Looking for excitement is wired into your brain

Would you rather go rock climbing, or stay home? Neuroscientist Mike Cohen said looking for excitement may be hardwired into your brain.

A fungus that can turn waste into fuel

Strobel thinks that with more research, the fungus could prove to be a prolific source of clean, renewable energy.

Nature versus nurture with neuroscientists

EarthSky spoke with Dr. Jay Giedd, a neuroscientist at the National Institute of Mental Health, about lingering questions on nature versus nurture.

Sustaining a private forest or tree farm

Jo Pierce owns a private forest in rural Maine. When you're working with trees, he says, you have to think on the timescale of a tree.

Henry Cisneros speaks out for new urbanism

Henry Cisneros, former U.S. Secretary of Housing, on 'new urbanism.' What it means is front porches, back yards, green space, sidewalks that work...

Sensor gives astronauts instant medical feedback

Dr. Babs Soller has worked for a decade on a wearable, non-invasive sensor that uses light to measure the metabolic rates of astronauts. She said data from this sensor could be used for hospital patients on Earth to avoid life-threatening situations.

Are we and Earth coupled? Read more

We and Earth are part of a single system. We affect nature, and nature affects us, in endless cycles.

Carbon offsets could be boon to forest owners

The president of a forestry consulting firm talks about the market for carbon offsets - tradeable measures of a forest's proven capacity to store carbon. Find out how it works.

Africa’s GM wars: Leaders seek answers

No one - not scientists, not environmentalists, not policy makers - wants an ecological catastrophe. No one wants to see people hungry, either. Read about the GM wars.

How human culture evolved with Paul Ehrlich

Biologist and author Paul Ehrlich talks about the single biggest step forward in all of human history. Read more about human culture and its evolution.