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Attack of the Flying, Invasive Carp
From Louisiana and Missouri through the American heartland and all the way north to Minnesota, Asian carp are invading freshwater lakes and rivers, disrupting ecosystems as they go. 04.12.2012
Climate Engineers Get a PR Lesson
When you talk about messing with the planet, people can get pretty jumpy. 04.03.2012
Destination Science: The Natural World Outside Disney World
Thanks to federal law and big developments, central Florida has some impressively preserved natural spots. 03.12.2012
It's Complicated: The Lives of Dolphins & Scientists
In the escalating war over dolphin rights, two pioneers in the study of cetacean consciousness have sacrificed their decades-old friendship for their beliefs. 09.07.2011
The Toxinator: EPA Robot Tests Chemicals to See if They're Poison
The EPA and independent researchers can't possibly test the huge range of chemicals found in products we use. But now a tireless, efficient bot will take on the task. 08.26.2011
The Planet Fixers
A corporate executive, an environmental engineer, an evangelical- Christian scientist, and a youth organizer join NBC moderator Tom Brokaw for a spirited debate on solutions to climate change. 08.08.2011
The Hardcore Nuclear-Waste Containers That Can Stand up to Airplane Crashes
When it comes to spent nuclear fuel, no solution is perfect—but the U.S's dry casks are pretty tough. 08.02.2011
Fracking Nation
Environmental concerns over a controversial mining method could put America's largest reservoirs of clean-burning natural gas beyond reach. Is there a better way to drill? 08.01.2011
Accidental Paleontology in L.A.
The sites of large construction projects are often rich sources of fossils, especially in California, where they're protected by law. 06.19.2011
Should Conservationists Allow Some Species to Die Out?
In the battle to save endangered animals, some environmentalists say we should ignore the charismatic pandas and condors and instead practice "conservation triage." 05.09.2011
Hot Zone—A Warming Planet's Rising Tide of Disaster
Dengue in Texas. Malaria in New York. Hypertoxic pollen in Baltimore. Climate change is making disease and other humanitarian threats ever more challenging. 02.04.2011
The 100 Top Science Stories of 2010
Every year DISCOVER sorts through the scientific accomplishments of the past 12 months, and assembles a list of the coolest experiments, most brilliant discoveries, and most world-changing events. As you page through the countdown to the #1 science story, we think you'll come to the same conclusion we did: 2010 was quite a year. 12.16.2010
7 Visions of Our Hot, Awful Future
A bounty of 2010 books predict the future in a globally warmed world. Among the forecasts: boom town Detroit, abandoned Miami, an Arctic black gold rush, and a weirdly strong dried fruit market. 12.13.2010
The End of Easy Oil
Canada’s tar sands will soon be our top source of imported oil. But will that energy be worth the costs? 12.01.2010
When Animals Attack Our Attempts to Categorize Them
For three centuries, scientists have divided living things into tidy species. But the real world seems more slippery: a continuum in which one variety of life flows seamlessly into the next. 11.19.2010
Will the Walrus Withstand a Warmer World?
As the Arctic warms, researchers are scrambling to predict whether the walrus can adapt to its rapidly changing home. 11.05.2010
Climate Change Gets Wet
Researchers have recently started to pay more attention to how water vapor in the atmosphere is related to global warming. 09.01.2010
Vertical Farms: High Hopes for Feeding the Future
To feed the hungry world, architects and agriculturalists dream of towering green "farmscrapers." 06.02.2010
Museum-Worthy Garbage: The Art of Over-Consumption
Artists are combining art and advocacy by creating beautiful, disturbing work about American excess. 04.27.2010
How Big Is Your Water Footprint?
Calculating how much water is used to make consumer products is a complicated but crucial task. 03.29.2010
It's Gettin' Hot in Here: The Big Battle Over Climate Science
Two eminent climatologists share much different views: Michael Mann—whose private emails were hacked—points a finger at skeptics. Judith Curry believes humans are warming the planet but criticizes her colleagues for taking shortcuts. 03.10.2010
Forget Putting CO2 Under Rock—Let's Turn It *Into* Rock
New research on carbon sequestration suggests that carbon dioxide could be chemically converted to a solid, providing a safe way to get rid of a lot of greenhouse gas. 02.10.2010
"Frankenfoods" That Could Feed the World
Genetically modified crops designed for industrial agriculture have given the technology a bad rap. Here are 7 transgenic plants that could help the world's hungriest and poorest people. 01.05.2010
Beautiful Pools of Pollution
Farmers need fertilizers. But mining phosphorus for fertilizers is creating toxic wastelands. 11.24.2009
The Tiny German Village That Went Off the Grid
A small town in Saxony has figured out how to run entirely on biomass—and create an energy surplus. 10.14.2009
The 9 Industries That Will Be Most Screwed by Global Warming
If climate change reaches scientists' more dire predictions, it could change every facet of our society. But some industries will be especially hammered. 10.02.2009
Humans vs Animals: Our Fiercest Battles With Invasive Species
From Burmese pythons to Galapagos goats, these animals are threatening a hostile takeover—unless we can stop them. 09.24.2009
9 of Humanity's Greatest Environmental Successes
We're making some headway in restoring the environment—even if we caused the devastation in the first place. 07.10.2009
When Recycling Is Bad for the Environment
Recycling plastic is tricky business, and many plastics are better off as garbage. 07.06.2009
Forget Lightning. How Do We Catch Sunshine in a Bottle?
Renewable power is inspiring clever new ways to store electricity—and to uncork it exactly when and where it is needed. 06.17.2009
Building an Interstate Highway System for Energy
Tomorrow’s smart grid will keep the lights on and factories humming with clean (but fickle) renewable energy. 06.10.2009
10 Zany (or Genius?) Plans for Green Cities of the Future
Floating cities. A building with a million residents. An oil rig turned into a tourist getaway. Some architects are dreaming of a wild green revolution. 05.26.2009
Can Smart Tech Keep Chevy Volt's Battery Running Longer Than Your Laptop's?
GM says that tightly controlling how the battery charges will keep it alive for 10 years/150,000 miles. 04.09.2009
Man's Greatest Crimes Against the Earth, in Pictures
Humans rule the world… and destroy it in the process. 04.08.2009
How to Tell If You're Poisoning Yourself With Fish
Researchers are creating genetic tests to determine if mercury hiding in that "healthy" dinner could be messing with your brain. 03.19.2009
#1: The Post-Oil Era Begins
Electricity may be what fuels our future—electricity from renewables, nuclear, and even from burning biomass. 12.22.2008
#4: Slime Is Turning the Seas Into Dead Zones
Pollution, overfishing, and the rise of microbes spell doom for many bodies of water. 12.22.2008
#5: Nations Stake Their Claims to a Melting Arctic
Undiscovered oil and gas reserves below the ice set off a polar gold rush. 12.22.2008
#25: EPA Searches Soul, Tries to Figure out If It's a Climate Cop
The agency moves toward acting on greenhouse gases, but change will probably wait for Obama. 12.17.2008
#31: Fish Farming Threatens Wild Salmon
Lice, interbreeding, and contaminants are killing off the species. 12.16.2008
#44: The Baffling Bee Die-Off Continues
Colony Collapse Disorder continues its relentless march. 12.14.2008
#55: Polar Bears (Finally) Make the Endangered Species List
At long last, the government acknowledges the species is threatened. 12.12.2008
Carbon Trading: Environmental Godsend or Giant Shell Game?
The lively debate over whether cap-and-trade really does much to fight global warming 12.03.2008
6 Blue-Sky Ideas for Revolutionizing the Automobile
Eclectic visionaries imagine an alternate reality where cars walk, fly, and drive themselves. 10.20.2008
Global Warming Math: The Hard Numbers
A clear-eyed look at the magnitude of global warming problem—and the cost in getting rid of it. 10.18.2008
How—and Where—Will We Live in 2015?
The future is now for sustainable cities in the U.K., China, and U.A.E. 10.08.2008
The Man Who Aims to Feed Humanity's Future
Pedro Sanchez says we need nanofertilizers, transgenic crops, and governments and investors with cojones. 09.12.2008
Can Future Olympic Cities Go Greener Than Beijing?
After China's last-minute push to clean up for the games, the next three hosts aim to do better. 08.25.2008
Are Efforts to Save the Panda a Giant Waste of Money?
Sure, they're magnificent beasts, but they may be sucking eco-dollars from other, more critical species. 08.12.2008
The Lifesaving Work of the Man Behind "A Civil Action"
"Popular epidemiologist" Phil Brown comes to the aid of environmental contamination victims. 07.29.2008
20 Things You Didn't Know About... Oil
Learn more about the world's biggest fuel source—while it's still around. 06.28.2008
Whither the Coral Reefs?
Global warming and overfishing are killing reefs while scientists struggle to save them. 06.05.2008
Everything You Know About Water Conservation Is Wrong
Forget short showers. Worry about the 6,340 gallons of "virtual water" in your leather bag. 05.28.2008
From Toilet to Tap
Filtered sewage water may be the key water source of the 21st century. 05.23.2008
Two Strokes and You're Out
Impressive new tech reduces pollution from small engines by almost 90 percent. 05.21.2008
How Much Do Chemicals Affect Our Health?
Philip Landrigan tracks how dangers like the WTC can cause problems like ADD. 04.25.2008
Is Nuclear Energy Our Best Hope?
Even the creator of the holistic Gaia hypothesis has come around. 04.25.2008
How Big Is DISCOVER's Carbon Footprint?
That one little magazine is responsible for 2.1 pounds of carbon dioxide. 04.21.2008
The Great Forgotten Clean-Energy Source: Geothermal
The U.S. uses less than 1 percent of our available geothermal energy. 04.03.2008
Protect the Future of Ice Cream... by Eating Ice Cream
Häagen-Dazs pitches in to protect the honeybee. 03.20.2008
The Key to Safe and Effective Carbon Sequestration
Some rock acts as a natural stopper to buried carbon dioxide. 02.29.2008
5 Most Radical Ways to Squelch a Climate Crisis
Why we may need to reprogram the planet—and how we can do it. 02.25.2008
George Schaller's Grand Plan to Save the Marco Polo Sheep
"Obviously humans are evolution’s greatest mistake," says the conservationist. 02.21.2008
A New Source of Green Energy: Burning Tires?
If rubber recycling hits a glut, there may be little choice. 02.12.2008
If Life Gives You Methane, Make Methane Energy
The global warming risk that's also a great opportunity 01.31.2008
51. Wastewater Decimates Minnows
01.09.2008
The Smoking Torch
Surviving Beijing’s air may be an Olympian feat. 12.12.2007
1. China’s Syndrome
Tainted products and choking pollution spark anxiety across the globe. 12.12.2007
Perdue Too Chicken to Quit Antibiotics Cold Turkey
Antibiotic use on the farm hurts people—and doesn’t help the bottom line. 09.12.2007
Arctic Land Grabs Could Cause Eco-Disaster
After nations carve up the fast-melting region, will there be anything left? 08.30.2007
The Discover Interview: Jane Goodall
For 47 years, Goodall has studied, communicated with, and lived with chimps. 03.28.2007
The Discover Interview Jeffrey Sachs
He's got a plan to save the world. All it needs is a smart dose of science, some enlightened politicians, and about 0.7 percent of your money. 11.27.2006
Is Urban Sprawl an Urban Myth?
High-altitude photos combined with satellite images show that modern American cities are just bigger versions of older American cities. 09.01.2006
Going Atomic... Again
America plans its first new nuclear warhead in two decades 09.01.2006
A Greener Faith
Is environmental activism a natural extension of religion? 08.14.2006
Life After Oil
Everyone from GM to President Bush is suddenly infatuated with ethanol. Here's how Big Corn could really replace Big Oil. 08.01.2006
Captive Wilderness
In the wildest place in the continental United States, visitors flirt with untrammeled nature, while scientists try to study, defend, and preserve it. 08.01.2006
Nouveau Cousteau, Part Deux
Jean-Michel Cousteau on the environment, working with family, and how to grab a shark without her noticing. 07.18.2006
The Year in Science: Politics
01.08.2006
Up a Creek
Two rivers, a raft of experts, way too many mosquitoes, and one question: What's the answer to global warming? 09.08.2005
Drilling for Controversy in Alaska
02.06.2005
49: Endangered Species Act Reconsidered
01.03.2005
China Gets Greener
07.25.2004
Cookie Mining
Teaching students about the delicate balance between using the earth's resources and maintaining a healthy environment 10.01.2003
Rebuilding Eden
09.01.2003
Bush Gambles on Fusion Energy
06.01.2003
Welcome to Yucca Mountain
Where a computer model has determined it's safe for America to bury its nuclear garbage 09.01.2002
Blue Revolution
Fish farming is rapidly becoming a bigger enterprise than beef ranching. Critics contend it is also destroying land along coasts and hastening the demise of wild fish 09.01.2002
Wilding America
Connect our last parcels of wilderness, like pearls on a necklace, and mountain lions, bobcats, and wolves might once again roam their ancestral ranges 09.01.2002
Waste Not, Want Not
09.01.2002
Saving the City of Canals
09.01.2002
From Bodies to Rosebushes
10.01.2001
One Marsupial Too Many
Australians face the same problem with koalas as Americans do with deer. The pesky critters seem too cute to kill but are destroying a lot of precious habitat 12.01.2000
Science Stats: Blubber Takes a Plunge
12.01.2000
To Save a Watering Hole
If Reuven Yosef doesn't win his fight against developers in Israel's hottest resort town, half of Europe's birds might disappear 09.01.2000
Beasts in the Mist
If David Oren could find just one of the horrifying creatures he knows are out there-- huge sloths with giant claws and a reputation for twisting off the heads of humans--he could save the world's largest rain forest 09.01.1999
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