Conservation

Protecting natural resources—from sea to sky—is about much more than planting a few trees.

Latest in Conservation

A long and skinny silver trumpetfish uses a colorful parrotfish as camouflage.

Animals

Trumpetfish use other fish as camouflage Trumpetfish use other fish as camouflage

By Laura Baisas

Sprinklers on a golf course in Utah.

Climate Change

In water-strained Utah, can golf courses justify their giant footprint? In water-strained Utah, can golf courses justify their giant footprint?

By Samuel Shaw/High Country News

Crab in ocean reaching with pincher.

Animals

As oceans become more acidic, creatures could struggle to smell As oceans become more acidic, creatures could struggle to smell

By Ethan Freedman/Hakai Magazine

Porites rus corals and scuba diver

Animals

Coral is reproducing in broad daylight Coral is reproducing in broad daylight

By Chloe Glad/Hakai Magazine

Swimmers walk out of the water after an evening swim on a beach in Avarua on Rarotonga, the largest Island in the Cook Islands.

Conservation

The Cook Islands appear to embrace deep-sea mining—but at what risk? The Cook Islands appear to embrace deep-sea mining—but at what risk?

By Rachel Reeves/Hakai Magazine

A pink river dolphin, or boto, displaying aerial behavior in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve.

Animals

Eavesdropping on pink river dolphins could help save them Eavesdropping on pink river dolphins could help save them

By Laura Baisas

Dead elkhorn coral at Sombrero Reef in the Florida Keys. The white areas are bleached coral, the brownish orange patches are "tissue slough", coral tissue that has died before it has a chance to bleach.

Biology

Mass coral reef bleaching in Florida as ocean temperatures hit 100 degrees Mass coral reef bleaching in Florida as ocean temperatures hit 100 degrees

By Laura Baisas

A flower of a Nasa humboldtiana subspecies called humboldtiana that was rediscovered by a team of botanists and citizen scientists for the first time in 162 years. The flower has four white petals, leading down to a center of pink petals.

Conservation

These unusual plants had disappeared—until citizen scientists helped hunt them down These unusual plants had disappeared—until citizen scientists helped hunt them down

By Laura Baisas

A kākāpō chick. The birds are are large flightless parrots from New Zealand who are masters of camouflage and known for a booming call.

Animals

A flightless parrot is returning to mainland New Zealand after a 40-year absence A flightless parrot is returning to mainland New Zealand after a 40-year absence

By Laura Baisas

deep sea bubbles

Animals

The key to bringing deep sea samples up to the coast? An underwater freezer. The key to bringing deep sea samples up to the coast? An underwater freezer.

By Annie Roth / Hakai Magazine

American actor Richard Dreyfuss (left) (as marine biologist Hooper) and British author and actor Robert Shaw (as shark fisherman Quint) look off the stern of Quint's fishing boat the 'Orca' at the terrifying approach of the mechanical giant shark dubbed 'Bruce' in a scene from the film 'Jaws' directed by Steven Spielberg, 1975.

Animals

Why the creators of ‘Jaws’ regretted making sharks the monsters Why the creators of ‘Jaws’ regretted making sharks the monsters

By Laura Baisas

The sun sets over a large ice berg in Greenland, with a large chunk of fallen ice floating in the ocean. Greenland’s continental glacier covers about 80 percent of the 836,3000-square-mile land mass.

Climate Change

Greenland’s ice sheets aren’t as old—or as resilient—as scientists expected Greenland’s ice sheets aren’t as old—or as resilient—as scientists expected

By Laura Baisas

Person holds "SOS!! Pacific Ocean!" sign at Fukushima water release protest.

Conservation

Japan’s plan to release treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant is actually pretty safe Japan’s plan to release treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant is actually pretty safe

Pair of bluefin tuna strung up on a fishing crane on the coast of Spain

Animals

Who caught the first bluefin tuna? Who caught the first bluefin tuna?

By Karen Pinchin

A green sea turtle swims in the ocean.

Animals

Hungry green sea turtles have eaten in the same seagrass meadows for about 3,000 years Hungry green sea turtles have eaten in the same seagrass meadows for about 3,000 years

By Laura Baisas

Ocean waves crashing.

Animals

How climate change is pushing oxygen out of the world’s oceans How climate change is pushing oxygen out of the world’s oceans

By Carla Delgado

Group of Chinook salmon.

Animals

Beer’s pungent scent could help salmon find their way home Beer’s pungent scent could help salmon find their way home

By Ben Goldfarb/Hakai Magazine

An image of the northern Gulf of Mexico created from remote-sensing reflectance and chlorophyll measurements taken from newly reprocessed VIIRS data. Green water is seen closer to the coast, while it gets darker and more blue further out.

Climate Change

Scientists say the ocean is changing color—and it’s probably our fault Scientists say the ocean is changing color—and it’s probably our fault

By Laura Baisas

A banded sea snake swimming freely

Animals

Some sea snakes may not be colorblind after all Some sea snakes may not be colorblind after all

By Laura Baisas

A large group of shells on a beach. Organisms with hard, durable parts, like shells, are more likely to be preserved as fossils than organisms composed entirely of soft tissue.

Animals

The fossil record holds clues about modern-day marine ecology The fossil record holds clues about modern-day marine ecology

By Laura Baisas

The giant Douglas firs in British Columbia forests are examples of so-called mother trees

Animals

Are ‘mother trees’ real? Are ‘mother trees’ real?

Jars of animal and plant specimen.

Animals

Why preserving museum specimens is so vital for science Why preserving museum specimens is so vital for science

By Darren Incorvaia/Undark

hiking in the mountains

Animals

Human noises make animals in the woods nervous Human noises make animals in the woods nervous

By Christine Peterson/High Country News

Octopuses brooding near hydrothermal vents deep under water. The 19-day Octopus Odyssey expedition located a site of low temperature (7oC) hydrothermal venting with brooding octopus on an unnamed outcrop that was explored for the very first time on this trip.

Animals

New species of inkless octopus may have been found in Costa Rica’s deep seas New species of inkless octopus may have been found in Costa Rica’s deep seas

By Laura Baisas

wall of taxidermy animals and skeletons

Animals

Humans are dangerous predators because we love collecting weird animals Humans are dangerous predators because we love collecting weird animals

By Emily Harwitz / Hakai Magazine

Common bottlenose dolphins swimming in Coffee Bay in South Africa.

Animals

Drones are following dolphins to spy on their complex social lives Drones are following dolphins to spy on their complex social lives

By Laura Baisas

Coastal flooding predictions triple

Climate Change

Coastal flooding predictions triple Coastal flooding predictions triple

By J. Besl/Hakai Magazine

OceanGate Titan submersible side view in water

Conservation

OceanGate confirms missing Titan submersible passengers ‘have sadly been lost’ OceanGate confirms missing Titan submersible passengers ‘have sadly been lost’

A school of grunts and horse-eye jack fish swim above a reef in Hol Chan Marine Reserve near Ambergris Cay, Belize.

Animals

Fish are thriving near marine protected areas—and so are coastal communities Fish are thriving near marine protected areas—and so are coastal communities

By Laura Baisas

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 has an MPGe of 140.

Climate Change

What an electric vehicle’s MPGe rating really means What an electric vehicle’s MPGe rating really means

Line of rocks letting water leak through to represent a different approach to water management during drought

Animals

‘Slow water’ could transform the Southwest, one little rock wall at a time ‘Slow water’ could transform the Southwest, one little rock wall at a time

By Erica Gies

Deer and other animals in wildfire smoke during California Dixie fire in 2021

Animals

Clouds of wildfire smoke are toxic to humans and animals alike Clouds of wildfire smoke are toxic to humans and animals alike

By Carla Delgado

Orca whale pod off Iberian coast from the subpopulation of orcas attacking sailboats in Europe

Animals

Orcas are attacking boats. But is it revenge or trauma? Orcas are attacking boats. But is it revenge or trauma?

Young longleaf pines growing healthily in a burnt landscape

Animals

Longleaf pine forests in Alabama are making a comeback—thanks to fire Longleaf pine forests in Alabama are making a comeback—thanks to fire

By Jamie Dickman

The planet has 8 measures of stability—and we’re pushing past most of them

Climate Change

The planet has 8 measures of stability—and we’re pushing past most of them The planet has 8 measures of stability—and we’re pushing past most of them

By Carla Delgado

Citizen scientists have taken photos of this boulder every year for three decades

Conservation

Citizen scientists have taken photos of this boulder every year for three decades Citizen scientists have taken photos of this boulder every year for three decades

By J. Besl/Hakai Magazine

Look inside London’s new Super Sewer, an engineering marvel for rubbish and poo

Conservation

Look inside London’s new Super Sewer, an engineering marvel for rubbish and poo Look inside London’s new Super Sewer, an engineering marvel for rubbish and poo

Sea Zero Cruise ship Concept, sails fully extended

Conservation

This concept cruise ship will have solar-paneled sails, an AI copilot, and zero emissions This concept cruise ship will have solar-paneled sails, an AI copilot, and zero emissions

A badger in a forest on a rainy day.

Animals

Air quality monitoring stations could help track and preserve threatened species Air quality monitoring stations could help track and preserve threatened species

By Laura Baisas

Lionfish are now threatening ecosystems and livelihoods in Brazil

Animals

Lionfish are now threatening ecosystems and livelihoods in Brazil Lionfish are now threatening ecosystems and livelihoods in Brazil

By Osmar J. Luiz/The Conversation

An elk grazing in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

Animals

The role of people in preserving nature, according to America’s National Parks docuseries The role of people in preserving nature, according to America’s National Parks docuseries

By Laura Baisas

A moth with wings extended outward lands on a flower.

Animals

This massively underrated pollinator needs your help This massively underrated pollinator needs your help

By Laura Baisas

These species were discovered in museum collections. They might already be extinct.

Animals

These species were discovered in museum collections. They might already be extinct. These species were discovered in museum collections. They might already be extinct.

By Katarina Zimmer / Undark

This fake beach is a magnet for tourists—and peaceful endangered sharks

Animals

This fake beach is a magnet for tourists—and peaceful endangered sharks This fake beach is a magnet for tourists—and peaceful endangered sharks

By Dag Goering/Hakai Magazine

Colorado River low water levels after drought and evaporation in Lake Powell, Utah, seen from above

Climate Change

Every drop of the Colorado River counts. So what about evaporation? Every drop of the Colorado River counts. So what about evaporation?

A sloth hangs in a tree in Costa Rica. The mammals have the slowest digestive system of any animal on Earth. It can take sloths two weeks to digest an entire meal, and they sleep about 20 hours a day to conserve energy.

Animals

Sloth schedules are surprisingly flexible Sloth schedules are surprisingly flexible

By Laura Baisas

Scientists and Indigenous people team up to build a kelp seed bank

Climate Change

Scientists and Indigenous people team up to build a kelp seed bank Scientists and Indigenous people team up to build a kelp seed bank

By Natalia Mesa/Hakai Magazine

A sign that reads "Protect Our Waters" outside of the US Supreme Court before a rally to call for protection of the Clean Water Act on October 3, 2022. As the term began, the court was hearing arguments in the case of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency.

Climate Change

Wetlands lose some environmental protections in new Supreme Court ruling Wetlands lose some environmental protections in new Supreme Court ruling

By Laura Baisas

The sun over the ocean. Over 5,000 species could be at risk if deep sea mining begins in the Pacific Ocean's Clarion-Clipperton Zone.

Animals

A deep sea mining zone in the remote Pacific is also a goldmine of unique species A deep sea mining zone in the remote Pacific is also a goldmine of unique species

By Laura Baisas

Andean long-tailed chinchillas are mysteriously thriving on Chile’s coast

Animals

Andean long-tailed chinchillas are mysteriously thriving on Chile’s coast Andean long-tailed chinchillas are mysteriously thriving on Chile’s coast

By James Hall/Hakai Magazine

Climate justice campaigners march from the Shell Centre to Trafalgar Square to demand urgent climate finance and reparations for loss and damage for global south communities on November, 12 2022 in London. The march was organized by the Climate Justice Coalition as part of a Global Day of Action called by African climate campaign groups at COP27.

Climate Change

Chevron’s carbon offsets are mostly ‘junk,’ according to global watchdog investigation Chevron’s carbon offsets are mostly ‘junk,’ according to global watchdog investigation

By Laura Baisas

A polar bear stands on sea ice.

Animals

The Montreal Protocol had a dramatic ice-saving side effect The Montreal Protocol had a dramatic ice-saving side effect

By Laura Baisas

A bathtub ring seen above the waterline o the brown and red rocks around Lake Powell, Utah due to drought that reduced the flow of the Colorado River.

Climate Change

Colorado River deals pays Arizona, California, and Nevada $1.2 billion to use less water Colorado River deals pays Arizona, California, and Nevada $1.2 billion to use less water

By Laura Baisas

Animals

Spy tech and rigged eggs help scientists study the secret lives of animals Spy tech and rigged eggs help scientists study the secret lives of animals

By Charlotte Hu

Pink feathery muhly grass are one the many native types of grass you plant in the US.

Agriculture

9 native grasses that will revitalize your sad, water-wasting lawn 9 native grasses that will revitalize your sad, water-wasting lawn

By Helen Bradshaw

This ancient farming practice could get a boost from the US farm bill

Agriculture

This ancient farming practice could get a boost from the US farm bill This ancient farming practice could get a boost from the US farm bill

By Ashley Stimpson/Nexus Media

El Nino 2023 signs on NASA weather satellite data on higher Pacific Ocean temperatures and water levels, marked by red around the equator

Climate Change

El Niño is back—here’s what that means El Niño is back—here’s what that means

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A newly hatched California condor.

Animals

Thriving baby California condor is a ray of hope for the unique species Thriving baby California condor is a ray of hope for the unique species

By Laura Baisas

Magellan Ltd 3D scan of Titanic wreckage

Conservation

Staggering 3D scan of the Titanic shows the wreck down to the millimeter Staggering 3D scan of the Titanic shows the wreck down to the millimeter

Silver Y moth feeding on long fuschia flowers

Animals

How migration makes life more resilient How migration makes life more resilient

By Tim Blackburn

A coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba in the Red Sea. Corals here and in the Persian Gulf are particularly affected by light pollution.

Animals

Light pollution is messing with coral reproduction Light pollution is messing with coral reproduction

By Laura Baisas

Stressed clams turn ghostly white in warming waters

Animals

Stressed clams turn ghostly white in warming waters Stressed clams turn ghostly white in warming waters

By Janine Peralta/Hakai Magazine

Elephants have complex communities and distinct traditions

Animals

Elephants have complex communities and distinct traditions Elephants have complex communities and distinct traditions

By Mridula Chari/Undark

Yellow-green cyanobacteria bloom in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. Events like these can cause mass fish dieoffs.

Animals

A fish-kill mystery in a remote Alaska village takes a toxic turn A fish-kill mystery in a remote Alaska village takes a toxic turn

By Saima Sidik/Hakai Magazine