
Sam Kornell
Sam Kornell is a freelance writer living in San Francisco.
Researchers Re-Open Their Minds to Psychedelic Drugs
A raft of potentially therapeutic pharmaceuticals got left on the shelf in the backlash against the 1960s recreational drug explosion. Researchers are raising their own consciousness about which psychedelics might have real value.
WikiLeaks: Saudis Overstating Oil Reserves
That the world has a finite amount of oil is undeniable. The latest WikiLeaks tidbit suggests the amount is a bit smaller than expected.
Marijuana, Dark Horse Savior of California Agriculture
While a legalized marijuana crop wouldn’t solve all of California’s agricultural woes, it might still keep the state in the green.
White House Signs Up for White Roofs
The U.S. government opts takes an easy step toward reducing — in a small way — global warming and energy use.
Big Voice in Climate Debate Silenced
The late Stephen Schneider was one of the most influential and eloquent advocates for human-caused climate change.
Perhaps We’ll See Peak Bunker Oil, Too
Even low-grade oil used to fuel cargo ships is likely to become precious in the age of peak oil.
Peak Oil and the Return of the Jet Set
The difficulty and increasing cost of providing aviation fuel as we near peak oil production may ground many flights while winging us away from aerial democracy.
Watchdog 2.0
The emergence of a video showing pedestrians mowed down in Baghdad by U.S. gunships illustrates how traditional media’s watchdog role is being usurped.
U.S. Defense Review Serious About Climate Change
National security blueprint finds climate change “inextricably” linked to energy and economic concerns.
There’s No Negotiating With Nature
Two new studies show that the effects of changing climate are with us regardless of where governments or public opinion stand.
A Rock That Helps Out In a Hard Place
If only some incredibly common rock would just sit around and suck up carbon dioxide all day. Oh, there is one. Why aren’t we excited about it?
War Games Start to Include Climate Change
U.S. military and intelligence officials are factoring the symptoms of climate change into their estimates of where and what kind of conflicts are in store.
Big Step Forward Lost in Shuffle
The U.S. government’s regulatory focus on automobile fuel efficiency and emission reduction is very big news.
The Kindle Revolution May Take a Later Train
The Kindle and its kin, like the newly announced Sony e-readers, will undoubtedly change the face of publishing in time, but the Delphic pronouncements of its partisans may be a tad overblown.
Media Cool to Linking Wildfires, Climate Change
In the wake of some devastating blazes, Sam Kornell asks why few major media properties have explored the connection between the changing complexion of wildfires and climate change.
Coffee Won’t Keep Your Conscience Up at Night
Is fancy-schmancy, fair-trade, shade-grown, bird-friendly, etc., etc., specialty coffee better for the planet’s climate, too?
Expect Insurance Rates to Get Hot, Hot, Hot
Climate change is likely to raise more than just the world’s temperature — changing conditions in the Western U.S. leading to more and more severe wildfires will raise insurance rates, too.
Is White the New Green?
Three California energy experts make a convincing — and sincere — case that painting roofs white in the hot parts of the planet could offset the greenhouse gas woes caused by the world’s cars
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Children’s Books Increasingly Ignore Natural World
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Are Some Airlines Just Too Dangerous to Fly?
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Casual Sex: Men, Women Not So Different After All
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Five Orcas, Five Slaves or Five Persons?
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Prop Planes: The Future of Eco-Friendly Aviation?
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Japan's Earthquake: Deciphering the Fury
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Pressure to Conform Can Inspire Creativity
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Learning to Read When a School System Falters
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The Real Science Gap
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Was Lou Gehrig's ALS Caused by Tap Water?
from the source
Gender Wage Gap Skewed By Survey Flaws
The wage gap between the sexes in America has been closing much faster than anyone realized, but that’s tempered by learning it’s been much wider than measurements had shown.
‘Orcas as Slaves’ Argument Sinks
An effort to identify five performing orcas as slaves failed in part, argues one scholar, because there’s no legal precedent establishing them as persons.
The Perceived Delicacy of the Female Conductor
New research finds listeners judge symphonic music differently when they’re told the conductor is a woman.
House Puts Transportation in Partisan Crossfire
Transportation used to be one of the few guaranteed areas of agreement when ideology trumped pragmatism in D.C. But that’s no longer the case.
Pressure to Conform Can Inspire Creativity
New research suggests less-creative people do more innovative thinking when they are told individualism is the norm, and instructed to conform.
Better Super Bowl Makes for Better Ads
A lot of people say they watch the Super Bowl mostly for the ads. But it turns out a good game surrounding those ads makes them seem better.
Overseas Troops Finally Get Fair Shot at Voting
After decades of obstacles hindering the voting process, new laws will allow overseas and military voters to submit their votes in time for the 2012 election.
Neglected Tropical Diseases Neglected No More?
World health leaders announce coordinated push to eradicate or control neglected tropical diseases.
Children’s Books Increasingly Ignore Natural World
A survey of award-winning children’s picture books from 1938 to 2008 suggests our increasing estrangement from the natural environment.
Traffic Solution: Make Drivers Less Lonely
Rather than moaning about too many cars on the road, the Ridesharing Institute says the real key to battling traffic congestion and pollution is filling empty passenger seats.


