More Americans might be driving hybrid cars and recycling, but their hardwood kitchen and living room floors can be just as critical to climate change. No one knows exactly how much illegal hardwood enters the United States, but estimates range from $250 million to $375 million worth per year —...

Recreational fishermen are helping the government reel in information on the health of the ocean and its ecosystems. This role is likely to become even more important as efforts increase to restore and protect our oceans. A new initiative, called the Marine Recreational Information Program, or MRIP,...

Cleaning up an oil stain in your driveway forces most people to use noxious chemicals that only make the problem worse. Oil Gone Easy – a natural, bio-remediation product is now available by the quart for homeowners to safely clean oil-stained driveways, concrete, garages, and even soil. Oil...

From the availability of cleaner air and water to support for tourism and rural economies, the public benefits from private family forests in a variety of ways. Yet some people are surprised to learn that family forest owners make up the largest group of owners of our nation’s forestlands. That’s...

You conserved energy in 2007 by installing programmable thermostats in your home. In 2008, you replaced your home’s incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights. If you’re wondering what you can do in 2009 to further reduce your carbon footprint, just take a look...

As Americans seek “green” items to preserve the planet, ranging from lightbulbs to dishsoap, they might want to consider their jewelry. Purchasing a necklace in the Midwest -; if that necklace contains coral -; can harm ocean ecosystems thousands of miles away. Divers have harvested red coral...

Former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore, has brought the issue of global warming to the forefront of people’s minds with his Oscar winning documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.” If you’ve never thought about global warming, consider the following facts: Since the 1970’s, there has...

If you’ve ever wondered what a rhinoceros and a rhinovirus have to do with each other, you may want to ask a world-renowned wildlife expert. Jack Hanna, who has helped preserve the rhinoceros, one of the most endangered species on earth, is taking part in a new campaign to help people better understand...

From starting school-wide recycling plans to cleaning up area parks, today’s students get high marks when it comes to helping the environment. Now a new program may help their grades go through the roof. The initiative teaches students in grades 6 to 8 about green roofs—a roof that replaces traditional...

Imagine descending in a submarine to the ice-cold, ink-black depths of the ocean, 800 metres under the surface of the Atlantic. Here the tops of the hills are covered in large coral reefs. NIOZ-researcher Furu Mienis studied the formation of these unknown cold-water relatives of the better-known tropical...