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At least this year wasn't as bad as A.D. 536 — the worst year in human history

In A.D. 536, a volcanic eruption sent a thick haze into the air that blocked the sun over Europe, the Middle East and some of Asia for 18 months.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Saturn's famous rings may not have existed when dinosaurs first evolved

If dinosaurs had telescopes and had pointed them at Saturn, they might have seen a ringless world.




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Geologists baffled by remote island that's covered in mysterious rocks

Anjouan is an island between Africa and Madagascar littered with sedimentary rocks called quartzite that don't belong there. Are they a chunk of Gondwana?



  • Wilderness & Resources

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It's going to take a long, long time for Earth to regain its biodiversity

New research suggests it will take millions of years for extinct species to return to Earth.



  • Research & Innovations

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Millions of people inhabit this 'hidden continent' that's 94% underwater

Scientists say Zealandia meets all the requirements to qualify as a continent, even though 94% of it is underwater.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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NASA's new mission will spot killer asteroids before they sneak up on us

The space agency's $650 million Neo Surveillance Mission is designed to spot killer asteroids.




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NASA's all-female spacewalk is happening

NASA astronauts make history with an all-female spacewalk — now that the spacesuit problem is resolved.




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Space affects women's and men's bodies in different ways

From nearsightedness to bone mass, a trip to the International Space System has a notable effect on astronauts' bodies.




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Bloomberg attempts to beat summer heat with home AC window unit ... in his SUV

Trying to stay cool while obeying his own stringent vehicle idling restrictions, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg enlists security detail to install a full




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Arctic Sea ice reaches record low -- and it's going to get worse

Arctic sea ice, the white cap that covers the watery northern edge of the planet, has melted back to a record low level.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Bette Midler's New York Restoration Project aims to plant one million new trees by 2017

Toyota has donated 4,500 free trees for this March's giveaway for New York City residents.




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Earth's carbon dioxide levels to hit 400 ppm

This much CO2 hasn't filled the planet's atmosphere since the Pliocene Epoch 3 million years ago — long before modern humans existed.



  • Climate & Weather

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Deserts don't just absorb carbon dioxide, they squirrel it away for safekeeping

This surprising discovery won't be enough to stop climate change, but it will help, researchers say.



  • Climate & Weather

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Arctic's ozone hole is looking good

The worldwide ban on ozone-depleting chemicals stopped Arctic ozone from disappearing and forming an "ozone hole" similar in size to Antarctica's.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Leaked U.N. report warns of 'irreversible' warming

The risk of 'severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts' is quickly rising worldwide, the draft report warns.



  • Climate & Weather

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NASA unveils satellite's 1st CO2 map of Earth

Scientists with NASA unveiled the first carbon maps obtained by the spacecraft, named the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, or OCO-2.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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3 reasons not to expect a 'mini ice age' in 2030

Even though Earth is already in an ice age, a surplus of ice is the least of our worries.



  • Climate & Weather

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Is climate change turning our vegetables into empty calories?

Climate change may be stripping nutrients from the most basic of foods, and that's making its way up the chain to us.



  • Climate & Weather

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Carbon dioxide levels are reaching heights we haven't seen in 800,000 years

The latest World Meteorological Organization Greenhouse Gas Bulletin paints a grim picture for our environment.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Satellites don't lie: The shrinking ice caps

Newly declassified photos show a shocking loss of ice in the Arctic as global temperatures continue to rise.



  • Climate & Weather

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Alec Baldwin to narrate Discovery's 'Frozen Planet'

Four years in the making, the Discovery Channel/BBC co-production is a groundbreaking look at the Earth's polar regions.



  • Arts & Culture

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Why the Arctic is becoming a 'giant Slushie'

Long-term thinning of Arctic sea ice combined with an intense, windy storm over the Arctic in early August contributed to a new record low for sea-ice extent, s



  • Wilderness & Resources

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NASA's IceBridge mission braves the Arctic

In continued efforts to track changes in glacial and sea ice, NASA's IceBridge plane has begun collecting data in Greenland.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Watch the Earth 'breathing' from space

A new visualization from NASA offers a unique view of life on Earth.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate bar goes fair trade

Cadbury will certify 300 million of its Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate bars as well as its packaged cocoa, at a cost of £1.5m ($2.1m), by the end of summer.



  • Sustainable Business Practices

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World's skinniest house built in Poland

The narrowest building in Poland is the work of Israeli writer Edgar Keret.



  • Remodeling & Design

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10 gorgeous U.S. waterfront campgrounds

We've found several camping areas on lakes, rivers and the ocean that offer beautiful views and plenty of recreational opportunities.




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Absurd Korean pop hit 'Gangnam Style' actually a subversive critique of consumerism

Could we be witnessing Korean pop's plunge into the cultural criticism arena?



  • Arts & Culture

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Love your stuff: Material possessions aren't evil

It's time to cultivate a true appreciation for what we have.




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Conquer the clutter with 'Throw Out 50 Things'

Organize your home and office with help from Gail Blanke's book about clearing the clutter.




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9 superstar athletes who don't eat meat

These athletes got to the top of their sports without meat.




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Man doing charity bike ride across Canada has bike stolen in Winnipeg (but he's not giving up!)

Anas Cheema, a 22-year-old economics student at the University of Victoria, decided to dedicate his summer.



  • Arts & Culture

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Don't underestimate the carbon-capturing power of the most basic backyard

Research conducted in Madison, Wisconsin, finds soil in developed residential landscapes is better at absorbing CO2 than forests.



  • Organic Farming & Gardening

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When you're hiking, keep your music to yourself

The whole point of getting out into the natural world is to see, smell and hear the sounds of nature.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Coal: Jobs should not trump mountains

We need to give coal miners safe, productive, high paying jobs building the green future. Their jobs should not stand in the way of killing coal.




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EPA greenlights the 'Appalachian Apocalypse'

500 square miles of Appalachian forest is gone forever due to illegal mountaintop mining, and the EPA doesn't seem to mind.



  • Research & Innovations

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America's Most Endangered Mountains

A new YouTube integrated map lets Appalachian communities speak out on mountaintop coal mining.




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RAN's Purple Mountain Majesty

Rainforest Action Network decides enough is enough with Obama's broken promises on mountaintop mining and stages dramatic protest in front of the EPA.



  • Research & Innovations

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I wish these were April Fools' Day jokes

Do they really blast the tops off of mountains to get at cheaper coal? Do they really kill whales and dolphins and call it "research". Sarah Palin on the Discov



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Mountain lovers, don't get excited yet about EPA ruling on MTR

New EPA ruling on infilling valleys may limit future mountaintop mining permits, but it's only the first step in a long process to stop the 'Appalachian Apocaly



  • Research & Innovations

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West Virginia's latest plan to avoid federal regulation

A state legislator has an interesting and potentially viable way to avoid dealing with the EPA.




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'The Last Mountain' comes to Sundance

Even if you're not tapped into the daily vibe of environmental news and issues, you've not doubt probably heard of or seen the devastation caused by mountaintop



  • Arts & Culture

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Potomac tops list of 'endangered rivers'

The Washington, D.C., river epitomizes the ecological dangers that plague many U.S waterways, according to a national environmental group.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Ashley Judd won't challenge Mitch McConnell's Senate seat

After months of careful consideration, actress says her 'responsibilities and energy' need to be focused on family.




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Girl returns rock to national park and earns rangers' sweet shout-out

A young parkgoer returned a rock she took from Smoky Mountains National Park along with a drawing and a nice letter.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Business owners: Recycle your company's cell phones

Communications Wireless Group works with business owners to recycle, refurbish, and reuse old wireless devices while maintaining a zero-landfill policy.



  • Sustainable Business Practices

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Sprint's in-store phone buyback program

Sprint customers can get instant credit on their phone bills by recycling old phones at local stores.



  • Natural Beauty & Fashion

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Phone recycling: It's easier than ever

Phone recycling has become so easy, convenient and, in some instances, profitable, there’s really no reason not to do it.




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AT&T prepares to launch eco-rating system

Customers will be able to learn more about the environmental impact of their mobile devices.



  • Sustainable Business Practices

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AT&T sets recycling Guinness World Record

AT&T customers recycled 50,942 devices in a single week, setting a new Guinness World Record.



  • Sustainable Business Practices