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

How kelp farming is helping revive the economy and ecology of a Long Island bay

Environment

How kelp farming is helping revive the economy and ecology of a Long Island bay How kelp farming is helping revive the economy and ecology of a Long Island bay

By Iris M. Crawford / Nexus Media

Solaris Float Proteus floating solar panel array on body of water

Technology

This new floating solar farm follows the sun like a flower This new floating solar farm follows the sun like a flower

We’re only 8 years away from stronger El Niño and La Niña events

Environment

We’re only 8 years away from stronger El Niño and La Niña events We’re only 8 years away from stronger El Niño and La Niña events

By Laura Baisas

gray puffy clouds cover the sky

Environment

The ocean’s iodine helps create clouds, but high levels burn through the ozone layer The ocean’s iodine helps create clouds, but high levels burn through the ozone layer

By Tatyana Woodall

Big ancient turtle

Science

Gigantic fossils hint at super-sized 7,000-pound sea turtle Gigantic fossils hint at super-sized 7,000-pound sea turtle

By Laura Baisas

This 18-foot python’s last meal was a whole alligator

Environment

This 18-foot python’s last meal was a whole alligator This 18-foot python’s last meal was a whole alligator

By Dac Collins / Outdoor Life

Invinity's power system installed in Scotland

Environment

‘Workhorse of batteries’ could give California tribe’s new clean-energy microgrid a jolt ‘Workhorse of batteries’ could give California tribe’s new clean-energy microgrid a jolt

By Colleen Hagerty

Red bille quelea sitting on green branch

Environment

Here’s how 53 African bird species are adapting to historic heat Here’s how 53 African bird species are adapting to historic heat

By Marc Trevor Freeman and Andrew McKechnie / The Conversation

Honeybee pollinating a flower

Environment

Lab-raised bees have half the lifespan they did in the ’70s Lab-raised bees have half the lifespan they did in the ’70s

By Laura Baisas

Environment

Three nations pledge to reverse decades of destruction in the rainforest Three nations pledge to reverse decades of destruction in the rainforest

By Laura Baisas

Cloudy with a chance of cooling the planet

Environment

Cloudy with a chance of cooling the planet Cloudy with a chance of cooling the planet

By Lois Parshley

Schools of herring are filling a once-dead waterway

Environment

Schools of herring are filling a once-dead waterway Schools of herring are filling a once-dead waterway

By Lauren Kaljur / Hakai Magazine

Environment

Dams show promise for sustainable food systems, but we should tread lightly Dams show promise for sustainable food systems, but we should tread lightly

By Laura Baisas

Pillbug curled into ball

Technology

Scientists developed a microrobotic finger that can tickle a bug Scientists developed a microrobotic finger that can tickle a bug

Why you should throw away your non-stick pan the second it cracks

Environment

Why you should throw away your non-stick pan the second it cracks Why you should throw away your non-stick pan the second it cracks

By Carla Delgado

Monkeys with close friends have friendlier gut bacteria

Environment

Monkeys with close friends have friendlier gut bacteria Monkeys with close friends have friendlier gut bacteria

By Laura Baisas

Dung beetle rolling manure.

Environment

Mother dung beetles are digging deeper nests to escape climate change Mother dung beetles are digging deeper nests to escape climate change

By Kimberly S. Sheldon / The Conversation

a small green desert shrub with small yellow buds at the tips

Environment

To save water, Arizona farmers are growing guayule for sustainable tires To save water, Arizona farmers are growing guayule for sustainable tires

What new mining projects could mean for Alaskan salmon

Environment

What new mining projects could mean for Alaskan salmon What new mining projects could mean for Alaskan salmon

By Becki Robins / Undark

At long last, a homecoming for the Fender’s blue butterfly

Environment

At long last, a homecoming for the Fender’s blue butterfly At long last, a homecoming for the Fender’s blue butterfly

By Jaclyn Moyer / High Country News

a timelapse of batteries discharging and transforming from yellow to dark red in the process

Technology

How a design tweak could help pacemaker batteries last longer How a design tweak could help pacemaker batteries last longer

By Helen Bradshaw

Technology

Egypt’s official COP27 summit app may be the ‘cartoon super-villain’ of spyware Egypt’s official COP27 summit app may be the ‘cartoon super-villain’ of spyware

How decoding the genome of pearl oysters could save them

Environment

How decoding the genome of pearl oysters could save them How decoding the genome of pearl oysters could save them

By Laura Baisas

How drones are helping monitor Kyrgyzstan’s radioactive legacy

Technology

How drones are helping monitor Kyrgyzstan’s radioactive legacy How drones are helping monitor Kyrgyzstan’s radioactive legacy

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Wildfire smoke from across continents is changing the Arctic Ocean’s makeup

Environment

Wildfire smoke from across continents is changing the Arctic Ocean’s makeup Wildfire smoke from across continents is changing the Arctic Ocean’s makeup

By Brian Owens / Hakai Magazine

a fuzzy bumblebee settles on a pink flower

Science

Bees can sense a flower’s electric field—unless fertilizer messes with the buzz Bees can sense a flower’s electric field—unless fertilizer messes with the buzz

By Lauren J. Young

A hummingbird called black jacobin in flight.

Science

This photographer captures birds as poetry in motion This photographer captures birds as poetry in motion

By Christian Spencer

Female octopuses will chuck seashells at males who irk them

Environment

Female octopuses will chuck seashells at males who irk them Female octopuses will chuck seashells at males who irk them

By Laura Baisas

Tropical Storm Nicole nears hurricane status as it hurtles toward eastern Florida

Environment

Tropical Storm Nicole nears hurricane status as it hurtles toward eastern Florida Tropical Storm Nicole nears hurricane status as it hurtles toward eastern Florida

By Laura Baisas

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the stage at COP27 in Egypt

Environment

Why the 1.5-degree-Celsius climate goal still matters Why the 1.5-degree-Celsius climate goal still matters

Springtail insect under the microscope

Technology

One of nature’s tiniest acrobats inspired a leaping robot One of nature’s tiniest acrobats inspired a leaping robot

Pigs on a pigfram

Environment

Pig bystanders are pretty good at resolving anxiety and conflict in the pen Pig bystanders are pretty good at resolving anxiety and conflict in the pen

By Laura Baisas

Withered sunflowers

Environment

The past 8 years have been the hottest on human record, according to new report The past 8 years have been the hottest on human record, according to new report

By Laura Baisas

The environmental argument for banning menthol cigarettes

Environment

The environmental argument for banning menthol cigarettes The environmental argument for banning menthol cigarettes

By Carla Delgado

monarch butterfly on milkweed

DIY

Help monarch butterflies by safely adding milkweed to your outdoor spaces Help monarch butterflies by safely adding milkweed to your outdoor spaces

By Michelle Mastro

Some climate activists aren’t suing over the future—they are taking aim at the present

Environment

Some climate activists aren’t suing over the future—they are taking aim at the present Some climate activists aren’t suing over the future—they are taking aim at the present

By Isabella Kaminski / Hakai Magazine

Hurricane Ian shows how older populations are especially vulnerable during disasters

Environment

Hurricane Ian shows how older populations are especially vulnerable during disasters Hurricane Ian shows how older populations are especially vulnerable during disasters

By Judith Graham / KFF Health News

Industrial shot of an oil refinery plant

Technology

How Google Search is helping ‘greenwash’ oil companies How Google Search is helping ‘greenwash’ oil companies

Environment

Giant beasts once roamed Madagascar. What happened to them? Giant beasts once roamed Madagascar. What happened to them?

By Laura Baisas

Climate change is threatening archeological treasures from Alaska to Egypt

Science

Climate change is threatening archeological treasures from Alaska to Egypt Climate change is threatening archeological treasures from Alaska to Egypt

By Laura Baisas

Tonga volcano eruption over land and water

Science

Tonga survived the largest volcanic plume in the planet’s history this year Tonga survived the largest volcanic plume in the planet’s history this year

By Laura Baisas

Houses underwater from massive flooding

Technology

Google expands AI warning system for fire and flood alerts Google expands AI warning system for fire and flood alerts

Platypus swimming

Environment

Dams are hurting this enigmatic Australian species Dams are hurting this enigmatic Australian species

By Laura Baisas

Noise pollution messes with beluga whales’ travel plans

Environment

Noise pollution messes with beluga whales’ travel plans Noise pollution messes with beluga whales’ travel plans

By Emily Harwitz / Hakai Magazine

a man with white hair and a short beard waves at a presidential election rally

Environment

Brazil’s presidential election is a win for the Amazon—and the planet Brazil’s presidential election is a win for the Amazon—and the planet

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Rhino horns are shrinking, and humans are to blame

Environment

Rhino horns are shrinking, and humans are to blame Rhino horns are shrinking, and humans are to blame

By Laura Baisas

Fallen autumn leaves on the windshield of a car

DIY

How to keep your car clean all autumn long How to keep your car clean all autumn long

By Peter Nelson / The Drive

Why plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles are worth a look right now

Technology

Why plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles are worth a look right now Why plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles are worth a look right now

Tiger sharks helped scientists map a vast underwater meadow in the Bahamas

Environment

Tiger sharks helped scientists map a vast underwater meadow in the Bahamas Tiger sharks helped scientists map a vast underwater meadow in the Bahamas

By Laura Baisas

inflated balloon ready to launch

Environment

Alien-looking balloons might be the next weapon in the fight against wildfires Alien-looking balloons might be the next weapon in the fight against wildfires

By Sarah Scoles

This newly named owl from Príncipe Island calls like an insect

Environment

This newly named owl from Príncipe Island calls like an insect This newly named owl from Príncipe Island calls like an insect

By Laura Baisas

Swiss train crossing bridge in Alps

Technology

Switzerland sets world record for longest passenger train—and it’s electric Switzerland sets world record for longest passenger train—and it’s electric

Ocean plastic ‘vacuums’ are sucking up marine life along with trash

Environment

Ocean plastic ‘vacuums’ are sucking up marine life along with trash Ocean plastic ‘vacuums’ are sucking up marine life along with trash

By Carla Delgado

A jaybird snacks

Environment

Eurasian jays show masterful intelligence in human psychology test Eurasian jays show masterful intelligence in human psychology test

By Laura Baisas

The epic flights of two speedy ducks reveals secrets of global bird migration

Environment

The epic flights of two speedy ducks reveals secrets of global bird migration The epic flights of two speedy ducks reveals secrets of global bird migration

By Dac Collins / Outdoor Life

Tiny conifer plants growing out of the Sheenjek River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Environment

The 2022 midterm elections could shake the course of environmental action in the US The 2022 midterm elections could shake the course of environmental action in the US

A hellbender peers out with its blue eye from a rock

Science

Hellbender salamanders may look scary, but the real fright is extinction Hellbender salamanders may look scary, but the real fright is extinction

By Helen Bradshaw

Unraveling the mystery of eel sex

Environment

Unraveling the mystery of eel sex Unraveling the mystery of eel sex

By Christina Couch / Hakai Magazine

Mountain lions in Los Angeles face the heat of worsening wildfires

Environment

Mountain lions in Los Angeles face the heat of worsening wildfires Mountain lions in Los Angeles face the heat of worsening wildfires

By Noah Schlager / High Country News

European Union sets goal to block sales of gas-powered cars by 2035

Technology

European Union sets goal to block sales of gas-powered cars by 2035 European Union sets goal to block sales of gas-powered cars by 2035

By Sara Kiley Watson

French bulldog in orange striped Halloween costume with black cat on its back against purple background

Environment

Should pets wear Halloween costumes? Your furry friend can help you decide. Should pets wear Halloween costumes? Your furry friend can help you decide.

By Purbita Saha

Science

Highway and traffic pollution could be connected to low birthweight Highway and traffic pollution could be connected to low birthweight

By Laura Baisas

Environment

Global carbon emissions will peak in 2025, international agency estimates Global carbon emissions will peak in 2025, international agency estimates

By Laura Baisas

Environment

These now-extinct whales were kind of like manatees These now-extinct whales were kind of like manatees

By Laura Baisas