Explainers

Improving energy efficiency (that is, getting more use out of the electricity we already generate) is an important strategy for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

Information and resources on solar water heating for the home and pool.

Learn how the sun affects our climate in this primer from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Climate change is primarily a problem of too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Information about the ozone hole and global warming. The ozone hole is not a mechanism of global warming, but both the ozone hole and global warming are caused by human activities.

Who makes the decisions that affect nuclear safety? The NRC, Congress, state and local governments, and the nuclear industry...

When carbon emissions cost money, we produce less of them—but there's more to the story.

The Earth is quickly becoming hotter. How do we know?

School lunch programs are helping kids eat healthier. Let's make these programs stronger.

Biodiesel is a growing part of our fuel supply, but its potential as a solution depends on what it’s made from.

What if North Korea or Iran launched a nuclear missile aimed at the United States? Could we prevent it from arriving?

Our world is full of chemicals, and some of them are hazardous to our health or to the environment. We need smart, effective policies to help us minimize these risks--and that means policymakers need to listen to scientists, not industry lobbyists.