Environment

By the Numbers: The Oil Spill and BP's Legal Troubles

The Gulf Oil Spill of 2010 captured the world's attention with the scale of its destruction. It polluted the waters of the Gulf of Mexico with millions of barrels of oil; shut down businesses, fisheries and beaches; and fouled marshes…

Do Dying Trees Lead to More Human Deaths? The Debate Continues

The emerald ash borer has been attacking all 22 species of North American ash trees in the last few years, killing nearly every tree it infests. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Flickr user Darkroom Daze. The hypothesis: Trees improve people's…

In India, Farmers Pick Heartier Seeds Over Those With High Yields

By Larisa Epatko

When a cyclone hits India, the sea-drenched soil can remain salty for years. Farmers are finding new high-yield rice seeds are not withstanding the salty onslaught as well as seeds developed more than a century ago.

China Needs Milk and California Has Too Much. Is It a Match?

By Larisa Epatko

California dairy farmers are pumping out milk at higher rates each year to try to make a profit in light of the rising associated costs of corn and soy used in cow feed.

In Singapore, When You Can't Grow Out, You Grow Up

By Larisa Epatko

Singapore's skyline is composed mostly of skyscrapers, so it's no wonder residents are looking up when they're considering places to grow fruits and vegetables in this high-density Asian island.

Singapore's Vegetable Towers

By Larisa Epatko

In order to grow fresh produce on limited land, Singapore has constructed towers where seedlings grow into eatable plants.

In Qatar, Coaxing Food From One of the World's Driest Places

By Larisa Epatko

In the small Middle Eastern country of Qatar, where fresh water is scarce and most food is imported, scientists are testing ways to grow vegetables that use more greenhouse gases than they produce.

Greening the Deserts of Qatar

By Larisa Epatko

Researchers in Qatar are trying new techniques to grow food, such as pumping carbon dioxide into greenhouses and using drip irrigation in sandy plant beds.

In Costa Rica, Farmers Start to See Value of Biodiversity

By Larisa Epatko

In Costa Rica, birds, bats and bees serve vital roles in controlling pests and pollinating crops. Now, researchers are measuring the contributions of these critters to encourage farmers to move away from the single-crop model and toward biodiversity.