The coal industry is struggling as cheaper and cleaner natural gas undercuts coal and environmental regulations push utilities to shut down their older coal-burning plants. Still, new coal mines are opening as others expand. In one Texas county

The little-known coal of Texas

Aug 12th, 2015 3m 58s

Texas is oil country. Everyone knows that. But Texas generates 1/3 of its electricity from coal. And here’s the bigger surprise: Lots of the coal is mined right in Texas. The state is a major producer of coal. Ingrid Lobet produced this stor

Tornado Man on Marketplace

Apr 14th, 2015 4m 22s

You've heard of wind and solar. But what about harnessing other forces of nature for energy? Like, tornadoes. That's Louis Michaud's idea. He's an engineer who dreams of powering the world with tornado machines.Flora Lichtman of The Adaptors

Fish and Lettuce

Sep 11th, 2014 4m 30s

You can raise tropical fish in Minnesota. But why would you want to? To feed the lettuce, of course. It’s called aquaponics. The veggies filter the water, and the fish fertilize the veggies. Lots of people are trying to figure out how to make i

From Rice to Shrimp

Sep 11th, 2014 5m 9s

In the Mekong Delta, rice is suffering from greater exposure to salt water as sea levels rise because of climate change. Some farmers are looking to a different crop: shrimp. BURN's Christopher Johnson filed this story for Marketplace.

Eric Rignot and the Ice of Antarctica -- The Adaptors

Jun 27th, 2014 7m 13s

A big chunk of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is collapsing. Scientists announced in May that it's now inevitable -- though it will take decades or even centuries to happen. The collapse will cause a big rise in sea level. Eric Rignot is the lead

Michelle Nijhuis is back on the grid -- The Adaptors

Jun 16th, 2014 7m 56s

Science writer Michelle Nijhuis spent 15 years living in a completely solar-powered house. Now she, her husband and their daughter are back on the grid. Nijhuis talks with BURN host Alex Chadwick about going back on the grid and how life has ch