Conservation

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

Latest in Conservation

Fat baby seal looking at the camera

Environment

Facial recognition works on seals. No, really. Facial recognition works on seals. No, really.

By Sean Mowbray / Hakai Magazine

shark-near-florida

Environment

Sharks are learning to love coastal cities Sharks are learning to love coastal cities

By Corinne Iozzio

Compostable plastic cups found in garbage.

Environment

Single-use plastic is on its way out of national parks. But why is the pace so glacial? Single-use plastic is on its way out of national parks. But why is the pace so glacial?

By Bridget Reed Morawski

Firefly or lighting bug display in summer in a forest clearing

Environment

The land of lost fireflies is probably a humble New Jersey bog The land of lost fireflies is probably a humble New Jersey bog

By Maddy Lauria

Boat leaving cruise ship on the ocean.

Environment

Care about the planet? Skip the cruise, for now. Care about the planet? Skip the cruise, for now.

Farmer holding freshly harvested carrots.

Environment

The EU’s plan to halve pesticide use is ambitious, but realistic The EU’s plan to halve pesticide use is ambitious, but realistic

By Sara Kiley Watson

A night photo of a log with a bobcat in the background.

Environment

Watch bobcats, bears, and even birds use fallen logs as bridges Watch bobcats, bears, and even birds use fallen logs as bridges

By Philip Kiefer

Satellite images of the milky seas

Environment

We’re getting closer to understanding why the sea sometimes glows We’re getting closer to understanding why the sea sometimes glows

By Sam Keck Scott / Hakai Magazine

Colorful mantis shrimp with giant eyes that have color vision on black background

Environment

Do animals feel pain? Science author Ed Yong says that’s the wrong question. Do animals feel pain? Science author Ed Yong says that’s the wrong question.

By Philip Kiefer

A firefighter stands holding a canister of gasoline in a snowy forest looking out over burning piles of underbrush.

Environment

Why the US Forest Service paused prescribed burns—a key wildfire prevention tool Why the US Forest Service paused prescribed burns—a key wildfire prevention tool

By Philip Kiefer

Microplastic pellets on the beach.

Environment

Horrific blobs of ‘plastitar’ are gunking up Atlantic beaches Horrific blobs of ‘plastitar’ are gunking up Atlantic beaches

By Sara Kiley Watson

Starfish spawning in water

Environment

8 award-winning photos of nature’s stranger things 8 award-winning photos of nature’s stranger things

By Stephanie Stone

A piping plover shorebird walks on sand, with tawny feathers on his back, a white stomach, a black band of feathers on his neck, and a green band on his ankle

Science

Remembering Monty and Rose, the Chicago shorebirds that became the face of a movement Remembering Monty and Rose, the Chicago shorebirds that became the face of a movement

Activists in Indigenous clothing and with no pipeline signs protesting Line 3 on a bridge in Minnesota

Environment

States and tribes could soon regain the power to fight against projects that pollute States and tribes could soon regain the power to fight against projects that pollute

By Kristine Liao

Iceland topography from above

Technology

Google Earth Engine is taking its closest look yet at how landscapes are changing Google Earth Engine is taking its closest look yet at how landscapes are changing

By Charlotte Hu

Ocean simulator in giant saltwater tank at the Scripps Institute in San Diego, California. A Scripps researcher in a checkered shirt adjusts the settings on a computer with a COVID mask around his elbow.

Environment

A 120-foot-long ocean simulator is now making waves across the seven seas A 120-foot-long ocean simulator is now making waves across the seven seas

By Avery Schluyer Nunn

A baby sea turtle on a beach near some sea turtle tracks, and some people in the background.

DIY

Safely share the beach with endangered sea turtles this summer Safely share the beach with endangered sea turtles this summer

By Alisha McDarris

Jars containing various materials from battery recycling.

Technology

The race to close the EV battery recycling loop The race to close the EV battery recycling loop

Carmakers are pouring billions into producing EV batteries

Technology

Carmakers are pouring billions into producing EV batteries Carmakers are pouring billions into producing EV batteries

By Bradley Brownell

firefighter in a field

Technology

A network of 1,000 cameras is watching for Western wildfires—and you can, too A network of 1,000 cameras is watching for Western wildfires—and you can, too

By Colleen Hagerty

Seashore in Chile.

Environment

Climate change is making the ocean lose its memory. Here’s what that means. Climate change is making the ocean lose its memory. Here’s what that means.

By Sara Kiley Watson

A photo of algae in a lake in Central Park.

Environment

A climate adaptation experiment is taking place in one of NYC’s biggest parks A climate adaptation experiment is taking place in one of NYC’s biggest parks

By Danielle Renwick / Nexus Media News

Aerial view of high chimney pipes with grey smoke from coal power plant. Production of electricity with fossil fuel.

Environment

Greenhouse gases, sea level rise, and ocean acidification all broke records in 2021 Greenhouse gases, sea level rise, and ocean acidification all broke records in 2021

Photo of Fungi Tremella Mesenterica in a forest

Environment

Earth would be unrecognizable without fungi Earth would be unrecognizable without fungi

By Matt Kasson, Et al. / The Conversation

Black farmer on a no-till tractor with pistachio trees in the background

Environment

US farmers can help in the battle for climate resiliency. A massive bill highlights how. US farmers can help in the battle for climate resiliency. A massive bill highlights how.

By Kristine Liao

A close up photo of a manatee.

Environment

Environmental groups blame the EPA for more than 1,000 dead manatees Environmental groups blame the EPA for more than 1,000 dead manatees

By Wade Thiel / Outdoor Life

A closeup photo of the glass frog Hyalinobatrachium nouns, named after the Nouns DAO.

Technology

A crypto group named a new frog species, and people aren’t thrilled A crypto group named a new frog species, and people aren’t thrilled

By Kristine Liao

Yellow lawn mower next to lawn with tall grasses and pink and blue native wildflowers

Environment

Cities are letting plants go wild for ‘No Mow May’ Cities are letting plants go wild for ‘No Mow May’

By Kristine Liao

The Iron Curtain’s border zone has grown into a wild, ecological haven

Environment

The Iron Curtain’s border zone has grown into a wild, ecological haven The Iron Curtain’s border zone has grown into a wild, ecological haven

By Sarah Baxter

a colorful full coral reef

Environment

These Hawaiian corals could hold the secret to surviving warming waters These Hawaiian corals could hold the secret to surviving warming waters

By Kate Baggaley

robotic buoy floating in ocean

Technology

Whale-monitoring robots are oceanic eavesdroppers with a mission Whale-monitoring robots are oceanic eavesdroppers with a mission

By Charlotte Hu

Purple lupine native wildflowers at Steptoe Butte State Park in Washington

Environment

The future of American conservation lies in restoration, not just protection The future of American conservation lies in restoration, not just protection

By Kristine Liao

These little robots could help find old explosives at sea

Technology

These little robots could help find old explosives at sea These little robots could help find old explosives at sea

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Bigfin reef squid with semitransparent skin in the ocean

Environment

This glittery squid can change color in an instant This glittery squid can change color in an instant

By Purbita Saha

Two First Nations biologists releasing a caribou calf on the plains of British Columbia, Canada

Environment

One historic caribou herd is thriving under First Nations’ care One historic caribou herd is thriving under First Nations’ care

By Kristine Liao

small delicate, partially translucent mushrooms growing on a log

Science

This South Pacific island could help us understand how fungi evolve This South Pacific island could help us understand how fungi evolve

By Lauren J. Young

Seaweed growing underwater

Environment

Why seaweed is a natural fit for replacing certain plastics Why seaweed is a natural fit for replacing certain plastics

By Sara Kiley Watson

Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota at dusk with a crowd of visitors

Environment

Why national parks are cracking down on fireworks, ebikes, and other harmful fun Why national parks are cracking down on fireworks, ebikes, and other harmful fun

By Kristine Liao

a small marine cone snail with a brown spotted shell extends its proboscis that delivers venom into a fish

Health

This cone snail’s deadly venom could hold the key to better pain meds This cone snail’s deadly venom could hold the key to better pain meds

By Lauren J. Young

Offshore wind farm with sunset and person on paddleboard.

Environment

Minimizing offshore wind’s impact on nature is tricky, but not impossible Minimizing offshore wind’s impact on nature is tricky, but not impossible

By Anuradha Varanasi

bees-drinking-nectar-from-feeder

Environment

5 ways to keep bees buzzing that don’t require a hive 5 ways to keep bees buzzing that don’t require a hive

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Monarch caterpillar butterfly with white, black, and yellow stripes hanging from a small tree branch with a kid looking closely at it

Environment

A parasite could be killing millions of monarch butterflies as they migrate A parasite could be killing millions of monarch butterflies as they migrate

By Kristine Liao

close up of a small Antarctic krill near the stone floats in the aquarium

Environment

When krill host social gatherings, other ocean animals thrive When krill host social gatherings, other ocean animals thrive

Amazon rainforest trees and river in Brazil

Environment

The Amazon is on the brink of a climate change tipping point The Amazon is on the brink of a climate change tipping point

By Sara Kiley Watson

Proteus underwater lab design mockup

Science

Jacques Cousteau’s grandson is building a network of ocean floor research stations Jacques Cousteau’s grandson is building a network of ocean floor research stations

By Charlotte Hu

a white ghostly outline of the international space station floating in the ocean

Science

There’s a lot we don’t know about the International Space Station’s ocean grave There’s a lot we don’t know about the International Space Station’s ocean grave

By Tatyana Woodall

Red and purple berries on a thorny green invasive shrub

Environment

Many Indigenous languages lack a word for ‘conservation.’ Here’s why. Many Indigenous languages lack a word for ‘conservation.’ Here’s why.

By Jessica Hernandez

choppy waves on a beach with a sign warning people not to swim

Environment

The West Coast is under a tsunami advisory. Here’s what that means. The West Coast is under a tsunami advisory. Here’s what that means.

By Rachel Feltman

Flock of white geese in green, grassy landscape in Canada

Technology

Inside the simple counting software that makes biologists’ jobs a little easier Inside the simple counting software that makes biologists’ jobs a little easier

By Maggie Galloway

Nutrient-rich fish are thriving in a coral graveyard off the coast of Africa

Environment

Nutrient-rich fish are thriving in a coral graveyard off the coast of Africa Nutrient-rich fish are thriving in a coral graveyard off the coast of Africa

By Sara Kiley Watson

boaty the sub in antarctica

Technology

Boaty McBoatface’s new mission is more serious than its name Boaty McBoatface’s new mission is more serious than its name

By Charlotte Hu

a woman in a face mask and blue protective gloves holds up a black collection apparatus in the air in a densely forested environment. a sloth hangs from a tree nearby

Environment

Airborne animal DNA could help biologists track endangered species Airborne animal DNA could help biologists track endangered species

By Philip Kiefer

E.O. Wilson holding a stick with ants in front of a rainforest background in a National Portrait Gallery painting

Environment

E.O. Wilson changed the world with lessons learned from ants E.O. Wilson changed the world with lessons learned from ants

By Doug Tallamy/The Conversation

Caltech CARL octopus-like AI robot in water

Technology

This tiny AI-powered robot is learning to explore the ocean on its own This tiny AI-powered robot is learning to explore the ocean on its own

By Charlotte Hu

Barreleye fish from a deep-sea video taken by robotic ocean rovers in Monterey Bay

Technology

Watch these rare ocean creatures caught on candid robot camera Watch these rare ocean creatures caught on candid robot camera

By Purbita Saha

Science

Fish sounds tell us about underwater reefs—but we need better tech to really listen Fish sounds tell us about underwater reefs—but we need better tech to really listen

By Charlotte Hu

Wildlife officials are taking radical steps to save Florida’s starving manatees

Environment

Wildlife officials are taking radical steps to save Florida’s starving manatees Wildlife officials are taking radical steps to save Florida’s starving manatees

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a ‘raft of life’ for animals in the open ocean

Science

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a ‘raft of life’ for animals in the open ocean The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a ‘raft of life’ for animals in the open ocean

By Kate Baggaley

Dead puffer fish on Sri Lanka beach

Environment

Plastic nurdles are killing Sri Lanka’s sea creatures Plastic nurdles are killing Sri Lanka’s sea creatures

By Ashley Stimpson/Field & Stream

Periwinkles in a saucepan next to a small plate of bread and a glass of cider from an invasives-species menu at Juniper Bar and Restaurant in Burlington, Vermont

Environment

Welcome to invasivorism, the boldest solution to ethical eating yet Welcome to invasivorism, the boldest solution to ethical eating yet

By Matt Hongoltz-Hetling

Abalone with maroon and teal shell resting on a rock in an Underwater Wild

Environment

8 ‘insignificant’ creatures that will make you dream about the ocean 8 ‘insignificant’ creatures that will make you dream about the ocean

By Craig Foster and Ross Frylinck

a disposable face mask in a pile of wet fall leaves

Health

Humans created an extra 8 million tons of plastic waste during the pandemic Humans created an extra 8 million tons of plastic waste during the pandemic

By Kate Baggaley

ancient penis worm

Environment

Ancient penis worms used protection on the seabed Ancient penis worms used protection on the seabed

By Margo Milanowski

Freshwater mangrove forest off the Yucatan in Mexico and Guatemala

Environment

This secret mangrove forest is unlike any other in the world This secret mangrove forest is unlike any other in the world

By Sula E Vanderplank/The Conversation