Only a year ago, all the stars appeared to be aligned for American farm exports. China and other developing countries were fattening up growing herds of cattle on American corn, and they were importing record amounts of foods to meet the appetite of their expanding middle classes. A drought in Australia meant a shortage of wheat on world markets.

After decades of steady progress, the safety of the nation

Chatting with a visitor about energy issues in the back of the Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church here, a group of women exploded in laughter at the idea that their electric rates were among the lowest in the nation.

One of the 21 coal-fired power plants in Missouri that emit more than 75 million tons of carbon dioxide annually and generate 80 percent of the state

The Obama administration said Wednesday that the United States would start participating regularly with other major powers in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

At the start of the United Nations climate talks here 12 days ago, the Obama administration

A deep crack runs through the wall of the Tiberti family

For more than 30 years, scientists have been intrigued by brown fat, a cell that acts like a furnace, consuming calories and generating heat. Rodents, unable to shiver effectively to keep warm, use brown fat instead. So do human infants, who do not shiver very well. But it was generally believed that humans lose brown fat after infancy, no longer needing it once the shivering response kicks in.

The European Investment Bank approved 866 million euros ($1.2 billion) for loans to carmakers to make cleaner cars as part of a package to help the sector. The money is part of a 7 billion euro lending package to the ailing European auto industry that the bank, the European Union

The Obama administration wants to reduce oil consumption, increase renewable energy supplies and cut carbon dioxide emissions in the most ambitious transformation of energy policy in a generation.

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