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Environment matters
Curious kids ask questions

Why does the Earth spin?

An astronomer takes us on a tour of the universe to learn about the birth of stars and planets and how they get their spin.

Why do we use gasoline for small vehicles and diesel fuel for big vehicles?

Both gasoline and diesel fuel are refined from crude oil, but they are good for different things and can’t be used interchangeably.

Will we eventually have to send our trash into space if we run out of room on Earth?

Humans generate a lot of trash, but there are cheaper and safer ways to handle it than loading it on rockets.

Textile waste is a major environmental threat. Here's what's being done about it.

The RealReal examined data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the United Nations to explore the impact of fast fashion.

Lonely road: These are the states where people drive to work alone the most

Truck Parking Club mapped Census Bureau data to see which states have the highest share of people who drive to work alone.

Are you recycling like it's 1999?

(BPT) - If you recycle at home or the office, that's great! Mother Nature thanks you. But, when was the last time you thought about how and what you're tossing into your bins? If you're recycling …

Climate change is messing with city sewers—and the solutions are even messier

Grist dives into the effects of heavy rains on the aging pipes of Boston and NYC, plus how each city plans to solve the problem.

A new heat pump + insulation = max efficiency

(BPT) - Thinking about upgrading your home's HVAC system with a new heat pump? It's the perfect time to add or upgrade your home's insulation, too.These two projects not only work together to help …

A bot to mow your lawn? Yes, you can — and should. Here's why

(BPT) - For most homeowners, mowing the lawn is a necessary chore that eats up precious time on weekends and exposes those with allergies to the kinds of grasses and pollen they're trying to avoid. …

Evacuating in disasters like Hurricane Milton isn’t simple – there are reasons people stay in harm’s way, and it’s not just stubbornness

Evacuation is more difficult for people with health and mobility issues. Ted Richardson/For The Washington Post via Getty Images As Hurricane Milton roared ashore near Sarasota, Florida, tens of …

5 easy ways to make your bathroom more sustainable

(BPT) - The entire country has experienced its share of extreme weather lately. Record-breaking heat, torrential rain and drought — you name it, Mother Nature has been doling it out. It has …
Expert tips to save you money heating your home
(BPT) - As the days get shorter and cooler, it's the perfect time to turn your attention to your heating system. Before it gets too chilly, you'll want your HVAC system to be in great condition …
Why home insurance rates are rising so fast across the US – climate change plays a big role
Millions of Americans have been watching with growing alarm as their homeowners insurance premiums rise and their coverage shrinks. Nationwide, premiums rose 34% between 2017 and 2023, and they continued to rise in 2024 across much of the country.
5 tips for sustainably decorating your home
From upcycling to investing in quality materials, Made Trade rounded up five tips for sustainably decorating your home.
Keeping Your Community Clean: 4 ways to do your part for spotless public spaces
(Family Features) From a day spent in the office to evenings out and everywhere in between, there's one thing virtually everyone leaves behind now and again: a mess.
Inside fast fashion brands' love affair with uncomfortable, synthetic, and slow-to-biodegrade fabrics
The RealReal used data from Textile Exchange to explore the far-reaching prevalence of polyester, including in the fast fashion industry.

‘Just the Facts with Steve Ballmer’ Shares Government Data on Energy & the Environment, and Economy

(BPT) - USAFacts, a not-for-profit, nonpartisan civic organization founded by former Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, is launching the next set of PSAs in a six-part series — these will focus on …
Lifestyle features
How colleges can become 'living labs' for combating climate change
The Hechinger Report covers a SUNY New Paltz initiative to turn classes into living labs that combine instruction with efforts to improve sustainability on campus.
Don't get snowed by holiday scams
(BPT) - Scams are unfortunately a fact of life these days. If it's not identity or data theft, it's credit breaches and scam phone calls. Many of us are getting scam texts, too. As the holidays roll …
Several states moved to restrict guns at polling places this year. Two succeeded
The Trace examines the push to keep guns away from voting sites and what it means for voter intimidation and political violence surrounding this year's presidential election.
The best horror movie you’ve never seen
Warner Bros. assumed ‘Trick ‛r Treat’ would be such a bust that the studio released it straight to DVD in 2009. Here’s how it became a holiday classic.
Quincy Jones mastered the art of arrangement, transforming simple tunes into epic soundscapes
The visionary arranger thought of himself as a storyteller, not just a sound engineer.