Environment(Page 2)

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

Tools for measuring home air quality on a blue background with a dust cloud

How to measure the air quality in your home by yourself and with a pro How to measure the air quality in your home by yourself and with a pro

By Terri Williams

Open dishwasher with clean dishes in the white kitchen

The science of why you should use your dishwasher The science of why you should use your dishwasher

Air Purifiers for asthma

The best air purifiers for asthma in 2025, according to experts The best air purifiers for asthma in 2025, according to experts

By Terri Williams

Close up of deep sea squid

Humans have only seen 0.001 percent of the ocean floor Humans have only seen 0.001 percent of the ocean floor

a close-up of a chimpanzee eating a piece of watermelon

Chimpanzees can keep a rhythmic beat Chimpanzees can keep a rhythmic beat

By Laura Baisas

Green hedge in the frontyard

How to build a living fence How to build a living fence

By Debbie Wolfe

three plant species

Scientists discover how some flowers mimic the smell of death Scientists discover how some flowers mimic the smell of death

By Lauren Leffer

Close up of aoudad ram

Texas aims to legalize hunting invasive sheep from helicopters Texas aims to legalize hunting invasive sheep from helicopters

the skyline of houston, texas

28 big American cities are sinking 28 big American cities are sinking

By Laura Baisas

Urban farming sustainability concept, captured in Milan, Lombardy, Italy

Surviving global catastrophe is a matter of community, not commerce Surviving global catastrophe is a matter of community, not commerce

a snow leopard walking down a mountainside

Northern India’s elusive snow leopards get their close up Northern India’s elusive snow leopards get their close up

By Laura Baisas

a snail laying an egg from its neck

Watch a snail lay an egg…from its neck Watch a snail lay an egg…from its neck

By Laura Baisas

a papier mache bird sits in a field

Grand Teton deploys papier-mâché birds Grand Teton deploys papier-mâché birds

By Popular Science Team

The recent discovery helps bridge the gap between ancient cicadas and their present day descendants.

Earliest ‘true cicada’ fossil discovered in Germany Earliest ‘true cicada’ fossil discovered in Germany

A blue tit flies to a feeder in a garden, where a great spotted woodpecker is currently sitting.

Are backyard bird feeders safe? How to stop illness and intruders. Are backyard bird feeders safe? How to stop illness and intruders.

By Laura Baisas

Nuclear fusion reactor module section in construction facility

New nuclear fusion reactor’s electromagnet could lift 10 monster trucks New nuclear fusion reactor’s electromagnet could lift 10 monster trucks

A Yangtze finless porpoise hunting in China’s Poyang Lake. Fish are jumping all around the porpoise as it leaps out of the water.

Poems spanning 1,400 years tell the tale of a revered porpoise Poems spanning 1,400 years tell the tale of a revered porpoise

By Laura Baisas

a lion cub sniffs a tortoise hiding in its shell

10 beautiful images from the 2025 GDT Nature Photographer of the Year awards 10 beautiful images from the 2025 GDT Nature Photographer of the Year awards

By Popular Science Team

a brown building against mountain backdrop

Visit one of the world’s most prolific research stations in Colorado mountains Visit one of the world’s most prolific research stations in Colorado mountains

By Alisha McDarris

Mule deer scratching itself

Good luck guessing Yosemite’s most dangerous animal Good luck guessing Yosemite’s most dangerous animal

seven women in dive gear stand on black rocks above the ocean on a cloudy day

South Korea’s ‘sea women’ are genetically adapted for their tough trade South Korea’s ‘sea women’ are genetically adapted for their tough trade

By Lauren Leffer

a mosquito under a microscope

What would a world without mosquitoes look like? What would a world without mosquitoes look like?

By RJ Mackenzie

a california sea lion sits by a pool

This sea lion can keep a beat better than some humans This sea lion can keep a beat better than some humans

By Laura Baisas

An axolotl crawling up to the aquarium pane at the Hamburg animal shelter.

Axolotls raised in captivity can survive in the wild Axolotls raised in captivity can survive in the wild

By Laura Baisas

Bald eaglets in canoe with caps over eyes

Rescuers borrow canoe to save baby bald eagles in river Rescuers borrow canoe to save baby bald eagles in river

A fringe-lipped bat approaches a Fitzinger's robber frog in Panama. This species of bat eavesdrops on the mating calls that male frogs produce to attract females, and uses these frog calls to detect, assess, and localize its prey.

Young bats develop a ‘caller ID’ to avoid poisonous prey Young bats develop a ‘caller ID’ to avoid poisonous prey

By Laura Baisas

two baby gorillas play in a tree

20 unforgettable images of Earth’s animal kingdom 20 unforgettable images of Earth’s animal kingdom

By Popular Science Team

an owl has a full juvenile turtle in her beak. an owlet stands at her feet staring up

Watch an owl try to eat a turtle whole Watch an owl try to eat a turtle whole

By Laura Baisas

Side by side of uncooked and cooked 3D printed vegan calamari rings

3D-printed calamari is back on the menu 3D-printed calamari is back on the menu

Bone collector cases are carefully constructed from silk and exoskeleton parts.

‘Bone collector’ caterpillar wears the body parts of dead bugs ‘Bone collector’ caterpillar wears the body parts of dead bugs

By Lauren Leffer

an illustration of a large red ant with curved jaws. a bird looks on with a concerned expression

Extinct hell ant species used specialized jaws to impale its prey Extinct hell ant species used specialized jaws to impale its prey

By Laura Baisas

a small marsupial with white spots stands on the ground

Watch endangered marsupials return to Australian bushland after 62 years Watch endangered marsupials return to Australian bushland after 62 years

By Laura Baisas

four jugs of wine are painted on to the wall of ancient ruins

Cheers to Bronze Age humans for delicious Italian wine Cheers to Bronze Age humans for delicious Italian wine

By Laura Baisas

Coiled rattlesnake near flowering bush

Rattlesnakes may evolve specialized venoms Rattlesnakes may evolve specialized venoms

Lava flowing into ocean in Hawaii

North America’s underside is slowly melting into the Earth North America’s underside is slowly melting into the Earth

An osprey sits on its nest protected by a human-made basket.

To protect birds and motorists, engineers build a steel nest box on bridge To protect birds and motorists, engineers build a steel nest box on bridge

By Laura Baisas

World War II jeep found at site of underwater shipwreck

NOAA needs help identifying car found in WWII shipwreck NOAA needs help identifying car found in WWII shipwreck

three chimpanzees sit around a round fruit sharing it

Wild chimps sharing ‘boozy’ fruit caught on camera for the first time Wild chimps sharing ‘boozy’ fruit caught on camera for the first time

By Laura Baisas

An Emperor chick begs and squaks at its parent to be fed.

Filmmaker James Cameron on penguins, arctic cold, and lowlight cameras Filmmaker James Cameron on penguins, arctic cold, and lowlight cameras

a sea slug in the ocean with whispy purple tendrils

Sea slugs harness the power of the sun to show off their colors Sea slugs harness the power of the sun to show off their colors

By Laura Baisas

a large bird with brown, gray, and white plumage walks in an open grassland

Ancient funerals may have included a ritual feast on a giant bird Ancient funerals may have included a ritual feast on a giant bird

By Laura Baisas

Images of Jyvaskylavirus. The virus particle is about twice the size of influenza or coronavirus. Credit: University of Jyväskylä

Finland finds its first giant virus Finland finds its first giant virus

Two young gorillas, habituated to human presence, scratch the soil in search of truffles

A group of gorillas have a surprising knack for hunting truffles, researchers find A group of gorillas have a surprising knack for hunting truffles, researchers find

By Laura Baisas

Skelleftea, Sweden A moose warning sign on a country road in summer.

It’s time to tune in to the Great Moose Migration livestream It’s time to tune in to the Great Moose Migration livestream

an illustration of a small crocodile ancestor sneaking up on a small mammal ancestor

Crocodile ancestors survived two mass extinctions—here’s how Crocodile ancestors survived two mass extinctions—here’s how

By Laura Baisas

Earth's oceans seen from space

How did water end up on Earth? New evidence upends long-held theory. How did water end up on Earth? New evidence upends long-held theory.

three researchers padding a canoe on a polluted waterway under a bridge

Pollution-eating microbes are thriving in infamous NYC canal Pollution-eating microbes are thriving in infamous NYC canal

By Lauren Leffer

first footage colossal squid

Colossal squid filmed in deep ocean for the first time ever Colossal squid filmed in deep ocean for the first time ever

By Popular Science Team

Spotted dolphin with head above water

Google made an AI model to talk to dolphins Google made an AI model to talk to dolphins

debris field in water

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch isn’t just a floating trash pile The Great Pacific Garbage Patch isn’t just a floating trash pile

By RJ Mackenzie

Close-up of Funny gigner cat sniffs at a cucumber on the table against gray background,

Are cats really afraid of cucumbers? We asked the experts. Are cats really afraid of cucumbers? We asked the experts.

By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Glaciers in Iceland

Ancient rocks tie Roman Empire’s collapse to a mini ice age Ancient rocks tie Roman Empire’s collapse to a mini ice age

Coway Airmega air purifiers in a row on sale at Amazon

Amazon is blowing out some of our favorite air purifiers just in time for allergy season Amazon is blowing out some of our favorite air purifiers just in time for allergy season

By Stan Horaczek

A “zombie ant” that has been infected by the parasitic fungus Complex Ophiocordyceps unilateralis.

Cordyceps fungus: ‘The Last of Us’ co-star thriving outside the spotlight Cordyceps fungus: ‘The Last of Us’ co-star thriving outside the spotlight

A man suffering from hay fever next to a flowering shrub.

Why are some cities worse for allergies than others? Why are some cities worse for allergies than others?

By Laura Baisas

a side view of an injured eagle beak that is regrowing some keratin

Images show bald eagle’s beak healing from gunshot wound Images show bald eagle’s beak healing from gunshot wound

By Laura Baisas

A Birdfy Netvue bird feeder in front of trees with a red bird on it on sale at Amazon

Amazon has this bird feeder with a built-in camera for its cheapest price ever Amazon has this bird feeder with a built-in camera for its cheapest price ever

By Stan Horaczek

Close up of cane toad tadpole eating toad eggs underwater

Cannibal tadpoles help Australia fight invasive species Cannibal tadpoles help Australia fight invasive species

a baby lion sleeps on a dirt road

10 gorgeous wildlife photos documenting Earth’s beauty 10 gorgeous wildlife photos documenting Earth’s beauty

By Popular Science Team

A man is sweating during a heatwave in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on April 28, 2024. (Photo by Rehman Asad/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The world is heating up. How much can our bodies handle? The world is heating up. How much can our bodies handle?

By Sachi Kitajima Mulkey / Grist

a pug named Doug stands on a red carpet with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth

People tend to trust ‘pet-fluencers’ over human influencers People tend to trust ‘pet-fluencers’ over human influencers

By Laura Baisas

Four urinals mounted on tiled wall

New urinal designs use physics to prevent pee splashback New urinal designs use physics to prevent pee splashback

Gooseneck kettle pouring water into pour-over coffee carafe on table next to coffee beans and mugs

How to brew the best pour-over coffee, according to science How to brew the best pour-over coffee, according to science

Gold mining operation on banks of river in Amazon rainforest

Trees can snitch on illegal gold miners in the Amazon Trees can snitch on illegal gold miners in the Amazon