MNN.com > Earth Matters > Translating Uncle Sam
In this series, we take complicated U.S. government data on weather, health, food, energy and other topics and make it easy to understand.
What is the Gulf of Mexico dead zone?
June 11, 2019, 11:45 a.m. by Russell McLendon
The giant, lifeless expanse appears every summer, but historic flooding along the Mississippi River is making it worse.
A shadow of a drought
July 14, 2009, 6 a.m. by Russell McLendon
Long-running water shortages have plagued the U.S. from California to Carolina in recent years, raising the question -- are droughts getting worse?
What causes lightning?
June 17, 2009, 9:30 a.m. by Russell McLendon
As summer thunderstorms loom across the U.S., MNN sheds some light on lightning -- one of the deadliest and least-understood weather events on Earth.
What happened to the Everglades?
April 23, 2009, 4:05 p.m. by Russell McLendon
The subtropical swamp fights for survival in an environmental quagmire.
How to save water
April 16, 2009, 12:11 p.m. by Russell McLendon
With more people and more droughts, saving water has never been more important -- or easier.
Which household items contain mercury?
April 9, 2009, 10:44 a.m. by Russell McLendon
Despite being phased out of many products, mercury still lurks in our homes.
Which U.S. cities are most energy-efficient?
March 26, 2009, 11:58 a.m. by Russell McLendon
Cities are already more energy-efficient than rural areas, but they'll still need to improve as their populations swell.
Which cars are best and worst for fuel efficiency?
Hybrid sales are down, but federal efficiency rules could fuel a comeback. MNN looks at the most eco- and econ-friendly cars on the road.
The ups and downs of nuclear power
March 12, 2009, 6 a.m. by Robynne Boyd
With renewed momentum but no plans to store its waste, American nuclear energy sits in limbo.
Which countries produce the most CO2?
February 26, 2009, 8:42 p.m. by Russell McLendon
The U.S. and China are forming an uneasy alliance as the world warms and a U.N. climate conference looms.
Are salmonella outbreaks getting worse?
February 20, 2009, 11:25 a.m. by Russell McLendon
Some say evolving bugs and lax oversight are making salmonella even more dangerous.
How much renewable energy do we use?
As Uncle Sam scrambles to revitalize the economy, many are wondering: Is renewable doable?
How do El Niño and La Niña work?
February 4, 2009, 6:44 p.m. by Russell McLendon
La Niña's return and looming climate change put the tropical Pacific back in the spotlight.
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Now on Translating Uncle Sam
What are the different types of lightning?
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Which U.S. volcanoes are most dangerous?
What is the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch?