Catch up on the environmental headlines from the week of Aug. 14-20, 2011, including the not-so-nutty professor behind the The Periodic Table of the Elements an

A compilation of the best original stories from Mother Nature Network for the week, including Bear Grylls' eating habits, a webcam of Mount Everest and much mor

This talented illustrator used recycled materials to draw attention to what is thrown away.

Some of NYC's oldest trees will get the appreciation they deserve with some creative lighting, poetry and more.

Twenty years after artist Christo and his late wife announced plans to drape the Arkansas River in Colorado with 5.9 miles of fabric, the project has hit one mo

Actor is taken to court over 17 bronze horse and bison sculptures he commissioned back in the late '90s.

Artist and teacher Ruganzu Bruno Tusingwire wins the first 10K prize at TEDxQuatar with his innovative recycling idea that helps kids in need.

A folk hero/renegade builder is sentenced to 539 days in jail after failing to pay for the demolition of hi folk private residence/art installation.

It's amazing what light can do when seen from the right angle. Check out this beautiful sunset sky from the mountains of Costa Rica.

A giant floating sphere built from discarded umbrellas will next set sail on one of the country's most notorious Superfund sites: The Gowanus Canal.

It sounds totally familiar, yet completely new.

Rainworks latest rain-activated installation makes waiting for the bus a touch less tedious.

Using a diesel engine to power a hydraulic power system, Lightning hopes to take X Prize.

Electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-ins will be on the market by the end of the year. Here's a look into the crystal ball.

One of the world's most elusive particles will stay hidden a while longer, it seems. Scientists at the gigantic Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle accelerator

The man who theorized the Nobel Prize-winning Higgs boson particle is himself a bit of a mystery.

Every decision in the design of a grocery store is made to make you buy more stuff.

From chinstrap penguins to cuckoo bees, these kleptomaniac parasites rob their fellow critters for food and supplies.

From Michael Jordan to J.K. Rowling, these superstars prove the value of perseverance.

There’s a new mosquito-borne virus in town, and it has some experts worried.

He may be one of the most famous men who ever lived, but there's plenty to learn about Nelson Mandela.

Skip the stretching and forget the sports drinks. Modern research is proving that many commonly held fitness beliefs just aren't true.

From liters of beer consumed to the number of missing dentures, the tallies behind Oktoberfest have much to reveal about the frisky folk festival.

Beyond their undeniable cuteness, there's a lot more to discover about these wonderfully odd creatures.

Confused by kohlrabi? Daunted by dandelions? We're here to help. Here's a handy guide to edible leafy greens.

A bite from the Lone Star tick could induce a meat allergy in humans.

There's more to an alpaca than their quirky good looks. Did you know the fiber from their fleece is flame-resistant? Here are 11 alpaca facts you may not know.

From when it happens to why – and everything in between – here's your crash course on the shortest day of the year.

Calories and exercise are key, of course, but these research-backed workarounds can help you reach your goals.

Koalas aren't bears and they rarely drink water.

From their smart stripes to the power of their kicks, behold the wonders of zebras.

Eating mostly plant-based foods and fewer animal-based foods may be linked to better heart health.

If you can't beat them, eat them — that's what Jamaica and Florida are doing with lionfish, and there’s been a big drop in sightings of this invasive species.

The northern snakehead, a voracious invasive species that can live out of the water for days, is showing up in several states.

A primer on the deadly virus that has taken hold in Congo and scaring people around the globe.

To stimulate the appetite, try a glass of homemade vin de citron or vin d'orange.

Julia is part of Sesame Street's campaign to help kids with autism feel loved and accepted.

'Mobitecture' features portable works of architecture including campers, floating cabins and trampoline tents.

In Stranger in the Woods, author Mike Finkel explores the famous Maine recluse Christopher Knight and why he stayed alone for 27 years.

Paul Hawken's latest book, 'Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming,' focuses on fixes rather than fighting.

A new study says historic smells are part of our 'cultural heritage' and should be saved to bring the past to life.

These feared and beloved predators are arriving on coffee tables, thanks to famed National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry.

Wine and food lovers can travel vicariously through these 4 books that are more memoirs or essays with food as the focus.

"Psychomachia," a medieval epic poem, may be the first, and certainly most brutal, comic book.

Judith Jones, the editor of 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' who had a knack for knowing what would sell big, has died at age 93.

Two new books will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the publication of the first 'Harry Potter' book.

Reading novels has all kinds of benefits for the mind — and maybe even the spirit.

In his book, "Endurance," astronaut Scott Kelly lays bare the highs and lows of living through NASA's longest single spaceflight.

A new, all-girl 'Lord of the Flies' movie is in the works, making this the right time to ditch some of the gendered assumptions we have about kids.

Animal tracking is time-consuming and difficult, but a new book "Where the Animals Go" by Cheshire and Umbert shows how technology is helping.