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

A blue butterfly on a pink flowering plant.

Environment

A ‘butterfly tree of life’ reveals the origins of these beautiful insects A ‘butterfly tree of life’ reveals the origins of these beautiful insects

By Laura Baisas

Pink clover meadow and blue sky.

Technology

This lawn-mowing robot can save part of your yard for pollinators This lawn-mowing robot can save part of your yard for pollinators

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.

Environment

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

By Laura Baisas

Dolphins use echolocation to find fish and navigate in the dark sea.

Science

How echolocation lets bats, dolphins, and even people navigate by sound How echolocation lets bats, dolphins, and even people navigate by sound

A mouse eating a morsel of food, a scene that would prompt many to wonder how to get rid of mice.

DIY

How to get rid of mice and keep them away How to get rid of mice and keep them away

By Mary Beth Griggs

How an innovative battery system in the Bronx will help charge up NYC’s grid

Technology

How an innovative battery system in the Bronx will help charge up NYC’s grid How an innovative battery system in the Bronx will help charge up NYC’s grid

Stressed clams turn ghostly white in warming waters

Environment

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

By Janine Peralta/Hakai Magazine

Happy Mother’s Day to nature’s moms, especially spiders who feed themselves to their babies

Environment

Happy Mother’s Day to nature’s moms, especially spiders who feed themselves to their babies Happy Mother’s Day to nature’s moms, especially spiders who feed themselves to their babies

By Lexi Krupp, Ben Guarino

Blurry shot of cars commuting on highway at dusk

Technology

Get ready for the world’s first permanent EV-charging road Get ready for the world’s first permanent EV-charging road

Extinct ‘thunder beasts’ went from mini to massive in the blink of an evolutionary eye

Environment

Extinct ‘thunder beasts’ went from mini to massive in the blink of an evolutionary eye Extinct ‘thunder beasts’ went from mini to massive in the blink of an evolutionary eye

By Laura Baisas

A clownfish swimming in an anemone.

Environment

Baby anemonefish can rapidly change their genes to survive in the sea Baby anemonefish can rapidly change their genes to survive in the sea

By Laura Baisas

Smoke stacks from a power plant emit smoke.

Environment

Power plants may face emission limits for the first time if EPA rules pass Power plants may face emission limits for the first time if EPA rules pass

By Laura Baisas

illustration of scientist with 3D models

Technology

Inside the little-known group that knows where toxic clouds will blow Inside the little-known group that knows where toxic clouds will blow

By Sarah Scoles

These whales might follow their noses to their next snack in the surf

Environment

These whales might follow their noses to their next snack in the surf These whales might follow their noses to their next snack in the surf

By Elizabeth Preston/Hakai Magazine

Helion Trenta nuclear fusion generator testing in dark lighting

Technology

Microsoft thinks this startup can deliver on nuclear fusion by 2028 Microsoft thinks this startup can deliver on nuclear fusion by 2028

A mosquito hanging upside down on a leaf.

Environment

Can scented soap make you less of a mosquito buffet? Can scented soap make you less of a mosquito buffet?

By Laura Baisas

A NASA satellite image of huge plumes of methane coming from fossil fuel fields in Turkmenistan.

Environment

Satellites traced super methane plumes to Turkmenistan’s gas fields Satellites traced super methane plumes to Turkmenistan’s gas fields

By Laura Baisas

Why you barely see electric vehicles at car dealerships

Technology

Why you barely see electric vehicles at car dealerships Why you barely see electric vehicles at car dealerships

By Sara Kiley Watson

A new butterfly species with orange wings and black spots next to the eye of Sauron from the Lord of the Rings films.

Environment

Lord of the Rings villain Sauron inspires the name of new butterfly genus Lord of the Rings villain Sauron inspires the name of new butterfly genus

By Laura Baisas

A koala in a leafy tree.

Environment

Wild koalas are getting vaccinated against chlamydia Wild koalas are getting vaccinated against chlamydia

By Laura Baisas

A bat sea star on a dark background.

Environment

The blueprints for early organs may be hiding in sea stars The blueprints for early organs may be hiding in sea stars

By Laura Baisas

Taylor Wilson, the boy who built a nuclear reactor as a kid, in his kitchen with his family

Science

How a 14-year-old kid became the youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion How a 14-year-old kid became the youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion

Elephants have complex communities and distinct traditions

Environment

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

By Mridula Chari/Undark

How the US is fighting wealth disparities in climate action

Environment

How the US is fighting wealth disparities in climate action How the US is fighting wealth disparities in climate action

By Carla Delgado

Empty crumpled plastic bottles pattern on blue background.

Environment

Recycling plants spew a staggering amount of microplastics Recycling plants spew a staggering amount of microplastics

A honeybee pollenating a yellow flower.

Environment

What busy bees’ brains can teach us about human evolution What busy bees’ brains can teach us about human evolution

By Laura Baisas

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

Environment

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

How sustainable fashion can support factory workers’ rights

Environment

How sustainable fashion can support factory workers’ rights How sustainable fashion can support factory workers’ rights

By Jessica Kutz/The 19th

How to keep harmful algae blooms from spoiling your vacation

Environment

How to keep harmful algae blooms from spoiling your vacation How to keep harmful algae blooms from spoiling your vacation

By Brad Reisfeld/The Conversation

Young panda eating branch while sitting in tree.

Technology

Researchers built a ‘SoftZoo’ to virtually test animal-inspired robots Researchers built a ‘SoftZoo’ to virtually test animal-inspired robots

Amazonian dark earth (ADE) is a nutrient rich dark soil that could play a role in reforestation.

Environment

How 2,000-year-old soil could be a lifeline for the Amazon rainforest How 2,000-year-old soil could be a lifeline for the Amazon rainforest

By Laura Baisas

A swirl of dust from the Sahara desert is carried on winds above the Mediterranean.

Science

The epic journey of dust in the wind often ends with happy plankton The epic journey of dust in the wind often ends with happy plankton

Biden speaking at lectern.

Technology

US crypto firms might soon pay taxes for exorbitant energy use US crypto firms might soon pay taxes for exorbitant energy use

A rendering of Proteus.

Technology

An ambitious underwater ‘space station’ just got a major research collaborator An ambitious underwater ‘space station’ just got a major research collaborator

By Charlotte Hu

Roses blooming in a garden.

Science

Chemists finally unlock the secret to a rose’s iconic aroma Chemists finally unlock the secret to a rose’s iconic aroma

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A lineup of pets items on sale on a teal background

Gear

You only have today to take advantage of these Amazon Pet Day deals You only have today to take advantage of these Amazon Pet Day deals

Airplanes at terminals at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport

Technology

Europe’s fourth biggest airport plans to ban private jets Europe’s fourth biggest airport plans to ban private jets

Woolly mammoth tusks in dawn light on Wrangel Island, northeast Siberia, where the female mammoth tusk used in the testosterone study had been found several years earlier.

Environment

Male woolly mammoths had hormone-fueled bouts of aggression Male woolly mammoths had hormone-fueled bouts of aggression

By Laura Baisas

Urban water crises often boil down to classism

Environment

Urban water crises often boil down to classism Urban water crises often boil down to classism

By Carla Delgado

Male indigo bunting, which could be a better Illinois state bird, sits on a branch

Science

Your state bird probably needs a makeover. Birder data is here to help. Your state bird probably needs a makeover. Birder data is here to help.

By Mikko Jimenez

John Deere farm equipment

Technology

How John Deere’s tech evolved from 19th-century plows to AI and autonomy How John Deere’s tech evolved from 19th-century plows to AI and autonomy

By Kristin Shaw

An illustration of the organisms that lived in the Castle Bank community.

Environment

Fossil trove in Wales is a 462-million-year-old world of wee sea creatures Fossil trove in Wales is a 462-million-year-old world of wee sea creatures

By Laura Baisas

Red cherry shaped as butt on orange and purple ombre background

Science

A scientific exploration of big juicy butts A scientific exploration of big juicy butts

By Rachel Feltman

Yosemite National Park waterfall after California winter snow and rain

Environment

What California’s weird winter means for its water problems What California’s weird winter means for its water problems

Two seals laying on shore near water.

Technology

Seals provided inspiration for a new waddling robot Seals provided inspiration for a new waddling robot

The oldest chili pepper specimen may be from present-day Colorado

Science

The oldest chili pepper specimen may be from present-day Colorado The oldest chili pepper specimen may be from present-day Colorado

By Sara Kiley Watson

A small partula snail crawls on a leaf.

Environment

Researchers release more than 5,000 snails in the Pacific Researchers release more than 5,000 snails in the Pacific

By Laura Baisas

How deadly amphibians survive their own poisons

Environment

How deadly amphibians survive their own poisons How deadly amphibians survive their own poisons

By Geoffrey Giller/Knowable Magazine

Volcanoes can be a fiery death sentence for fish

Environment

Volcanoes can be a fiery death sentence for fish Volcanoes can be a fiery death sentence for fish

By Chris Baraniuk / Hakai Magazine

Protecting wildlife starts with securing land for animals to roam

Environment

Protecting wildlife starts with securing land for animals to roam Protecting wildlife starts with securing land for animals to roam

By David Jachowski/The Conversation

Side by side of Australian thorny devil lizard and ingestible medical capsule

Technology

A cutting-edge appetite stimulator was inspired by the thorny devil lizard A cutting-edge appetite stimulator was inspired by the thorny devil lizard

An adult male and adult female California sea lion sit on a beach surrounded by pups.

Environment

Male California sea lions have gotten bigger and better at fighting Male California sea lions have gotten bigger and better at fighting

By Laura Baisas

Aerial view of Palisades nuclear power plant

Technology

A decommissioned nuclear plant may roar back to life in Michigan A decommissioned nuclear plant may roar back to life in Michigan

Balto's taxidermy on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Environment

How different is Balto, the heroic sled dog, from today’s Siberian huskies? How different is Balto, the heroic sled dog, from today’s Siberian huskies?

By Laura Baisas

Evolution of human brain size shown with brass sculptures at a kids science museum in China

Environment

We probably have big brains because we got lucky We probably have big brains because we got lucky

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

It’s OK to crack jokes about climate change

Environment

It’s OK to crack jokes about climate change It’s OK to crack jokes about climate change

By Katharine Gammon/Nexus Media

tsunami warning sign in Israel

Technology

New AI-based tsunami warning software could help save lives New AI-based tsunami warning software could help save lives

By Jamie Dickman

Tesla’s carbon footprint is much larger than it previously disclosed

Technology

Tesla’s carbon footprint is much larger than it previously disclosed Tesla’s carbon footprint is much larger than it previously disclosed

Robot jellyfish swarms could soon help clean the oceans of plastic

Technology

Robot jellyfish swarms could soon help clean the oceans of plastic Robot jellyfish swarms could soon help clean the oceans of plastic

A mushroom called coprophilous grows in woods.

Environment

What prehistoric poop reveals about extinct giant animals What prehistoric poop reveals about extinct giant animals

By Laura Baisas

Three small cornstalks grows in a saturated farm field on May 29, 2019 near Emden, Illinois. Near-record rainfall in parts of Illinois caused farmers to delay their spring corn planting that year.

Environment

California and the Midwest prep for floods with record levels of snow melt California and the Midwest prep for floods with record levels of snow melt

By Laura Baisas

A person shakes out a sleeping bag in the mountains

Gear

NEMO unfurls its first recyclable sleeping bag NEMO unfurls its first recyclable sleeping bag

By Abby Ferguson

Green forest with sun shining through trees

Technology

Tinkering with wood turned an insulator into a tree transistor Tinkering with wood turned an insulator into a tree transistor

Keep tabs on your furry friends with the best pet GPS tracker.

Gear

The best pet GPS trackers The best pet GPS trackers

By Alexandra Berry