Environment

As of right now, some 85 percent of the permits that will give utilities and other organizations the right to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere are going to be given away free of charge. Is that allocation scheme in the best interest of U.S. citizens?

How do we decide what kinds of water conservation measures to implement when we don't know what future precipitation, temperatures, or population will be? Craig Kirkwood helps people make decisions when conditions are uncertain. --by Diane Boudreau

Phoenix in the summer is hot all around. But low-income neighborhoods are even hotter than wealthy enclaves. How can this be? --by Diane Boudreau

For decades there has been a controversy about whales eating fish in the tropics. The debate has been at the heart of policy decisions about the culling of whales and is pivotal to the future of commercial whaling in the region. New research, however, shows that culling whales in an attempt to restore fish populations is not scientifically sound. --by Margaret Coulombe

Not having enough clean water to meet basic needs is difficult in and of itself. But when it comes to emotional distress, new research show that the social inequalities that lead to this scarcity are more hurtful than the lack of water itself. --by Rebecca Howe

The streetscape outside Terminal 2 at Sky Harbor Airport was hot, ugly, and unfriendly to wheelchairs. ASU architects were tasked with the job of making the space human- and Earth-friendly. Their design had to combine function with safety, comfort and elegance--for a budget of just $1 million. --by Adelheid Fischer

One in four mammal species on Earth is being pushed to extinction, according to a new assessment from more than 1,800 scientists. ASU's Andrew Smith suggests some actions that could help immediately. --by Skip Derra

Antimicrobial soap and biocides of many types were created to keep us safe. But are these substances more dangerous than the germs they were designed to protect us from? --by Adelheid Fischer

ASU scientists are taking green research to the blue skies. They are developing cost-effective biofuels that can be used to fly airplanes.

The desert city of Phoenix depends on an extensive canal system to bring water to farms and homes. But artificial lakes and canal systems along with extensive groundwater pumping have had unintended effects on the ecosystem, scientists say. --by Margaret Coulombe