Nature
ArchiveBy Mary Catherine O'Connor Headed for the hills this weekend? Feeling bad about wheeling up in your A4 Wagon with nothing but your gear and Learn Cantonese audio books? You're in luck: new ride-share and resort-bound bus services have been cropping up, connecting drivers with…
Courtesy of Flickr The U.S. Energy Department has put out a report stating that 20 percent of the electricity demand in homes and businesses in the eastern half of the country could be met with wind…
Wanna stop shark finning? Yao Ming does, too. For a donation of just $100, the organization Stop Shark Finning will put up a billboard in a high-traffic area of China that features Ming and a plea to stop…
Mountaintop removal mining is bad, right? Stephen Colbert doesn't think so. Listen to him argue with Dr. Margaret Palmer, the leading author of an article on the harmful effects of mountaintop removal that appeared in the latest issue of Science.
On December 29th, on the verge of the new decade, the skiing industry lost a legend. Bill Levitt, long-time mayor of Alta, Utah, and owner of the Alta Lodge, passed away after collapsing in the ski area's dining…
Courtesy of Flickr Twenty years after the Exxon Valdez supertanker spilled oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound there is still oil around, Nature Geoscience reports. The massive cleanup effort that took place…
Sanyo has introduced the Eneloop hybrid bike to the U.S. market. It costs $2,300, weighs about 50 pounds, and has a lithium-ion battery and 250-watt motor activated by a button on the left handlebar, according to…
A new study published in Ecological Applications found that cleared ski slopes are more environmentally friendly than graded ones, according to the New York Times. Cleared slopes are created by cutting down trees to open up an…
Here's an update on the collision between the protest ship Ady Gil and the Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru off Antarctica: The crew of the Ady Gil was rescued and uninjured, thanks to the Bob Barker, a…
Photograph by Ivan Mlinaric via Flickr The demand for soybeans has grown greatly worldwide–up 14-fold since 1950–which means more of the Amazon rainforest is being cleared to accommodate more crops, EurActiv.com reports. Soybeans are the biggest…
Four Greenpeace activists who crashed a gala dinner for heads of state at the end of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen have been released by Danish police, Reuters…
The powerboat Ady Gil, run by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, was cut in two when hit by the Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru, which the Ady Gil was protesting. The incident happened at Commonwealth Bay, East Antarctica, and the six crew…
Photograph by Mike Bowler via Flickr If you happen to live in Bulgaria, you can do something useful with your old Christmas tree–if it came from a forest–instead of throwing it away. You can send it to zoos in the country, where it…
Winter weekends are short and dark—which means you need to be fast and smart. Beat the blues with one of these surprisingly affordable escapes.
By Mary Catherine O'Connor Late last month, The New York Times' Kate Galbraith reported on a rising employment trend: jobs maintaining wind turbines. When the blades on turbines get stuck or damaged, they need to be quickly fixed, and what better experience could…
If you believe in science, you know that something fishy is going on with the climate and that it could affect the future of snow. TGR and The North Face also believe in science, so they came up with this video to help educate snowboarders and skiers on what could…
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for a climate summit for cities and regions like the one in Copenhagen, AFP reports. He offered to host it in his state. “The world’s national governments cannot make…
Research presented at the latest American Geophysical Union meeting points to carbon emissions from Asian cities as partly responsible for the 20 percent decrease in the Himalayan glaciers since the 1960s, Wired.com reports. The video…
Al Gore addressed the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen today, saying that there's no time to waste in taking action, Grist.org reports. He calls for the U.S. Senate to…
Connie Hedegaard, the Danish minister presiding over the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, says that the nations present are acting “just like schoolchildren…If they have a very long deadline to deliver an exercise, they will wait for…
Researchers are MIT have designed a bike wheel that saves the kinetic energy generated by braking and stores it for later use, when the rider needs a boost, The New York Times reports. The energy goes into a battery inside the wheel's hub, a sleek…
What are some good, cheap, tropical eco-trips for a winter break? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
African and other developing countries walked out of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, suspending talks on Monday, Reuters and ENN report. They refused to continue discussion without a guarantee that…
What should you do if you are bitten by a rattlesnake? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
Three U.S. Senators have outlined a compromise climate bill in an attempt to win votes for legislation to be passed in 2010, Reuters reports. The House passed a climate bill in June. Other countries have accused the U.S. of being soft…
More than 300 Nepalis, including 100 climbers, protested in Copenhagen to bring international attention to the effects of climate change on the Himalayas, TakePart reports. “It didn’t snow at all during December, January, and February, when itshould snow heavily, and it…
Danish police have arrested 68 activists who were protesting in street demonstrations in Copenhagen on Friday, Reuters reports. The goal of the protesters was to disrupt corporations and industry lobbyists that they see as “climate criminals” during the…
Last night, mountaineer and philanthropist Greg Mortenson received a standing ovation after a talk in Santa Fe sponsored by Garcia Street Books. We attended and filmed the event (coming soon to outsideonline.com), and left inspired. Perhaps…
The UN defends its stance on the role that humans play in climate change, in response to news of leaked emails that purportedly show scientists suppressing evidence to the contrary, Reuters reports. “Nothing that has come out in the public as…
People give when they know it will buy something tangible. We asked directors at five organizations to tell us what donations from $50 to $50K would accomplish.
He's kinda fat and more than a little rude (and he drinks like a fish). But long-distance swimmer Martin Strel has become the world's most unlikely philanthropist—out to save the world's dirtiest rivers a million awkward strokes at a time.
Want to take an exotic trip and engage in some do-gooding, too? Check out Roadmonkey Adventure Philanthropy’s next adventure tour, which combines climbing Kilimanjaro with building a fishpond at a local Tanzanian school (June 12 26, $4,395; roadmonkey.net). And if you can’t make that journey, don’t despair.
Hundreds of people showed up at the extInked event in the UK for a chance to get a tattoo of an endangered species, New Scientist reports. Volunteers had to fill out a form explaining why they should be the one to…
The Endangered Species Coalition has just released America’s Hottest Species, a list of the ten animals and plants most susceptible to extinction from climate change. The list includes: Kaua’i/’Akikiki Creeper…
The Environmental Protection Agency did not approve an industry wide request to add more ethanol to the standard fuel mix, despite the fact that most cars are equipped to handle the new ethanol-to-fuel ratio. The EPA was meant to decide by December 1…
©Daniel Beltrá, courtesy of The Prince’s Rainforests Project and Sony By Mary Catherine O'Connor Some of Daniel Beltrá's photographs are shockingly beautiful, but many are just plain shocking. And…
Yvo de Boer of the UN Climate Change Secretariat says that it will take an initial $10 billion a year from the most economically well-off countries for three years to help developing nations deal with the effects of climate change. “To my…
The Global Carbon Project, based out of the University of East Anglia, led by Corinne Le Quéré, predicts that the Earth's temperature will increase by 6 degreesCelsius by the end of this century. Research published yesterdayshowed that the ability of natural carbon…
Alaska Governor Sean Parnell is suing the federal government to overturn the listing of polar bears and a threatened species, writes the Associated Press. The governor believes that the Endangered Species Act is being used improperly to shut down petroleum development in…
Cement production contributes 5% of earth's global carbon dioxide emissions, creating one ton of CO2 per ton of cement made. ENN reports that cement companies are currently working to decrease these numbers by replacing some of the popularly used Portland cement with fly-ash,…
For areas like Kenya and Bangladesh that lack widespread toilet facilities (and, therefore, clean water and sanitation), the folks at Pee Poople will begin offering their biodegradable Peepoo bags, says TreeHugger. Here's how…
While the global spotlight is on the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December, a new film makes a case for the importance of examining our energy sources here in the States. Coal Country, a documentary…
By Mary Catherine O'Connor When Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard wanted to have a confab about gear, Ernest Capbert knew that he and his cohorts at the outdoor clothing startup Finisterre were doing something right. The company is the dreamchild of…
If no framework for global climate change policy results from the UN conference in Copenhagen in December, the International Energy Agency foresees a 2.5 percent rise in global energy demand per year…
Surfer and Cetacean activist Dave Rastovich, along with surfer/artist Chris Del Moro, musician Will Conner, activist Howie Cooke, and photographer Hilton Dawe, completed their epic kayak trip from Byron Bay to Bondi Beach, reports Surfersvillage.com. The trip, which is part of the “Transparentsea” campaign…
By Mary Catherine O'Connor The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) wants spectators and media coming to the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver to reduce the environmental impact of their visits by purchasing carbon credits based on the air travel and lodging they require,…
In this clip from the Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert and Al Gore argue about global warming and the economy with…Stephen Colbert and Al Gore. The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c…
If you're not in the military, driving a Humvee can be considered a waste of gas, but lovers of the all-terrain vehicle can soon start thinking green. EnerDel is teaming up with the U.S. Army to develop four possible lithium-ion battery systems to power the Humvee.
Forbes has just come out with a list of the most toxic cities in the country, based on the amount of pollution per urban area. Here are the top ten: 1. Atlanta2. Detroit3. Chicago4. Houston5. Philadelphia6. Cleveland7.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso says it is unlikely that a full climate deal will be created at Copenhagen in December, Reuters reports. A framework for an agreement…
Not exactly. But your iPhone can get you halfway there. Mariah Power, which creates residential wind turbines, has teamed up with the software developer Create with Context for an app that will measure…
A downed power line in the forest near Eureka, Montana electrocuted over a dozen animals over a period of a few months, according to Backpacker. Animals killed included five white-tailed deer, four black bears, two wolves, one coyote and a turkey vulture. The…
There's a bold new idea on the front edge of conservation: Let's treat people as well as we treat animals.
The Soil Moisture and Ocean Satellite, launched by the European Space Agency, is able to measure the salinity of ocean waters as well as moisture levels in the soil. The hope is that by monitoring minute changes in the oceans and soil we can better understand large changes in the…
Plans to complete a nature reserve along the northeastern coastline of Puerto Rico were halted last Friday, making way for potential hotels and resorts to aid the country's economy. Environmental authorities are examining the 3,240 acres of land to determine…
An electric bus has made its debut in D.C., where it is expected to be a new form of emissions-free public transportation, Treehugger.com reports. Proterra and Altair Nanotechnologies are behind the new vehicle, and they…
The new species-conservation method of choice: Facebook. This fall, Ugandan officials created profiles for six mountain gorilla families to raise money to protect themwhich means you can now friend-request them. Just don't expect them to comment on your wall. friendagorilla.org…
The goofy animal-show guy is vying to become a mainstream newsman. Does he have the killer instinct?
As a team of rookies at the World Elephant Polo Championships, we were set up for embarrassment. Instead we tasted glory.
According to Treehugger, three white lion clubs at the West Midlands Safari Park in Worcestershire, England are now on view to the public. With only 30 white lions in existence today, the 12-week old cubs are a rare treat. Their light color…
We showed you some of our favorite examples of action from 350.org's International Day of Climate Action, and while some were as simple as holding up a sign, others took the challenge to a greater level. Check out this video of kayaking activists in Portland as they take on the…
Three years ago, May Boeve was another college student discussing global warming at the campus dining hall. But since graduating from Vermont’s Middlebury College in 2007, Boeve has built both a career and a movement. Along with five classmates and author Bill McKibben, Boeve…
Exclusive photos from the new book by Beverly and Dereck Joubert.
For those of you who have been following the battle over Nestle's water rights in Sacramento, CA, be first in line to see the documentary “Tapped,” directed by Stephanie Schoetig and created by the same people who made “Who Killed the Electric Car” and “I.O.U.S.A.” …
By Mary Catherine O'Connor This Saturday, October 24th, will be action-packed.Normally, this would not be news for Outside readers, for whom most weekendsare packed with biking, skiing, boating, etc. But this year, it's news. October24th is the much-anticipated international day of action, designed to…
Delaware, the last state in the US that does not have a national park, may have finally gotten it's act together. The plan is to create a history-themed park with a center in New Castle and multiple satellite locations, with an emphasis on…
Rock and Ice reports that the 9th annual Red River Gorge Rocktoberfest fundraiser was a huge success, raising $23,000 to pay off the mortgage on a 750-acre plot of land preserved for rock climbers. This plot of land in…
Prince Edward Island is a good place to drive a wind-powered car, according to TreeHugger.com. Harold Smith lives there and owns a 20 Kilowatt wind turbine, which powers his Toyota. Prince Edward is flat and windy, and it has to import fuel, so wind-powered cars…
Coal Country, a documentary about the battle fought over coal mining in Appalachia, exposes the environmental tragedy and social conflicts that have arisen from mining coal. The Sierra Club is heavily promoting the film by sending out…
By now, you may have heard the ruckus about how Hybrid cars are too quiet, which has safety experts worried that people won't hear them coming. The good news (uh, maybe), reports the New York Times, is that Hybrid automakers are…
There's nothing better than an innovation that helps the plane and adventure junkies alike. TreeHugger talks about how ASR Limited, a company that recreates coral reef ecosystems, has created a new reef system that prevents…
The Savage Rapids Dam prior to removal. By Mary Catherine O'Connor In our August issue, Grayson Schafferargued that whitewater kayak industry is drying up. But thankfully, a number of the most important waterways in the US are…
The International Air Transport Association announced their commitment on Saturday to stabilize carbon emissions by 2020 as well as reduce airplane carbon emissions by 50% by 2050. Treehugger writes that the IATA is also pushing for further support from the government concerning…
According to Backpacker, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company has donated a portion of this month's proceeds from their Pale Ale and Summerfest Lager to the Western Rivers Conservatory, an Oregon based non-profit. The Company donated a grand…
The world's largest tensegrity cycle and pedestrian bridge is now open in Brisbane, Queensland. The tensegrity bridge, referring to the synergy between the bridge's tension and compression components, will provide access for…