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

Who wants to swim with robot dolphins? More people than you may think.

Environment

Who wants to swim with robot dolphins? More people than you may think. Who wants to swim with robot dolphins? More people than you may think.

By Marina Wang / Hakai Magazine

Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility

Environment

The US’s first utility-scale renewable energy triple threat is online in Oregon The US’s first utility-scale renewable energy triple threat is online in Oregon

By Sara Kiley Watson

a great white shark under water

Science

Watch what can happen when killer whales tangle with great white sharks Watch what can happen when killer whales tangle with great white sharks

By Lauren J. Young

La Niña hits Sydney with record-breaking rain

Environment

La Niña hits Sydney with record-breaking rain La Niña hits Sydney with record-breaking rain

By Laura Baisas

A man standing in a field lands a drone in the back of a pickup truck.

Technology

Microsoft is hoping its algorithms can help farmers—and the planet Microsoft is hoping its algorithms can help farmers—and the planet

By Helen Bradshaw

Coyote walking on street

Environment

Culver City is home to a unique cat versus coyote conflict Culver City is home to a unique cat versus coyote conflict

By Laura Baisas

Silkworms like the one seen here spin cocoons of silk.

Science

How researchers leveled up worm silk to be tougher than a spider’s How researchers leveled up worm silk to be tougher than a spider’s

falling water levels on the rhine near cologne august 2022

Environment

Hotter summers are baking the water out of soil at unprecedented rates Hotter summers are baking the water out of soil at unprecedented rates

By Laura Baisas

How do blue whales find food? They check the weather.

Environment

How do blue whales find food? They check the weather. How do blue whales find food? They check the weather.

By Laura Baisas

People taking photos of glowing lava on Cape Verde

Science

These islanders live and thrive alongside lava These islanders live and thrive alongside lava

By Cris Toala Olivares

Melting glacier pink

Environment

Collecting ancient geomyths could give scientists new insights on climate change Collecting ancient geomyths could give scientists new insights on climate change

By Chris Baraniuk / Hakai Magazine

Dinosaur-killing asteroid created a tsunami with 2-mile-high waves

Science

Dinosaur-killing asteroid created a tsunami with 2-mile-high waves Dinosaur-killing asteroid created a tsunami with 2-mile-high waves

By Laura Baisas

Diver holding animal skull

Science

Below Madagascar, cave divers surface secrets of the past Below Madagascar, cave divers surface secrets of the past

Even mining in shallow waters is bad news for the environment

Environment

Even mining in shallow waters is bad news for the environment Even mining in shallow waters is bad news for the environment

By Carla Delgado

Fish got their jaws millions of years earlier than previously thought

Science

Fish got their jaws millions of years earlier than previously thought Fish got their jaws millions of years earlier than previously thought

By Laura Baisas

A person standing on a rock by the water under cloudy skies while looking at his phone—hopefully he has a good weather app.

DIY

The best weather apps you can put on your phone The best weather apps you can put on your phone

a downed electricity pole after a storm

Environment

Renewable energy could be the key to hurricane-proofing Puerto Rico’s power grid Renewable energy could be the key to hurricane-proofing Puerto Rico’s power grid

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Asian honeysuckle

Environment

Scientists are disagreeing on the effects of invasive species Scientists are disagreeing on the effects of invasive species

By Asher Elbein/Undark

Live caught lobster

Environment

Why Maine is pushing back on a seafood watch group’s red-listing of the American lobster Why Maine is pushing back on a seafood watch group’s red-listing of the American lobster

By Megan Zhang / Saveur

A young girl feeding a brown-and-white goat over a wire fence on a farm.

DIY

7 ways to support a kid who wants to care for animals 7 ways to support a kid who wants to care for animals

By Noah Lederman

Cities are tapping residents to study climate change and extreme weather

Environment

Cities are tapping residents to study climate change and extreme weather Cities are tapping residents to study climate change and extreme weather

By Sarah Amandolare / Nexus Media

We’re one step closer to identifying the first-ever mammals

Environment

We’re one step closer to identifying the first-ever mammals We’re one step closer to identifying the first-ever mammals

By Laura Baisas

Brown-skinned parent in green short and baby in pink onesie eating fruit in front of an open fridge, which is full of HFCs

Environment

The US ban on hydrofluorocarbons is a climate game-changer The US ban on hydrofluorocarbons is a climate game-changer

By Sara Kiley Watson

A person in the distance walks through fields of bright red, orange, and yellow leaves

Science

The arctic tundra’s fall foliage is as vibrant as it is short-lived The arctic tundra’s fall foliage is as vibrant as it is short-lived

By Helen Bradshaw

New cars sold in New York state must be zero-emissions by 2035

Technology

New cars sold in New York state must be zero-emissions by 2035 New cars sold in New York state must be zero-emissions by 2035

By Laura Baisas

Hurricane Ian Category 1 Carolina coast satellite image

Environment

Hurricane Ian surges back and heads for the Carolinas Hurricane Ian surges back and heads for the Carolinas

By Purbita Saha

Bitcoin is so energy-intensive some companies are locating mining sites on oil wells.

Environment

Bitcoin’s steep environmental costs go beyond its hunger for energy Bitcoin’s steep environmental costs go beyond its hunger for energy

Melting sea ice is acidifying the Arctic Ocean

Environment

Melting sea ice is acidifying the Arctic Ocean Melting sea ice is acidifying the Arctic Ocean

By Laura Baisas

Plastic trash on a beach.

Science

Recycling one of the planet’s trickiest plastics just got a little easier Recycling one of the planet’s trickiest plastics just got a little easier

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Category 4 Hurricane Ian hits Florida, bringing historic storm surge

Environment

Category 4 Hurricane Ian hits Florida, bringing historic storm surge Category 4 Hurricane Ian hits Florida, bringing historic storm surge

By Laura Baisas

Hurricane Ian flooding in Fort Myers, Forida, seen from above

Environment

What hurricane categories mean, and why we use them What hurricane categories mean, and why we use them

By Mary Beth Griggs

What an ancient Maya city excavation taught scientists about the origins of reef fishes

Environment

What an ancient Maya city excavation taught scientists about the origins of reef fishes What an ancient Maya city excavation taught scientists about the origins of reef fishes

By Jesse Kathan / Hakai Magazine

Gas leaks into the Baltic Sea from Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines

Environment

Gas leaks into the Baltic Sea from Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines Gas leaks into the Baltic Sea from Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines

By Laura Baisas

A rare diamond is offering a glimpse into a possibly watery world inside the Earth

Science

A rare diamond is offering a glimpse into a possibly watery world inside the Earth A rare diamond is offering a glimpse into a possibly watery world inside the Earth

By Laura Baisas

Large Hadron Collider experiment view with CERN staff in a hard hat standing near during the Europe gas crisis

Science

Europe’s energy crisis could shut down the Large Hadron Collider Europe’s energy crisis could shut down the Large Hadron Collider

Orange and white pottery shards sit scattered on top of a dark blue background.

Science

Cacao was probably loved by all, even 1,000 years ago in Maya culture Cacao was probably loved by all, even 1,000 years ago in Maya culture

By Helen Bradshaw

Industry factory against cloudy sky

Environment

Scientists think we can get 90 percent clean energy by 2035 Scientists think we can get 90 percent clean energy by 2035

Forecasters warn Floridians to prepare for rapidly intensifying Hurricane Ian

Environment

Forecasters warn Floridians to prepare for rapidly intensifying Hurricane Ian Forecasters warn Floridians to prepare for rapidly intensifying Hurricane Ian

By Laura Baisas

Bowl of mussels.

Environment

Eating seafood can be more sustainable and healthy than red meat Eating seafood can be more sustainable and healthy than red meat

By Carla Delgado

Wildfires are burning away snow in the American West

Environment

Wildfires are burning away snow in the American West Wildfires are burning away snow in the American West

By Kylie Mohr / High Country News

Sunset on a prairie with a flock of birds silhouetted against the sky.

Environment

This fall, use weather data to see when birds are migrating near you This fall, use weather data to see when birds are migrating near you

By Philip Kiefer

Hurricane Fiona to make historic landfall in Canada

Environment

Hurricane Fiona to make historic landfall in Canada Hurricane Fiona to make historic landfall in Canada

By Laura Baisas

You’ve seen Mount Doom in the movies, now look at it from space

Science

You’ve seen Mount Doom in the movies, now look at it from space You’ve seen Mount Doom in the movies, now look at it from space

By Laura Baisas

Environment

Philadelphia’s microscopic algae archive is a time machine for coastlands Philadelphia’s microscopic algae archive is a time machine for coastlands

By Jack Tamisiea / Hakai Magazine

a termite's head is seen poking out from a channel in wood

Science

Termites work through wood faster when it’s hotter out Termites work through wood faster when it’s hotter out

By Lauren J. Young

Auroras glow over the Pacific Northwest.

Science

It’s finally the fall equinox—and a great time to see shimmering auroras It’s finally the fall equinox—and a great time to see shimmering auroras

By Helen Bradshaw

PTSD found in 1 in 4 adults in Flint, Michigan, after water crisis

Environment

PTSD found in 1 in 4 adults in Flint, Michigan, after water crisis PTSD found in 1 in 4 adults in Flint, Michigan, after water crisis

By Laura Baisas

Worries of disaster follow blast close to a second Ukrainian nuclear power plant

Technology

Worries of disaster follow blast close to a second Ukrainian nuclear power plant Worries of disaster follow blast close to a second Ukrainian nuclear power plant

A century ago, wind power was a farming norm. What happened?

Environment

A century ago, wind power was a farming norm. What happened? A century ago, wind power was a farming norm. What happened?

By Hal Harvey & Justin Gillis

For woodpeckers, dropping beats could be the same as singing

Environment

For woodpeckers, dropping beats could be the same as singing For woodpeckers, dropping beats could be the same as singing

By Laura Baisas

Typhoon Nanmadol slams into Japan with record breaking rain

Environment

Typhoon Nanmadol slams into Japan with record breaking rain Typhoon Nanmadol slams into Japan with record breaking rain

By Laura Baisas

Shearwater on the ocean.

Environment

Seabirds can be the bread crumbs for tracking elusive whales Seabirds can be the bread crumbs for tracking elusive whales

By Brynn Pedrick / Hakai Magazine

Children playing in polluted sand in front of AES Gener thermoelectric plant in Chile

Environment

For years, Chile exploited its environment to grow. Now it’s trying to save it. For years, Chile exploited its environment to grow. Now it’s trying to save it.

How many ants are there on Earth? Thousands of billions.

Environment

How many ants are there on Earth? Thousands of billions. How many ants are there on Earth? Thousands of billions.

By Laura Baisas

Typhoon Merbok breaks records as it lashes the Alaskan coast

Environment

Typhoon Merbok breaks records as it lashes the Alaskan coast Typhoon Merbok breaks records as it lashes the Alaskan coast

By Laura Baisas

bird species featured on Audubon's new interactive tool

Technology

These new interactive maps reveal the incredible global journeys of migrating birds These new interactive maps reveal the incredible global journeys of migrating birds

By Charlotte Hu

Fish kill in Lake Merritt, Oakland, California, from algae bloom seen from above

Environment

California’s mega algae bloom is like a ‘wildfire in the water’ California’s mega algae bloom is like a ‘wildfire in the water’

By Emily Harwitz / High Country News

Opisthiamimus gregori

Science

This 6-inch-long Jurassic creature does a great lizard impersonation This 6-inch-long Jurassic creature does a great lizard impersonation

By Laura Baisas

2022 Ig Nobel Prize winners include ducks in a row, constipated scorpions, ice cream, and more

Science

2022 Ig Nobel Prize winners include ducks in a row, constipated scorpions, ice cream, and more 2022 Ig Nobel Prize winners include ducks in a row, constipated scorpions, ice cream, and more

By Laura Baisas

Why do nuclear power plants need electricity to stay safe?

Technology

Why do nuclear power plants need electricity to stay safe? Why do nuclear power plants need electricity to stay safe?

South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) workers fumigate an area to prevent mosquito breeding in New Delhi on October 27, 2021.

Environment

Delhi’s mosquito problem is getting worse Delhi’s mosquito problem is getting worse

By Monika Mondal / Undark

three rows of agar plates of various orange hues that are covered in different types of mold or fungui

Science

These fungi demand more pumpkin in their pumpkin spice lattes These fungi demand more pumpkin in their pumpkin spice lattes

By Lauren J. Young

Sketch drawing of web of Ethereum logos

Technology

Ethereum finally completed ‘The Merge’ Ethereum finally completed ‘The Merge’

Groundwater pumps like this one deliver water from below to farms in Bangladesh.

Environment

Farmers accidentally created a flood-resistant ‘machine’ across Bangladesh Farmers accidentally created a flood-resistant ‘machine’ across Bangladesh