Environment

The changes and wonders of the natural world—and how human interaction influences animals, the ocean, and the rest of the environment.

Latest in Environment

two birds with black and white plumage with dots of yellow or blue feathers neat their beaks sit near a nest

Male hornbills are at their mates’ every beck and call Male hornbills are at their mates’ every beck and call

By Margherita Bassi

an illustration showing the various sizes of extinct giant sloths

8,000-pound sloths once roamed North America. Where’d they go? 8,000-pound sloths once roamed North America. Where’d they go?

By Laura Baisas

Erupting volcano

Earth’s core is leaking gold Earth’s core is leaking gold

Adélie penguins walking along the Antarctic coastline.

How pungent poop could help Antarctica’s penguins How pungent poop could help Antarctica’s penguins

By Laura Baisas

Ditch Plains beach entry Montauk Long Island New York in the Hamptons with rip current warning sign

Florida man rigs drone to save drowning teen Florida man rigs drone to save drowning teen

a dog with wide eyes and ears perked up is kissed by two humans

Dogs can fulfill our need to nurture Dogs can fulfill our need to nurture

By Laura Baisas

Man holding woolly rat out for camera

Elusive woolly rat photographed for the first time Elusive woolly rat photographed for the first time

a pink and yellow flower with delicate petals

Plants can hear tiny wing flaps of pollinators Plants can hear tiny wing flaps of pollinators

By Laura Baisas

a clear marine worm with many appendages branching out of its torso and some dots of colors

Sea worm’s reproductive bits grow their own eyes before mating Sea worm’s reproductive bits grow their own eyes before mating

By Laura Baisas

Sargassum algae piles up along the shore at a beach in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.

31 million tons of seaweed ready to stink up Florida’s beaches 31 million tons of seaweed ready to stink up Florida’s beaches

By Laura Baisas

a humpback whale calf swims in front of its mother

Humpback whales can give birth while migrating thousands of miles Humpback whales can give birth while migrating thousands of miles

By Laura Baisas

Close up of solar flare

The first US solar storm emergency drill did not go well The first US solar storm emergency drill did not go well

a baby howler monkey on the back of a juvenile capuchin

Capuchin monkeys kidnap baby howler monkeys, shocking scientists Capuchin monkeys kidnap baby howler monkeys, shocking scientists

By Lauren Leffer

a bird sits in several paper towels forming a circular donut-shaped nest

Why a ‘donut’ can help injured birds Why a ‘donut’ can help injured birds

By Margherita Bassi

Woman gardening, planting a poppy, close-up.

Embrace the fun of growing culinary plants in unexpected places Embrace the fun of growing culinary plants in unexpected places

By Debbie Wolfe

Blue jay on city sidewalk.

What to do if you find a baby bird out of its nest What to do if you find a baby bird out of its nest

By RJ Mackenzie

Fossil fragments on black background

These human ancestors weren’t as lonely as experts thought These human ancestors weren’t as lonely as experts thought

a black and white snake with two heads

Rare two-headed snake is surprisingly thriving Rare two-headed snake is surprisingly thriving

By Margherita Bassi

thousands of birds take to the sky

Weather radar picks up over 1 million migrating birds Weather radar picks up over 1 million migrating birds

By Margherita Bassi

four puffins with white and black plumage and bright orange bills stand on a rock overlooking the north sea

Puffin-counting season begins with two new livestreams Puffin-counting season begins with two new livestreams

By Laura Baisas