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 pine tree in Clark County, Washington damaged by the 2021 heat wave. The trees in the background are scorched Douglas-fir.

Environment

Even the cool forests of the Pacific Northwest face the danger of extreme heat Even the cool forests of the Pacific Northwest face the danger of extreme heat

By Sarah Trent / High Country News

Light pollution is erasing the stars in the sky—here’s why we should care

Science

Light pollution is erasing the stars in the sky—here’s why we should care Light pollution is erasing the stars in the sky—here’s why we should care

By Chris Impey and Connie Walker / The Conversation

Traffic jam on city highway

Technology

Here are the world’s worst and best car commutes, ranked Here are the world’s worst and best car commutes, ranked

Two University of Colorado Boulder scientists in jackets carrying a log with a tumpstrap and their heads

Environment

Scientists may have solved an old Puebloan mystery by strapping giant logs to their foreheads Scientists may have solved an old Puebloan mystery by strapping giant logs to their foreheads

Purple sea urchins clumped together in an urchin barren.

Environment

These urchin-eating sea stars might be helping us reduce carbon levels These urchin-eating sea stars might be helping us reduce carbon levels

A solar canopy installed above parked cars, as seen from the air.

Environment

Why your community’s next solar panel project should be above a parking lot Why your community’s next solar panel project should be above a parking lot

By Carla Delgado

What ancient tsunamis can teach us about future disasters

Environment

What ancient tsunamis can teach us about future disasters What ancient tsunamis can teach us about future disasters

By Nathaniel Scharping / Hakai Magazine

An illustration of Hyneria udlezinye, a large, predatory fish, with smaller fish in the Waterloo Farm ecosystem in South Africa about 360 million years ago.

Environment

A gator-faced fish shaped like a torpedo stalked rivers 360 million years ago A gator-faced fish shaped like a torpedo stalked rivers 360 million years ago

By Laura Baisas

Three rows of various plant-based milks in a grocery store refrigerator.

Environment

The FDA says it’s ok to call almond milk ‘milk’ (for now) The FDA says it’s ok to call almond milk ‘milk’ (for now)

By Laura Baisas

Two light brown cows standing on a grassy hill against a yellow sun and purple clouds. Illustration.

Environment

The social lives of cows are remarkably sophisticated The social lives of cows are remarkably sophisticated

By Brandon Keim

A sign warning of snow and ice conditions, reading " Winter Storm Warning in Effect until 6 pm" is seen on a highway in St. Paul, Minnesota, on February 22, 2022.

Environment

Coast-to-coast storm causing extreme weather across the country Coast-to-coast storm causing extreme weather across the country

By Laura Baisas

The rise of green hydrogen in Latin America

Environment

The rise of green hydrogen in Latin America The rise of green hydrogen in Latin America

By Pablo Fonseca Q. / Knowable Magazine

An architecture mockup of the Hunter's Point South Park.

Technology

The ability for cities to survive depends on smart, sustainable architecture The ability for cities to survive depends on smart, sustainable architecture

By Charlotte Hu

Several European spruce bark beetles on a dry piece of wood.

Environment

These beetles sniff out fungus-infected trees to find their next target These beetles sniff out fungus-infected trees to find their next target

By Laura Baisas

4 of the best homes for off-the-grid living

Environment

4 of the best homes for off-the-grid living 4 of the best homes for off-the-grid living

By Helen Bradshaw

Why some single-use plastic water bottles could be banned in Hawaii

Environment

Why some single-use plastic water bottles could be banned in Hawaii Why some single-use plastic water bottles could be banned in Hawaii

By Carla Delgado

A tractor in Argentina drives over a dry and dusty soybean field with a blazing sun.

Environment

La Niña is exacerbating drought conditions for millions La Niña is exacerbating drought conditions for millions

By Laura Baisas

barnacles on the beach

Environment

Slow-moving shoreline creatures are sitting ducks for climate change Slow-moving shoreline creatures are sitting ducks for climate change

By Michael Allen / Hakai Magazine

Human interactions can drastically change wolf pack dynamics

Environment

Human interactions can drastically change wolf pack dynamics Human interactions can drastically change wolf pack dynamics

By Kylie Mohr / High Country News

An open-source project makes it easier to spot rare fish eggs

Environment

An open-source project makes it easier to spot rare fish eggs An open-source project makes it easier to spot rare fish eggs

By Annie Roth / Hakai Magazine

The Icefin robot under the sea ice.

Technology

A torpedo-like robot named Icefin is giving us the full tour of the ‘Doomsday’ glacier A torpedo-like robot named Icefin is giving us the full tour of the ‘Doomsday’ glacier

By Charlotte Hu

An adult humpback whale surfaces above the water in eastern Australia.

Environment

A group of humpback whales is choosing violence A group of humpback whales is choosing violence

By Laura Baisas

A dark wooden bat house high up on the side of a gray two-story house.

DIY

Benefit your neighborhood bats with this DIY bat house Benefit your neighborhood bats with this DIY bat house

By Jean Levasseur

Watch the world’s fastest fish on an epic tuna hunt

Environment

Watch the world’s fastest fish on an epic tuna hunt Watch the world’s fastest fish on an epic tuna hunt

By Sage Marshall/Field & Stream

A large group of red and orange jellyfish floating in blue water.

Health

A jellyfish sting treatment that actually works A jellyfish sting treatment that actually works

By Sara Chodosh

Hand holding up drone disguised within taxidermy bird body

Technology

Researchers are stuffing drones into taxidermy birds to make them seem more ‘natural’ Researchers are stuffing drones into taxidermy birds to make them seem more ‘natural’

A European hedgehog on a road with a yellow flower.

Environment

Why Danish citizen scientists were on a quest to find the oldest European hedgehog Why Danish citizen scientists were on a quest to find the oldest European hedgehog

By Laura Baisas

A mother chimpanzee with her offspring, which she may teach her style of handclasping.

Environment

Popular chimpanzees set hand-holding trends for the whole group Popular chimpanzees set hand-holding trends for the whole group

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Pink pigeon in New York City wildlife rescue center that was dyed for gender reveal party

Environment

Gender reveal parties are turning nature pink and blue Gender reveal parties are turning nature pink and blue

Singapore’s new plan to fight mosquito-borne diseases: bug-infecting bacteria

Science

Singapore’s new plan to fight mosquito-borne diseases: bug-infecting bacteria Singapore’s new plan to fight mosquito-borne diseases: bug-infecting bacteria

By Marta Zaraska / Undark

A woma pythron, a large, nocturnal species of snake on the ground by a piece of wood.

Environment

Snakes can actually hear really well Snakes can actually hear really well

By Laura Baisas

Smoke rises from a derailed cargo train in East Palestine, Ohio

Environment

Toxic train derailment in East Palestine, OH highlights issues facing America’s railways Toxic train derailment in East Palestine, OH highlights issues facing America’s railways

A Eurasian lynch perches in a fallen tree in a forest.

Environment

The endangered Eurasian lynx might never recover fully in France The endangered Eurasian lynx might never recover fully in France

By Laura Baisas

How thinning could help prevent wildfires

Environment

How thinning could help prevent wildfires How thinning could help prevent wildfires

By Emily Shepherd / High Country News

Millions of dead crabs ended up in the deep sea. Scientists still aren’t sure why.

Environment

Millions of dead crabs ended up in the deep sea. Scientists still aren’t sure why. Millions of dead crabs ended up in the deep sea. Scientists still aren’t sure why.

By Fanni Szakal / Hakai Magazine

Four factory smoke stacks billowing fumes against brown cloudy backdrop

Technology

EV companies call out their own weaknesses in new clean energy report EV companies call out their own weaknesses in new clean energy report

Bird intelligence researcher in maroon shirt with flock of captive Goffin's cockatoos on his arms and head

Environment

These clever cockatoos carry around toolkits to get to food faster These clever cockatoos carry around toolkits to get to food faster

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Are reusable takeout boxes worth the resources needed to make them?

Environment

Are reusable takeout boxes worth the resources needed to make them? Are reusable takeout boxes worth the resources needed to make them?

By Carla Delgado

An open-celled cloud formation west of Chile.

Science

IBM’s AI has a new job: sorting through NASA’s giant stream of Earth and weather images IBM’s AI has a new job: sorting through NASA’s giant stream of Earth and weather images

By Briley Lewis

Antarctic fieldwork may finally reckon with sexual harassment claims

Science

Antarctic fieldwork may finally reckon with sexual harassment claims Antarctic fieldwork may finally reckon with sexual harassment claims

By Christian Elliott / Undark

A small, young plant sprouts up from dark soil.

Environment

Smarter fertilizer use could shrink our agricultural carbon footprint Smarter fertilizer use could shrink our agricultural carbon footprint

By Laura Baisas

Wind farm silhouette at sunset

Technology

A new solution could keep old wind turbine blades out of landfills A new solution could keep old wind turbine blades out of landfills

A woman in a field observes a plant.

Environment

Citizen science is another great form of nature therapy Citizen science is another great form of nature therapy

By Laura Baisas

Two giraffes on a sunny day with one looking directly at the viewer.

Environment

Why giraffe sex is a tall order and hinges on pee Why giraffe sex is a tall order and hinges on pee

By Laura Baisas

White bread loaf cut into slices with spoonful of soybean flour

Environment

A new ingredient could revolutionize white bread A new ingredient could revolutionize white bread

How hunting deer became a battle cry in conservation

Environment

How hunting deer became a battle cry in conservation How hunting deer became a battle cry in conservation

By Brian Payton / Hakai Magazine

BP made $28 billion last year, and now it’s backtracking on its climate goals

Environment

BP made $28 billion last year, and now it’s backtracking on its climate goals BP made $28 billion last year, and now it’s backtracking on its climate goals

By Sara Kiley Watson

Moondust could chill out our overheated Earth, some scientists predict

Science

Moondust could chill out our overheated Earth, some scientists predict Moondust could chill out our overheated Earth, some scientists predict

Two orca whales swim in the ocean with mountains in the distance.

Environment

Raising male offspring comes at a high price for orca mothers Raising male offspring comes at a high price for orca mothers

By Laura Baisas

In the latest State of the Union, Biden highlights infrastructure, chips, and healthcare

Science

In the latest State of the Union, Biden highlights infrastructure, chips, and healthcare In the latest State of the Union, Biden highlights infrastructure, chips, and healthcare

By Laura Baisas

A flock of chickens, including five hens and rooster, peck at a backyard

DIY

6 things to know before deciding to raise backyard chickens 6 things to know before deciding to raise backyard chickens

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

The secrets to fighting the next pandemic could be in fruit bats

Environment

The secrets to fighting the next pandemic could be in fruit bats The secrets to fighting the next pandemic could be in fruit bats

By Jim Robbins / KHN

A beefsteak fungus growing in a forest.

Environment

Bacteria and fungi are the first to start rebuilding charred forests Bacteria and fungi are the first to start rebuilding charred forests

By Laura Baisas

Underwater snake robot from MIT

Technology

This robot eel could be the start of a new breed of ‘voxel’ robots This robot eel could be the start of a new breed of ‘voxel’ robots

An uncooked brown crab sitting among among seaweed and water.

Science

Neanderthals caught and cooked crabs 90,000 years ago Neanderthals caught and cooked crabs 90,000 years ago

By Laura Baisas

Black gas stove and two burning flames close-up

Technology

Hydrogen is supplementing natural gas, but critics remain wary Hydrogen is supplementing natural gas, but critics remain wary

The best dog backpacks composited

Gear

The best dog backpacks The best dog backpacks

By Carsen Joenk

A wolf-like puppy surrounded by other puppies tries howling.

Environment

Do domesticated dogs howl back at wolves? Do domesticated dogs howl back at wolves?

By Laura Baisas

The last thread of hope to revive California’s trees is vanishing

Environment

The last thread of hope to revive California’s trees is vanishing The last thread of hope to revive California’s trees is vanishing

By Maya L. Kapoor / High Country News

Oyster farms are all the rage—until they block your ocean views

Environment

Oyster farms are all the rage—until they block your ocean views Oyster farms are all the rage—until they block your ocean views

By Magdalena Puniewska / Hakai Magazine

The Venturi Antarctica electric vehicle pulls a sledge through the snow

Technology

This Antarctic EV goes where other electric vehicles can’t tread This Antarctic EV goes where other electric vehicles can’t tread

A scan of a mastodon skeleton with an arrow pointing to the trajectory of the spear.

Environment

Ancient humans used mastodon bones to hunt the giant beasts Ancient humans used mastodon bones to hunt the giant beasts

By Laura Baisas

Fly with cordyceps zombie fungus growing out of its head on black background

Environment

Nightmare-fuel fungi exist in real life Nightmare-fuel fungi exist in real life

Marcoule Nuclear Power Plant in France. Workers in protective gear heating glowing nuclear reactor.

Science

Why shooting cosmic rays at nuclear reactors is actually a good idea Why shooting cosmic rays at nuclear reactors is actually a good idea