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

The mysterious ‘Tully monster’ didn’t have a spine after all

Animals

The mysterious ‘Tully monster’ didn’t have a spine after all The mysterious ‘Tully monster’ didn’t have a spine after all

By Jamie Dickman

Two carpet beetles on a white flower.

Animals

Ancient beetles had a taste for dinosaur feathers Ancient beetles had a taste for dinosaur feathers

By Laura Baisas

A mangrove tree in Florida to represent blue carbon and the ocean's power to fight climate change

Climate Change

Blue carbon is a natural climate solution with big potential Blue carbon is a natural climate solution with big potential

Food forests can bring climate resilience, better health, and tasty produce to city residents

Agriculture

Food forests can bring climate resilience, better health, and tasty produce to city residents Food forests can bring climate resilience, better health, and tasty produce to city residents

By Carla Delgado

People walk in a field with blooming poppy flowers near the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve following an unusually wet winter on April 14, 2023 near Lancaster, California. Historic levels of rainfall fell in some parts of California, amid a barrage of atmospheric river winter storms, which has led to a 'super bloom' of wildflowers in certain parts of the state this spring.

Biology

California’s eye-popping super bloom is one for the books California’s eye-popping super bloom is one for the books

By Laura Baisas

Black bear cub in a berry bush at Glacier National Park

Animals

Bears can count, take selfies, use tools, recognize supermodels, and even open car doors Bears can count, take selfies, use tools, recognize supermodels, and even open car doors

By Ruscena Wiederholt

Baby cod seem to be drawn to the lullaby of wind turbines

Animals

Baby cod seem to be drawn to the lullaby of wind turbines Baby cod seem to be drawn to the lullaby of wind turbines

By Emily Harwitz / Hakai Magazine

What happens when a tree dies?

Biology

What happens when a tree dies? What happens when a tree dies?

By Camille Stevens-Rumann/The Conversation

Satellite image of the powerful eruption.

Engineering

How the Tonga eruption rang Earth ‘like a bell’ How the Tonga eruption rang Earth ‘like a bell’

Planes sit at their gates after the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was closed due to the runways being flooded on April 13, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The heavy rain caused flooding as the region recorded rainfall totals of more than a foot.

Climate Change

Southern Florida got 26 inches of rain in 24 hours Southern Florida got 26 inches of rain in 24 hours

By Laura Baisas

An artistic rendering of the open woodland habitat reconstruction at Moroto II with Morotopithecus bishopi vertically climbing with infant on back and Mount Moroto, an active, in background.

Animals

A plant-based diet full of leaves may have helped apes stand upright A plant-based diet full of leaves may have helped apes stand upright

By Laura Baisas

Madagascar hissing cockroach balanced on human finger against green backdrop

Animals

Cyborg cockroaches could one day scurry to your rescue Cyborg cockroaches could one day scurry to your rescue

Seagreen's offshore windfarm in Scotland

Energy

At 441,000 pounds and 192 feet underwater, this is the world’s deepest wind turbine At 441,000 pounds and 192 feet underwater, this is the world’s deepest wind turbine

By Harry Guinness

An adult Pygmy Zebra Octopus

Animals

Pygmy zebra octopus stripe patterns are as unique as human fingerprints Pygmy zebra octopus stripe patterns are as unique as human fingerprints

By Jamie Dickman

Brown bear paw in summer for blood clotting study

Animals

Hibernating bears hold many secrets for better human health Hibernating bears hold many secrets for better human health

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Skeleton of paratype of Icaronycteris gunnelli, the oldest bat skeletons ever found.

Animals

Oldest bat skeleton ever found by paleontologists finally has a name Oldest bat skeleton ever found by paleontologists finally has a name

By Laura Baisas

Twelve fresh eggs in a DIY wooden egg holder on a granite countertop.

Agriculture

Go ahead, leave your fresh eggs on the counter in this handmade wooden tray Go ahead, leave your fresh eggs on the counter in this handmade wooden tray

By Jean Levasseur

Proposed vehicle emissions standards would be America’s toughest yet

Climate Change

Proposed vehicle emissions standards would be America’s toughest yet Proposed vehicle emissions standards would be America’s toughest yet

By Aaron Cole / The Drive

Luna moth resting on a tree.

Animals

The alluring tail of the Luna moth is surprisingly useless for finding a mate The alluring tail of the Luna moth is surprisingly useless for finding a mate

By Jamie Dickman

A black sea cucumber on the floor of the Indian Ocean.

Animals

Sea cucumbers have a Spiderman-esque superpower—and it involves their butts Sea cucumbers have a Spiderman-esque superpower—and it involves their butts

By Laura Baisas

A bird called an American Redstart sits on the branch of a tree.

Animals

Delaying departure may help birds migrate around climate change Delaying departure may help birds migrate around climate change

By Laura Baisas

Rainbow trout are vulnerable to viruses—and microplastics make them even sicker

Animals

Rainbow trout are vulnerable to viruses—and microplastics make them even sicker Rainbow trout are vulnerable to viruses—and microplastics make them even sicker

By Elise Cutts/Hakai Magazine

Best meat alternatives sliced header

Environment

The best meat alternatives The best meat alternatives

A juvenile elephant named Ko Raya (left) with Pang Pha (right) at the Berlin Zoo. Scientists believe that Pang Pha taught herself how to peel bananas.

Animals

Pang Pha the elephant learned to peel bananas by mimicking humans Pang Pha the elephant learned to peel bananas by mimicking humans

By Laura Baisas

Ocean waves crashing on rocky shoreline on cloudy day.

Climate Change

Pendulums under ocean waves could prevent beach erosion Pendulums under ocean waves could prevent beach erosion

A person sitting in front of a desktop computer in an office, using a laptop. She should learn to schedule a shutdown on Windows.

DIY

Set your computer to turn on and off on a schedule Set your computer to turn on and off on a schedule

How big banks can make real progress against climate change

Climate Change

How big banks can make real progress against climate change How big banks can make real progress against climate change

By Carla Delgado

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin photographed on the moon during Apollo 11 by Neil Armstrong

Conservation

Lunar laws could protect the moon from humanity Lunar laws could protect the moon from humanity

A carpenter bee on a white flower. If you're trying to figure out how to get rid of carpenter bees, it's best not to kill these crucial pollinators.

Animals

Easy ways to stop carpenter bees from remodeling your home Easy ways to stop carpenter bees from remodeling your home

By Julia Rittenberg

A warming climate is driving salmon to switch streams

Animals

A warming climate is driving salmon to switch streams A warming climate is driving salmon to switch streams

By Lesley Evans Ogden/Knowable Magazine

Dog’s are a human’s best friend—and a shorebird’s worst enemy

Animals

Dog’s are a human’s best friend—and a shorebird’s worst enemy Dog’s are a human’s best friend—and a shorebird’s worst enemy

By Ben Goldfarb/Hakai Magazine

Woolly mammoths evolved tiny ears over 700,000 years in Siberia

Animals

Woolly mammoths evolved tiny ears over 700,000 years in Siberia Woolly mammoths evolved tiny ears over 700,000 years in Siberia

By Laura Baisas

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees hits a home run against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at Fenway Park on September 13, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Climate Change

Hotter weather could be changing baseball Hotter weather could be changing baseball

By Laura Baisas

Chronic wasting disease is sickening deer and elk. Could predators help?

Animals

Chronic wasting disease is sickening deer and elk. Could predators help? Chronic wasting disease is sickening deer and elk. Could predators help?

By Christine Peterson/High Country News

Icebergs over the ocean in Greenland.

Climate Change

Antarctic ice can melt 20 times faster than we thought Antarctic ice can melt 20 times faster than we thought

By Laura Baisas

A close-up of extended polyps of an apparently healthy great star coral colony on a reef near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The tentacles surrounding the mouth of each polyp help trap food particles for the coral to eat.

Animals

Caribbean coral is getting sick and dying. A probiotic could help. Caribbean coral is getting sick and dying. A probiotic could help.

By Laura Baisas

Tulare Lake flooding stalls a train after severe rainstorms from the atmospheric river in California Central Valley in March 2023

Agriculture

This phantom lake in California is back with a vengeance This phantom lake in California is back with a vengeance

By Jamie Dickman

Mount Etna in Italy spews lava with snow around the top of the volcano.

Climate Change

Notes from meticulous medieval monks could illuminate this scientific wonder Notes from meticulous medieval monks could illuminate this scientific wonder

By Laura Baisas

A snailfish that lives over 20,000 feet deep in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench in the northern Pacific Ocean.

Animals

Say hello to the deepest-dwelling fish ever caught on camera Say hello to the deepest-dwelling fish ever caught on camera

By Laura Baisas

Why snails and slugs are so slow

Animals

Why snails and slugs are so slow Why snails and slugs are so slow

By and Jared Adam/The Conversation, Daniel Bliss, John F. Tooker

An adult elephant walks with two juvenile elephants.

Animals

Scientists may have figured out why elephants exhibit complex emotions Scientists may have figured out why elephants exhibit complex emotions

By Laura Baisas

A capuchin monkey in a tree looking at the camera.

Animals

Do magic tricks work on monkeys? Only if they have opposable thumbs like us. Do magic tricks work on monkeys? Only if they have opposable thumbs like us.

By Laura Baisas

A lineup of the best solar panels on a white background

Energy

The best solar panels The best solar panels

By Timothy Dale

This is how bad a ‘super pig’ problem can really get

Agriculture

This is how bad a ‘super pig’ problem can really get This is how bad a ‘super pig’ problem can really get

By Sage Marshall/Field & Stream

An ostrich inspects eggs in a nest.

Animals

Troodons laid eggs in communal nests just like modern ostriches Troodons laid eggs in communal nests just like modern ostriches

By Laura Baisas

Severe damage and debris of a home in Little Rock, Arkansas following a tornado.

Environment

Tornado outbreak killed dozens of people across the US this weekend Tornado outbreak killed dozens of people across the US this weekend

By Laura Baisas

Scientists are finally getting into the rhythm of sea creatures’ lunar cycle

Animals

Scientists are finally getting into the rhythm of sea creatures’ lunar cycle Scientists are finally getting into the rhythm of sea creatures’ lunar cycle

By Virat Markandeya/Knowable Magazine

A wooden serving tray with a variety of dehydrated fruit and herbs on it, along with fresh fruit and herbs.

DIY

Dehydrating food can save you money and reduce waste Dehydrating food can save you money and reduce waste

By Bridget Reed Morawski

Why researchers surveyed more than 1.1 billion objects across 73 museums

Environment

Why researchers surveyed more than 1.1 billion objects across 73 museums Why researchers surveyed more than 1.1 billion objects across 73 museums

By Charlotte Hu

Otters are back, but that doesn’t mean our rivers are safe

Animals

Otters are back, but that doesn’t mean our rivers are safe Otters are back, but that doesn’t mean our rivers are safe

By Carin Leong/Hakai Magazine

Japanese beekeepers holding honeycomb up at the top of a Tokyo skyscraper

Agriculture

Beehives are the honeypot for a city’s microbial secrets Beehives are the honeypot for a city’s microbial secrets

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Lolita the killer whale performing its 40th anniversary performance at Miami Seaquarium.

Animals

After 50 years in captivity, Lolita the orca may be freed After 50 years in captivity, Lolita the orca may be freed

By Laura Baisas

Critically endangered right whales are losing the battle against fishing boats

Animals

Critically endangered right whales are losing the battle against fishing boats Critically endangered right whales are losing the battle against fishing boats

By Darren Incorvaia/Undark

Best dog food delivery services

Animals

The best dog food delivery services The best dog food delivery services

By Chelsea Frank

Lab mouse on table in front of lab flasks and beakers in blue lighting

Animals

What video game-playing mice taught neuroscientists about memory-making What video game-playing mice taught neuroscientists about memory-making

Complete collapse of tall apartment building after Turkey Syria earthquake. Seen from aerial view.

Engineering

Why most countries don’t have enough earthquake-resilient buildings Why most countries don’t have enough earthquake-resilient buildings

A baby kisses a small dog

Animals

Babies who grow up around pets may be less likely to develop food allergies Babies who grow up around pets may be less likely to develop food allergies

By Laura Baisas

How science has made tornado forecasting better—but not perfect

Environment

How science has made tornado forecasting better—but not perfect How science has made tornado forecasting better—but not perfect

By Chris Nowotarski/The Conversation

Polycirrus onibi, a newly discovered marine worm that glows in the dark, was named after a creature from Japanese folklore.

Animals

These newly discovered bioluminescent sea worms are named after Japanese folklore These newly discovered bioluminescent sea worms are named after Japanese folklore

By Laura Baisas

Close up of hand holding Levi's tag sticking out of jeans back pocket

AI

Levi’s claimed using AI models will boost company’s sustainability and diversity Levi’s claimed using AI models will boost company’s sustainability and diversity

Woolly mammoth meatball on stone plate atop smoky table

Environment

Scientists made a woolly mammoth meatball, but don’t grab your fork yet Scientists made a woolly mammoth meatball, but don’t grab your fork yet

A baby song thrush bird looks up from the forest floor.

Animals

Postmortem poop can teach us a lot about the avian gut microbiome Postmortem poop can teach us a lot about the avian gut microbiome

By Laura Baisas

The parking lot outside a Buc-ee’s store in Temple, Texas.

Animals

A 15-million-year-old beaver was just named after an iconic convenience store A 15-million-year-old beaver was just named after an iconic convenience store

By Laura Baisas

Hand holding sheet of iridescent cellulose nanoncrystal film

Energy

This rainbow shimmer coating may help cool future buildings This rainbow shimmer coating may help cool future buildings