Environment & sustainability
Climate, energy, conservation and practical environmental choices.
Global Warming in the United States: Causes, Effects, and Responses
An evidence-based explanation of the human causes of global warming, its observed and projected effects in the United States, and the complementary roles of emissions reduction and adaptation.
Solar and Wind Are Different Resources, Not Interchangeable Solutions
An explanatory essay comparing solar and wind generation patterns and showing why energy planners must consider local resources, grid connections, and access rather than rely on national averages.
Can Consumer Choices Alone Solve America's Waste Problem?
An argument that consumer decisions can reduce waste but cannot solve it without product design, collection infrastructure, and coordinated public action.
Climate Change and Water: Why Warming Alters More Than Temperature
An explanatory essay on how human-caused warming changes evaporation, precipitation, and water availability, with examples from U.S. regions and a discussion of uncertainty in marine heatwave analysis.
Nuclear Waste: A Real Tradeoff in Low-Carbon Electricity
An evidence-based explanation of why nuclear power’s low operational carbon emissions do not remove the need to manage radioactive waste, plant impacts, and long-term storage responsibilities.
Should Schools Do More to Reduce Food Waste?
Schools should measure what is uneaten, prevent avoidable waste through better planning, and manage unavoidable scraps responsibly. A phased policy can make progress while accounting for meal access, student needs, and the costs of implementation.
Ocean Warming and Marine Heatwaves: Why Local Data Matter
An explanatory essay distinguishing an isolated warm reading from a persistent marine heatwave, and showing how reference periods and monitoring scales shape interpretations of U.S. coastal conditions.
Should Renters Have More Access to Renewable Energy?
Renters should have greater access to renewable energy through community solar, provided programs offer transparent terms, meaningful savings, and consumer protections. Rooftop ownership remains useful, but it cannot be the only path to participation.
Why Reusing a Product Can Be Better Than Recycling It
An explanatory essay on why keeping a usable product in service can avoid more material processing than recycling, while recognizing that reuse is not suitable for every product.
Why the U.S. Electricity Mix Cannot Change Overnight
An evidence-based explanation of why changing the U.S. electricity mix takes time: existing equipment, different generation technologies, continuing electricity needs, and the practical responsibilities of a reliable transition all matter.
Why Clear Recycling Instructions Matter
An evidence-based explanation of how recycling instructions affect contamination, why collection options differ, and how households and recycling systems share responsibility.
What Electricity Statistics Reveal About the Energy Transition
An explanatory essay on how to interpret U.S. electricity statistics, distinguishing capacity from generation and assessing the progress and limits of the energy transition.