovoltaics. David Biello reports

On a visit to China a few years back, I asked a local official about pollution controls after enjoying my first sour, gritty taste of the country’s air.

Much of the change in climate change is happening to the ocean. It’s not just the extra heat hiding within the waves. The seven seas also absorb a big share of the carbon dioxide released by burning the fossilized sunshine known as coal, natural gas and oil.

A new tool may help officials crack down on the illegal wildlife trade. David Biello reports

Even as the world continues to spew more carbon pollution, change has begun—and is accelerating

A turning point has been reached in the world's bid to curb global warming