The year in the tech economy

Dec 30, 2019
That was challenging. Now for tech's next act...
In 2019, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg influenced our discourse, our privacy, our ideas about speech — free or otherwise — and our spending habits.
Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

Chevron's nearly $11B write-down reflects weak demand and low oil and gas prices

Dec 11, 2019
Some energy companies are questioning whether they can wait out the current dip in prices.
Chevron noted challenges in natural gas fields in the Marcellus Shale formation and in deepwater oilfields in the Gulf of Mexico.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The sun finally shines on one of the world’s most northerly vineyards — because of climate change

Nov 22, 2019
Higher temperatures have transformed the fortunes of the English wine industry, including Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire.
Climate change is credited with improving winemaking conditions to Northern England.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Airlines face a new threat: the climate-conscious train traveler

Nov 13, 2019
According to a recent survey, one in five travelers say they are flying less out of concern for the environment. Should airlines be worried?

What your chocolate bar has to do with deforestation

Nov 8, 2019
Steven Mufson of The Washington Post explains why companies are struggling to farm cocoa sustainably.
Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Climate change is fermenting the wine industry

Nov 6, 2019
Warmer temperatures are pushing wineries to new northern territories. Elin McCoy of Bloomberg News explains.
Murre Sofrakis, the winemaker at Fladie vineyard in southern Sweden.
Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

Why dwindling bee populations are threatening U.S. agriculture

Beekeeper and director of the documentary "The Pollinators," Peter Nelson, talks about the costly bee pollination industry, its importance in our agricultural system and why it's under threat.
A beekeeper in South Dakota loads bee hives onto a truck for transport.
Courtesy of Peter Nelson

For public good, not for profit.

Exxon Mobil goes on trial for allegedly defrauding investors about climate change risk

Oct 22, 2019
The gas and oil giant used two sets of books, the New York attorney general's office alleges.
The oil and gas giant is on trial for committing fraud over climate change risk. Above, an Exxon gas station in Burbank, California.
David McNew/Getty Images

More companies are taking on climate change. Are they doing enough?

Oct 18, 2019
Experts say the recent cascade of pledges and commitments are mostly steps in the right direction.
Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos speaks to the media on the companys sustainability efforts on September 19, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images

A new jet fuel offers the prospect of no-carbon, “guilt-free” flying

Oct 10, 2019
A pilot project in Rotterdam is testing the viability of a fuel made out of air that would cut an aircraft’s emissions to zero.
A group of companies is testing the viability of a “no-carbon” jet fuel at the Hague Airport. Above, a plane flies over Germany in 2018.
Silas Stein/DPA/AFP via Getty Images