When we exhale, we release carbon dioxide into the air around us. That carbon dioxide is naturally removed from the atmosphere by plants and the ocean in what is known as the carbon cycle. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s, human activities like burning coal and cutting down forests have thrown off the carbon cycle's delicate balance. With only 13 percent of emissions naturally sequestered in 2006, this is where carbon offsets come in.
Take a look at our latest infographic to see why the concept for carbon offsets were first created.
















Volunteers who drive homeless people to shelters talk with a person from Ukraine in Berlin on Jan. 7, 2026.
Tasks that stretch your brain just beyond its comfort zone, such as knitting and crocheting, can improve cognitive abilities over your lifespan – and doing them in a group setting brings an additional bonus for overall health.
Overdoing any task, whether it be weight training or sitting at the computer for too long, can overtax the muscles as well as the brain.
Leonard Cohen performs in Australia in 2009.Stefan Karpiniec/
Enjoying a sunset.Photo credit 


Amoxicillin is a commonly prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Chart: The Conversation, CC-BY-ND
An envelope filled with cashCanva
Gif of someone saying "Oh, you
Two penguins play by the waterCanva