At a Glance Researchers say draining wet soils for cultivation or irrigating already well-drained soilscreates laughing gas hotspots.Nitrous oxide is 300 times more efficient at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2 over a 100-year period. Laughing gas invariably conjures up uncomfortable thoughtsof the dentist chair, but rarely does it evoke a sense of danger. But researchers say laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, is a threat to the well-being of the planet. According to a study published earlier this month...

Bali may be beautiful, but beneath the clear blue water is a sea of plastic trash. ...

At a Glance The carbon footprint of a smartphone depends, in part, on the amount of usage.The carbon emissions generated by smartphonescome primarily from the data centers serving them.By 2040, smartphones and their data centers will be the environment's most damaging information and communications technologies. It's not a stretch to assume that smartphones can't be good for the environment, but a new study suggests that the carbon footprint of the device held by 2.5 billion people worldwide is much larger...