Environment

Freakonomics Radio's Stephen Dubner talks about the idea of "conspicuous conservation," where people indulge in certain earth-saving acts as a way to show off that they care about the environment, and in turn, benefit socially.

Environmental agency's new chief scientist envisions a world in which chemicals aren't toxic.

The Japanese government has expanded the evacuation zone surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after several explosions. The fires, triggered by the earthquake, have caused a surge in potentially toxic radiation.

As Japan struggles to control quake-damaged nuclear reactors, lawmakers and leaders express doubts over the future of global nuclear power.

After a devastating earthquake last week, Japan is taking steps to prevent an economic collapse in the country. The Bank of Japan has injected a record amount of cash into the financial system to provide liquidity and stabilize the shaky economy.

The BULB Act comes to Congress today to try to stop the outlawing of wasteful light bulbs.

Reports this morning say the death toll in New Zealand could top 400 following this week's catastrophic earthquake. As American engineers descend on the country to measure the damage, governments are reminded to make building safety measures a priority. Eve Troeh has more.

Deep water drilling has been on hold in the Gulf of Mexico since the disastrous BP oil spill. But industry executives say they're ready to resume drilling. Jeremy Hobson speaks with Barbara Shook, Houston bureau chief for the Energy Intelligence Group.

In an effort to cut global greenhouse gas emissions, the United Nations is offering carbon credits in exchange for saving trees. To help end deforestation, Google has compiled 25 years of maps, data, and scientific measurements in its new project, Google Earth Engine. Eve Troeh reports.

An Ecuadorean judge has fined oil corporation Chevron more than $9 billion in a case that's spanned over a decade. The judge ruled that the company is responsible for the pollution of forest and rivers in northern Ecuador. Eve Troeh has more.