2005 DECEMBER
Dec. 21, 2005

Senate Showdown Over Budget, Drilling in ANWR
In last minute votes on Wednesday, the Senate approved a bill to trim spending on social programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and student loans but rejected a military spending bill that included a controversial provision to drill for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

  

Dec. 6, 2005

Importing Liquefied Natural Gas
A report on multinational companies that are rushing to develop and import liquefied natural gas, LNG, a resource that is cheap to transport but many countries fear could pose risks to large population centers that lie near storage facilities.

  

NOVEMBER
Nov. 29, 2005

Wind Power Debate
The Science Unit reports on the controversy over a proposed wind farm to be built off the coast of Massachusetts in Nantucket Sound.

  

Nov. 10, 2005

Light Bulb Technology
A 35-year-old technology -- light emitting diodes or LEDs -- is getting a new life these days as a potential breakthrough for an even older technology -- the light bulb. Spencer Michels of the Science Unit provides a report.

  

Nov. 8, 2005

Environmental Impact of Katrina
A science unit report looks at the environmental cleanup in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina inundated the city with filthy floodwater. Federal and state officials are at odds with environmental groups over the danger posed by toxins found in and around houses in New Orleans.

  

Nov. 2, 2005

The ANWR Drilling Debate
In the past, Senate filibusters have blocked drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. As Congress takes up the issue once more, a familiar debate is taking place among activists. Following a background report, two experts discuss drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

  

OCTOBER
Oct. 14, 2005

Experts Debate Long-term Environmental Impacts of Katrina
More than 193,000 barrels of oil -- some 7 million gallons -- spilled along the Louisiana coastline in August 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit.

AUGUST
Aug. 25, 2005

Tension Over Oil in Nigeria
Following his recent trip to Africa, NPR's Steve Inskeep discusses the tensions and violence rising in Nigeria as Shell Oil seeks the rights to drill there.

Aug. 15, 2005

Clearing the Air
Mayors across the country have united to pledge support for the Kyoto Protocol despite the Bush administration's concerns the treaty to curb greenhouse gases will hurt the U.S. economy.

  

Aug. 12, 2005

The O'Shaughnessy Dam Debate
Correspondent Spencer Michels reports on the battle over the 100-year-old O'Shaughnessy Dam in Northern California.

  

Aug. 10, 2005

New Grazing Rules
Tom Bearden of the NewsHour's Science Unit takes a look at some upcoming rules on private cattle grazing on public land and the effects they may have.

  

JULY
July 29, 2005

Senate Passes Energy Bill
The Senate passed a $14.5 billion energy bill Friday that includes tax breaks and other incentives to encourage increased domestic production of energy.

  

July 29, 2005

Energy Bill Impact
Congress Friday passed a sweeping energy bill that provides billions in tax breaks and other incentives to boost domestic production from traditional and alternative sources. Experts discuss the positives and negatives of the bill.

  

July 29, 2005

Shields and Ponnuru
Syndicated Columnist Mark Shields and National Review Senior Editor Ramesh Ponnuru discuss the passage of the new energy bill, CAFTA, the gun liability bill and the ongoing labor union dispute.

  

July 5, 2005

Climate Tension Discussion
As President Bush heads to the three-day G-8 summit Tuesday, experts discuss possible solutions to international climate change, an issue that will be brought up at the summit.

  

July 5, 2005

Climate Tension
President Bush headed to Europe Tuesday for a three-day meeting with other industrial nations to discuss international economic issues. One of the topics on the G-8 agenda is climate change. Betty Ann Bowser of the Science Unit reports on the science and politics of climate change.

  

JUNE
June 28, 2005

Senate Passes Comprehensive, $16 Billion Energy Bill
The Senate passed an energy bill Tuesday that would double the use of corn-blended ethanol, bolster electricity grid reliability and offer $16 billion in tax breaks and incentives to improve domestic production. The House passed a separate energy bill in April.

  

June 22, 2005

Energy Bill Debate
The Senate on Wednesday agreed to voluntary emissions reductions, rather than mandatory cuts, while debating a broader energy bill. Following a background report, analysts discuss the pros and cons of the energy bill and the next step for the Senate.

  

MAY
May 11, 2005

The Arctic's Melting Glaciers
Jonathan Rugman of Independent Television News examines how global warming is affecting those who live in the Arctic.

  

May 3, 2005

Nuclear Reactor Fight
A report on one Illinois community's debate over a proposed nuclear reactor for both economic and safety reasons.

APRIL
April 15, 2005

Eco-friendly Buildings
Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles reports on efforts to build environment-friendly buildings.

April 14, 2005

Oregon's Supreme Court Nullifies Over 3,000 Gay Marriages
The Oregon Supreme Court on Thursday nullified 3,000 gay marriage licenses, while the Connecticut state legislature moved toward approving a same-sex civil union bill. Following a background report, two analysts debate the recent actions and what they suggest about America's opinion on same-sex marriage.

  

MARCH
March 28, 2005

Clearing the Air
California's plan to start regulating carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles in 2009 has spurred legal challenges from automakers.

  

March 28, 2005

Teachers, Parents Grapple with Evolution-Creationism Debate
Correspondent Jeffrey Brown investigates how some biology teachers are handling the hot button debate over the theory of evolution, creationism and intelligent design.

  

March 16, 2005

Drilling for Oil
The Senate Wednesday voted 51-49 to defeat a measure that would have banned oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

  

March 15, 2005

EPA Limits Mercury Emissions
The Environmental Protection Agency released the first regulations that limit mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants Tuesday. Two energy experts debate the implications of the new "cap and trade" initiative which allows companies to trade pollution allowances.

  

FEBRUARY
Feb. 18, 2005

Shields and Lowry Analyze Intelligence Director Appointment and Social Security
Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and National Review editor Rich Lowry discuss the appointment of John Negroponte as the new director of national intelligence, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's comments about Social Security and the brewing fight over judicial nominees.

  

Feb. 16, 2005

Deep Sea Chemicals
Scientists around the world are looking to coral reefs for the next big medical breakthrough. Correspondent Betty Ann Bowser explores the potential of these "rainforests of the sea" to provide the raw materials for life-saving drugs in the second of a two-part series on coral reefs.

  

Feb. 16, 2005

Kyoto Fallout
The Kyoto Treaty, signed in 1997 to combat global warming, went into effect Wednesday. Gwen Ifill leads a discussion on the newly enacted treaty and the U.S. decision not to participate.

  

Feb. 1, 2005

Dying Coral Reefs
Some scientists are concerned that overfishing, pollution and global warming are killing parts of the world's coral reefs. Correspondent Betty Ann Bowser explores what is being done to save the reefs in part one of a two-part series.

  

JANUARY
Jan. 25, 2005

Peace Prize Winner: Wangari Maathai
Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize, sits down with Jeffrey Brown about her ecology work and social activism.