An artifact from space provides more evidence of the Red Planet’s watery past
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Mr. Green Jeans: Levi’s Detoxifies Its Supply Chain
After coming under fire from a major environmental group, Levi Strauss moves to clean up its production process. Will other clothing manufacturers follow suit?
Window on Infinity: Pictures from Space
From a glorious view of Saturn to the Geminid meteor shower, view our monthly roundup of cosmic highlights from December 2012.
A Rig Accident off Alaska Shows the Dangers of Extreme Energy
A drilling rig runs aground off the Alaska coast, underscoring the dangers of Arctic drilling
Debating the New Environmentalism
Three of the top minds in environmentalism battle over whether the green movement needs to change.
Antarctica: It’s Getting Hot at the Bottom of the Planet
A new study shows that temperatures in West Antarctica—which has enough ice to raise sea levels by 10 ft.—are rising nearly twice as fast as scientists had believed.
The Super-Duper, Planet-Frying, Exploding Star That’s Not Going to Hurt Us, So Please Stop Worrying About It
Real astronomy gets mixed up in Mayan silliness—and hilarity ensues
Coming in 2013: The Comet of the Century?
If early observations are any indication, we could be in for a real sky-show next fall
Unbreathable: Air Pollution Becomes a Major Global Killer
According to a new analysis published in “The Lancet,” more than 3.2 million people suffered premature deaths from air pollution in 2010, the largest number on record
President Obama: Person of the Year—and Driller in Chief
President Obama promised to deal with climate change in the White House—and he’s helped pump billions into renewable energy and improved energy efficiency. But his biggest legacy may be the historic boom in domestic oil and gas …
NASA Never Blinks: Rogue Asteroid Caught On Film
A massive space rock poses for its closeup before whizzing by
Anthropocene: Do We Need a New Environmentalism for a New Age?
We’re remaking the very face of the world thanks to population and economic growth. Environmentalism is being challenged—and a group of dissident greens believe we need to rethink the entire project
Tiny Beauties: Visions From Under the Microscope
A global photography contest produces stunning images from an invisible world
Betting on Hunger: Is Financial Speculation to Blame for High Food Prices?
Food prices have been on the rise since 2007, thanks in part to bad weather and increasing demand from biofuels and developing nations. But there’s one cause that hasn’t gotten much attention: financial speculation in crop …