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

Best dog collars

Gear

The best dog collars The best dog collars

By Stan Horaczek

Rain falling on a window and green plants.

Environment

How a wet winter and spring could help and hurt US states How a wet winter and spring could help and hurt US states

By Laura Baisas

America used to have its own lions. Where did they go?

Environment

America used to have its own lions. Where did they go? America used to have its own lions. Where did they go?

By Devon Bidal/Hakai Magazine

Person holding handle attached to molten glass

Technology

Scientists have a vision for sustainable, biodegradable glass Scientists have a vision for sustainable, biodegradable glass

A child stands by a collapsed road caused by flooding waters due to heavy rains following Cyclone Freddy in Blantyre, Malawi, on March 13, 2023.

Environment

Deadly Cyclone Freddy could be the longest tropical cyclone on record Deadly Cyclone Freddy could be the longest tropical cyclone on record

By Laura Baisas

Close up of a newly discovered orchid species named Spiranthes hachijoensis with pink petals,

Environment

This new species of pink orchid looks like delicate glasswork This new species of pink orchid looks like delicate glasswork

By Laura Baisas

diving board and pool

Technology

This startup wants to use heat from data centers to warm swimming pools This startup wants to use heat from data centers to warm swimming pools

By Harry Guinness

A Wedge-tailed Eagle, a large vulture native to Australia.

Environment

An extinct 10-foot-long eagle could pick up kangaroos with its terrifying talons An extinct 10-foot-long eagle could pick up kangaroos with its terrifying talons

By Laura Baisas

Red and speckled blue and black poison dart frog looking up from a light green leaf

Environment

Poisonous animals probably took their sweet time developing unappetizing bright colors Poisonous animals probably took their sweet time developing unappetizing bright colors

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A French bulldog puppy running.

Environment

America has a favorite new dog breed, and it’s slightly problematic America has a favorite new dog breed, and it’s slightly problematic

By Laura Baisas

Small flying robot perched atop cactus

Technology

This bumblebee-inspired bot can bounce back after injuring a wing This bumblebee-inspired bot can bounce back after injuring a wing

A mosquito biting a human arm.

Environment

How can we control mosquitos? Deactivate their sperm. How can we control mosquitos? Deactivate their sperm.

By Laura Baisas

The US might finally regulate toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water

Environment

The US might finally regulate toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water The US might finally regulate toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water

By Sara Kiley Watson

Paleo and keto diets aren’t great for you or the planet, study says

Environment

Paleo and keto diets aren’t great for you or the planet, study says Paleo and keto diets aren’t great for you or the planet, study says

By Carla Delgado

Four male common fruit flies in a chain trying to mate with each other after being exposed to ozone air pollution

Science

Horny male fruit flies plunge into chaos when exposed to air pollution Horny male fruit flies plunge into chaos when exposed to air pollution

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

California National Guard members in safety vests and hard hats checking on houses and people buried in snow

Environment

Joint Task Force Rattlesnake is rescuing snowbound Californians Joint Task Force Rattlesnake is rescuing snowbound Californians

By Nicholas Slayton / Task & Purpose

Gorillas like to scramble their brains by spinning around really fast

Environment

Gorillas like to scramble their brains by spinning around really fast Gorillas like to scramble their brains by spinning around really fast

By Sara Kiley Watson

Pile of plastic materials for recycling

Technology

Sorting and recycling plastic is notoriously hard—but this AI could help Sorting and recycling plastic is notoriously hard—but this AI could help

Poop emoji covered in soap bubbles on a light blue background

Environment

Your poop is useful. Meet the father-son team creating ‘humanure.’ Your poop is useful. Meet the father-son team creating ‘humanure.’

By Lina Zeldovich

Moonlight will help inspire a Danish church’s wildlife-friendly design

Environment

Moonlight will help inspire a Danish church’s wildlife-friendly design Moonlight will help inspire a Danish church’s wildlife-friendly design

By Theo Nicitopoulos / Hakai Magazine

Backlit radio dial showing the marker running through different stations and frequencies

Technology

Emergency officials sound the alarm on electric vehicles dropping AM radio Emergency officials sound the alarm on electric vehicles dropping AM radio

A stinky, 5,000-mile-long wad of seaweed is about to gunk up Florida’s beaches

Environment

A stinky, 5,000-mile-long wad of seaweed is about to gunk up Florida’s beaches A stinky, 5,000-mile-long wad of seaweed is about to gunk up Florida’s beaches

By Sara Kiley Watson

Atomic structure image of Mycobacterium smegmatis Huc enzyme

Technology

This common bacteria is teaching scientists how to turn air into energy This common bacteria is teaching scientists how to turn air into energy

Fungus gnat on a white flower petal

Environment

Flies evolved before dinosaurs—and survived an apocalyptic world after the Permian extinction Flies evolved before dinosaurs—and survived an apocalyptic world after the Permian extinction

By Sara Kiley Watson

A black widow spider side by side with a brown widow spiders, a fellow species in the same genus, Latrodectus.

Environment

Black widows battle their even deadlier cousins in a brutal spider war Black widows battle their even deadlier cousins in a brutal spider war

By Laura Baisas

How growing antlers on mice could lead to new treatments for humans

Science

How growing antlers on mice could lead to new treatments for humans How growing antlers on mice could lead to new treatments for humans

By Travis Hall / Field&Stream

A cluster of vampire bats hangs from a cave.

Environment

How killing vampire bats to slow rabies can go wrong How killing vampire bats to slow rabies can go wrong

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Toilet paper may be a major source of ‘forever chemicals’ in wastewater

Environment

Toilet paper may be a major source of ‘forever chemicals’ in wastewater Toilet paper may be a major source of ‘forever chemicals’ in wastewater

By Carla Delgado

Formula 3 cars on the racetrack

Technology

How the Formula races plan to power their cars with more sustainable fuel How the Formula races plan to power their cars with more sustainable fuel

Powerful atmospheric river pummels California with even more rain and flooding

Environment

Powerful atmospheric river pummels California with even more rain and flooding Powerful atmospheric river pummels California with even more rain and flooding

By Sara Kiley Watson

The US government wants to round up the West’s feral cattle

Environment

The US government wants to round up the West’s feral cattle The US government wants to round up the West’s feral cattle

By Jonathan Thompson / High Country News

A warm of bees on a honeycomb.

Environment

Older bees teach younger bees the ‘waggle dance’ Older bees teach younger bees the ‘waggle dance’

By Laura Baisas

Butterfly cutouts painted with plasmonic paint hues against grass background

Technology

Butterfly-inspired ‘plasmonic paint’ could be brilliant for energy-efficient buildings Butterfly-inspired ‘plasmonic paint’ could be brilliant for energy-efficient buildings

This fossilized ‘ancient animal’ might be a bunch of old seaweed

Science

This fossilized ‘ancient animal’ might be a bunch of old seaweed This fossilized ‘ancient animal’ might be a bunch of old seaweed

By Sara Kiley Watson

Ecologists have declared war on this popular decorative tree

Environment

Ecologists have declared war on this popular decorative tree Ecologists have declared war on this popular decorative tree

By Ryan W. McEwan / The Conversation

Whitespotted eagle ray swimming in the ocean.

Environment

Scientists test different gear for protecting clams from ‘crunching’ rays Scientists test different gear for protecting clams from ‘crunching’ rays

By Laura Baisas

X1 Wind's X30 floating wind turbine prototype off the Canary Islands coast

Technology

This floating wind turbine just generated its first kilowatt hour of power This floating wind turbine just generated its first kilowatt hour of power

A group of mice eats a scone.

Science

Forget black coffee—a hormone shot helped tipsy rodents sober up Forget black coffee—a hormone shot helped tipsy rodents sober up

By Laura Baisas

A worm at the bottom of a shot glass of Mezcal.

Science

What kind of worm is in your mezcal? What kind of worm is in your mezcal?

By Laura Baisas

A tiny fish is more genetically diverse than we thought. Here’s why that matters.

Environment

A tiny fish is more genetically diverse than we thought. Here’s why that matters. A tiny fish is more genetically diverse than we thought. Here’s why that matters.

By Brian Owens / Hakai Magazine

Corn stalk leaf measuring robot parked in front of field

Technology

The corn leaf angle measuring robot is more useful than you think The corn leaf angle measuring robot is more useful than you think

hydrogen powered airplane

Technology

This plane powered by hydrogen has made an electrifying first flight This plane powered by hydrogen has made an electrifying first flight

A set of hand soaps and shampoo bars over organic cotton covers and other wooden-made toiletries.

DIY

Travel more sustainably with a DIY zero-waste toiletry kit Travel more sustainably with a DIY zero-waste toiletry kit

By Alisha McDarris

Underwater image of sunken ship, Ironton, in Lake Huron

Technology

Get a high-tech tour of the long-lost Ironton shipwreck discovered in the Great Lakes Get a high-tech tour of the long-lost Ironton shipwreck discovered in the Great Lakes

Cars in a traffic jam emitting exhaust.

Environment

Almost everyone in the world breathes unhealthy air Almost everyone in the world breathes unhealthy air

By Laura Baisas

Beech mushrooms growing on a substrate against a gold background

Environment

How to use the power of mushrooms to improve your life How to use the power of mushrooms to improve your life

By Julia Craven

Miniature greenhouse with semitransparent solar cell roof growing crop

Technology

Scientists think this tiny greenhouse could be a game changer for agrivoltaics Scientists think this tiny greenhouse could be a game changer for agrivoltaics

Three honeybees fly near a crocus in a field.

Environment

Like the first flying humans, honeybees use linear landmarks to navigate Like the first flying humans, honeybees use linear landmarks to navigate

By Laura Baisas

A pod of dolphins swimming together in blue water.

Environment

The ‘High-Seas Treaty’ to protect marine life in the open ocean finally makes progress The ‘High-Seas Treaty’ to protect marine life in the open ocean finally makes progress

By Laura Baisas

Mexico's Monte Alban archaeological site, including stone step and structures with mountains in the distance.

Science

What the longest-lasting Mesoamerican cities all had in common What the longest-lasting Mesoamerican cities all had in common

By Laura Baisas

How to introduce a new cat to your pets

Environment

How to introduce a new cat to your pets How to introduce a new cat to your pets

By Jenna Kiddie / The Conversation

Lichens may help forecast sea level rise

Environment

Lichens may help forecast sea level rise Lichens may help forecast sea level rise

By Ian Rose / Hakai Magazine

The skeleton of a possible Yamnaya horse rider.

Science

People may have been riding horses as early as 5,000 years ago People may have been riding horses as early as 5,000 years ago

Meadow grasshopper sitting on blade of grass

Technology

Leaping robots take physics lessons from grasshoppers Leaping robots take physics lessons from grasshoppers

To lower food emissions, consider what your dinner ate

Environment

To lower food emissions, consider what your dinner ate To lower food emissions, consider what your dinner ate

By Carla Delgado

Medtronic's headquarters.

Health

A little-known form of medical pollution is costing Puerto Ricans their health A little-known form of medical pollution is costing Puerto Ricans their health

Research student holding graphene seaweed hydrogel in gloved hand

Technology

MasterChef inspired an edible medical sensor MasterChef inspired an edible medical sensor

Two orca whales, one with it's head and flukes above the water and the other with its nose out of the water.

Environment

Toothed whales turned their vocal fry into a hunting superpower Toothed whales turned their vocal fry into a hunting superpower

By Laura Baisas

Crane loading cargo onto ship at sunset

Technology

Pandemic shipping took a heavy toll on the climate Pandemic shipping took a heavy toll on the climate

A giant lacewing as seen under a microscope. The insect is a moth relative with large wings.

Environment

A bug expert went shopping at Walmart—and made a historic insect discovery A bug expert went shopping at Walmart—and made a historic insect discovery

By Laura Baisas

The entrance to the Mycenae citadel in Greece called the Lion Gate.

Science

Details of life in Bronze Age Mycenae could lie at the bottom of a well Details of life in Bronze Age Mycenae could lie at the bottom of a well

By Laura Baisas

A mythological Norse beast may have just been a weird, hungry whale

Science

A mythological Norse beast may have just been a weird, hungry whale A mythological Norse beast may have just been a weird, hungry whale

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

The partner of one Caribbean flamingo helps it out in an argument with another pair.

Environment

Flamingoes have big personalities—and their friendships prove it Flamingoes have big personalities—and their friendships prove it

By Laura Baisas

A white-bellied woodstar hummingbird flying. Their colorful throat feathers are believed to help them find a mate.

Environment

This hybrid hummingbird’s colorful feathers are a genetic puzzle This hybrid hummingbird’s colorful feathers are a genetic puzzle

By Laura Baisas