Fossil Fuels

From coal to oil, this is the state of the science of energy sources that can impact planet and climate for eons.

Latest in Fossil Fuels

Videos show a surreal ‘eye of fire’ in the Gulf of Mexico after gas pipeline ruptures at sea

Environment

Videos show a surreal ‘eye of fire’ in the Gulf of Mexico after gas pipeline ruptures at sea Videos show a surreal ‘eye of fire’ in the Gulf of Mexico after gas pipeline ruptures at sea

By Rachel Feltman

Ford F-150 Pickup truck

Technology

Scott Pruitt wants to roll back the EPA’s requirements for clean vehicles. It’s going to be a fight. Scott Pruitt wants to roll back the EPA’s requirements for clean vehicles. It’s going to be a fight.

By Jordan Golson

Keystone XL is officially dead

Environment

Keystone XL is officially dead Keystone XL is officially dead

By Sara Kiley Watson

Environment

Why The Paris Climate Agreement Can’t Save The Planet Why The Paris Climate Agreement Can’t Save The Planet

By Jen Schwartz

Affordable driverless cars could curb public transit

Technology

Affordable driverless cars could curb public transit Affordable driverless cars could curb public transit

By Shaena Montanari

street in new orleans louisana with power lines

Environment

Louisiana is making bold climate goals, but still wants its fossil fuels Louisiana is making bold climate goals, but still wants its fossil fuels

By Philip Kiefer

Hammerfest, Norway

Environment

Arctic Report: How This Small Fishing Village Turned Into a Fossil Fuel Boomtown Arctic Report: How This Small Fishing Village Turned Into a Fossil Fuel Boomtown

By Breanna Draxler

Oil refinery owner by Chevron next to a river

Environment

Chevron just got hit with an official greenwashing complaint. Here’s what that means. Chevron just got hit with an official greenwashing complaint. Here’s what that means.

By Shaena Montanari

Raw fish on beach drying rack

Environment

Old fish bones could make the eco-friendly plastic we’ve been waiting for Old fish bones could make the eco-friendly plastic we’ve been waiting for

By Shaena Montanari

Scorched Earth: How Centralia Burned

Environment

Scorched Earth: How Centralia Burned Scorched Earth: How Centralia Burned

By Mary Beth Griggs

Airplane wing in flight with clouds

Environment

Plane rides of the future could be fueled by table scraps Plane rides of the future could be fueled by table scraps

By Shaena Montanari

A gas pipeline under construction in a clear-cut strip of forest

Environment

Oil and gas companies are making old pipelines the landowner’s problem Oil and gas companies are making old pipelines the landowner’s problem

By Kate Wheeling/Nexus Media

Electric vehicle plugged into a charging station

Environment

Companies may soon pay a higher price for emitting carbon. But will it be high enough? Companies may soon pay a higher price for emitting carbon. But will it be high enough?

By Ramin Skibba/Undark

Natural gas stove lit up

Environment

Gas stoves are bad for the environment—but what if the power goes out? Gas stoves are bad for the environment—but what if the power goes out?

By Sara Kiley Watson

a boat captain tries to pull a plastic barrel from a debris island

Environment

A trip down the Ohio River reveals the oil and gas industry’s next big move A trip down the Ohio River reveals the oil and gas industry’s next big move

By Teake Zuidema/Nexus Media News

pipeline running aboveground

Environment

Keystone XL was supposed to be a green pipeline. What does that even mean? Keystone XL was supposed to be a green pipeline. What does that even mean?

By Juliet Grable

Nation's largest public housing project next to a power plant

Environment

At New York City’s biggest power plant, a switch to clean energy will help a neighborhood breathe easier At New York City’s biggest power plant, a switch to clean energy will help a neighborhood breathe easier

Four Portuguese kids who are European climate activists

Environment

A lawsuit filed by children has forced 33 countries to rethink their climate goals A lawsuit filed by children has forced 33 countries to rethink their climate goals

By Jag Bhalla/Undark

Alaska’s northern coast

Environment

Drilling the Arctic refuge doesn’t make sense—but Trump wants it to happen anyway Drilling the Arctic refuge doesn’t make sense—but Trump wants it to happen anyway

By Jeremy Deaton/Nexus Media News

Marryam Moma collage

Science

In Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley,’ a Black community battles an industry that threatens its health—and history In Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley,’ a Black community battles an industry that threatens its health—and history

By Megan I. Gannon

satellite imaging spectrometer

Environment

New satellites can pinpoint methane leaks to help us beat climate change New satellites can pinpoint methane leaks to help us beat climate change

Merrimack Valley destroyed house

Environment

Gas explosions keep killing people, and the US government won’t step in Gas explosions keep killing people, and the US government won’t step in

By Jeremy Deaton/Nexus Media News

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Environment

This giant Gulf of Mexico reef is a conservation success story—here’s why it’s thriving This giant Gulf of Mexico reef is a conservation success story—here’s why it’s thriving

By Amal Ahmed/Texas Observer

The Brooks Range sets the backdrop for vital caribou feeding grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Environment

The Trump administration opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil companies—but none may bite The Trump administration opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil companies—but none may bite

By Scott L. Montgomery/The Conversation

Environmental Protection Agency

Environment

Fossil fuel companies don’t have to clean up their methane emissions anymore Fossil fuel companies don’t have to clean up their methane emissions anymore

By Jeremy Deaton/Nexus Media News

rocky outcropping in very blue tropical waters

Environment

Citizens of Mauritius are cleaning up a major oil spill themselves Citizens of Mauritius are cleaning up a major oil spill themselves

protestors of pipelines

Environment

Activists have shut down two major fossil fuel pipelines—at least for now Activists have shut down two major fossil fuel pipelines—at least for now

Environment

The US could shift to 90-percent renewable energy by 2035 at no extra cost The US could shift to 90-percent renewable energy by 2035 at no extra cost

By Jeremy Deaton/Nexus Media

Environment

Trump tweets his support for permanently funding a beloved conservation program Trump tweets his support for permanently funding a beloved conservation program

By Ben Long/ Outdoor Life

Environment

Ancient forests that power the modern world Ancient forests that power the modern world

International Fund For Animal Welfare

Environment

Even with international protections, the Galápagos Islands are becoming more vulnerable to humans Even with international protections, the Galápagos Islands are becoming more vulnerable to humans

By Raj Tawney/Undark

Keystone Pipeline spills 383,000 gallons of oil in North Dakota wetlands

Environment

Keystone Pipeline spills 383,000 gallons of oil in North Dakota wetlands Keystone Pipeline spills 383,000 gallons of oil in North Dakota wetlands

Three ways environmentally conscious countries can conquer the fossil fuel industry

Environment

Three ways environmentally conscious countries can conquer the fossil fuel industry Three ways environmentally conscious countries can conquer the fossil fuel industry

By Christian Downie/The Conversation

Plastics are hurting the planet in another unexpected way

Environment

Plastics are hurting the planet in another unexpected way Plastics are hurting the planet in another unexpected way

hummingbird in a purple flower

Environment

Thomas Midgley, Jr. may have been the most environmentally disastrous person of all time Thomas Midgley, Jr. may have been the most environmentally disastrous person of all time

By Tom Phillips

Game of Thrones isn’t a fantasy, it’s a warning

Environment

Game of Thrones isn’t a fantasy, it’s a warning Game of Thrones isn’t a fantasy, it’s a warning

By Alf Hornborg

Flying cars will only be eco-friendly if we use them right

Environment

Flying cars will only be eco-friendly if we use them right Flying cars will only be eco-friendly if we use them right

air pollution carbon fossil fuels

Environment

Coal ash, earthquakes, and other hazards posed by fossil fuels Coal ash, earthquakes, and other hazards posed by fossil fuels

Canada tar sands Alberta bird's eye view

Environment

Canadians found a safer way to transport oil and, yes, it looks like a hockey puck Canadians found a safer way to transport oil and, yes, it looks like a hockey puck

By Chloe Williams

The government just made it easier for oil companies to leak methane on public land

Environment

The government just made it easier for oil companies to leak methane on public land The government just made it easier for oil companies to leak methane on public land

$New fracking wells are using many times more water than their predecessors$

Environment

New fracking wells are using many times more water than their predecessors New fracking wells are using many times more water than their predecessors

Future offshore drilling could wreak havoc on deep sea ecosystems

Environment

Future offshore drilling could wreak havoc on deep sea ecosystems Future offshore drilling could wreak havoc on deep sea ecosystems

By Sara Kiley Watson

Environment

The Keystone pipeline just spilled another 210,000 gallons of oil The Keystone pipeline just spilled another 210,000 gallons of oil

By Mary Beth Griggs

$Fracking pollution stays in waterways long after the fracking is done$

Environment

Fracking pollution stays in waterways long after the fracking is done Fracking pollution stays in waterways long after the fracking is done

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Rigging up: How to pack for a month drilling oil

Environment

Rigging up: How to pack for a month drilling oil Rigging up: How to pack for a month drilling oil

By Mary Beth Griggs

Keystone XL pipeline image

Environment

Everything you need to know about the Keystone XL pipeline Everything you need to know about the Keystone XL pipeline

By Mary Beth Griggs

Fracking fluid is leaking more often than we thought

Environment

Fracking fluid is leaking more often than we thought Fracking fluid is leaking more often than we thought

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

What Is The Dakota Access Pipeline?

Environment

What Is The Dakota Access Pipeline? What Is The Dakota Access Pipeline?

By Mary Beth Griggs

The Oracle of Oil

Environment

The Oracle of Oil The Oracle of Oil

By

‘Clean Coal’ Power Plant Riddled With Fraud, Mismanagement, Report Says

Environment

‘Clean Coal’ Power Plant Riddled With Fraud, Mismanagement, Report Says ‘Clean Coal’ Power Plant Riddled With Fraud, Mismanagement, Report Says

By Meaghan Lee Callaghan

We Could Be Making Many Household Products From Wood, Not Oil

Environment

We Could Be Making Many Household Products From Wood, Not Oil We Could Be Making Many Household Products From Wood, Not Oil

By Meaghan Lee Callaghan

Offshore Drilling Is Now Off The Table In The Atlantic

Environment

Offshore Drilling Is Now Off The Table In The Atlantic Offshore Drilling Is Now Off The Table In The Atlantic

By Mary Beth Griggs

This Lab Can Create Category 5 Hurricanes

Environment

This Lab Can Create Category 5 Hurricanes This Lab Can Create Category 5 Hurricanes

map showing that most of the mid-continent earthquakes are associated with drilling sites

Environment

Can We Stop The Surge Of Man-Made Earthquakes? Can We Stop The Surge Of Man-Made Earthquakes?

By

The Ozone Hole Is Now Larger Than North America

Environment

The Ozone Hole Is Now Larger Than North America The Ozone Hole Is Now Larger Than North America

By Mary Beth Griggs

Why The Obama Administration Rejected The Keystone XL Pipeline

Environment

Why The Obama Administration Rejected The Keystone XL Pipeline Why The Obama Administration Rejected The Keystone XL Pipeline

By Mary Beth Griggs

Environment

With Modified Jet Fuel, Planes Can’t Explode With Modified Jet Fuel, Planes Can’t Explode

By Mary Beth Griggs

Using Nanoparticles And Mussel Glue To Clean Up Oil Spills

Environment

Using Nanoparticles And Mussel Glue To Clean Up Oil Spills Using Nanoparticles And Mussel Glue To Clean Up Oil Spills

What Would Happen If We Burned All The Fossil Fuels On Earth?

Environment

What Would Happen If We Burned All The Fossil Fuels On Earth? What Would Happen If We Burned All The Fossil Fuels On Earth?

By Mary Beth Griggs

How Santa Barbara Is Cleaning Up Its Oil Slick

Environment

How Santa Barbara Is Cleaning Up Its Oil Slick How Santa Barbara Is Cleaning Up Its Oil Slick

By Mary Beth Griggs

Environment

Where The Ancients Saw Miracles, Science May Find Climate Answers Where The Ancients Saw Miracles, Science May Find Climate Answers

By Mary Beth Griggs

Environment

How A Tiny Bat Might Interrupt A Massive Oil Pipeline How A Tiny Bat Might Interrupt A Massive Oil Pipeline

By Rebecca Boyle

To Clean Up Oil Spills, Magnetize The Oil First

Environment

To Clean Up Oil Spills, Magnetize The Oil First To Clean Up Oil Spills, Magnetize The Oil First

The Energy Fix: How To Clean Up Fracking’s Bad Rep

Environment

The Energy Fix: How To Clean Up Fracking’s Bad Rep The Energy Fix: How To Clean Up Fracking’s Bad Rep

By Curtis Brainard