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 pantry full of many canned and preserved fruits and vegetables.

DIY

Expert tips for growing food in all four seasons Expert tips for growing food in all four seasons

By Alice Waters

A green valley sits at the bottom of a mountain range on a sunny day.

Environment

Climate change is turning the snowy white Alps green Climate change is turning the snowy white Alps green

By Maria Parazo Rose

Hands of a couple wearing engagement and wedding rings.

Environment

From labs to lookalikes: what you need to know about ‘sustainable’ diamonds From labs to lookalikes: what you need to know about ‘sustainable’ diamonds

By Sara Kiley Watson

A photo of salmon in the water.

Environment

There are too many pink salmon in the Pacific There are too many pink salmon in the Pacific

By Miranda Weiss / Hakai Magazine

A baby sea turtle on a beach near some sea turtle tracks, and some people in the background.

DIY

Safely share the beach with endangered sea turtles this summer Safely share the beach with endangered sea turtles this summer

By Alisha McDarris

Fossils of a giraffe ancestor with short necks headbutting each other in a grassland in an artist's reimagining

Environment

Before evolving long necks, giraffes headbutted each other for dominance Before evolving long necks, giraffes headbutted each other for dominance

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Children standing by school bus

Environment

Biden’s infrastructure bill is funding the switch to electric school buses Biden’s infrastructure bill is funding the switch to electric school buses

By Carla Delgado

Environment

Try your hand at sustainable gardening with at-home hydroponics Try your hand at sustainable gardening with at-home hydroponics

By Bridget Reed Morawski

What these flowers can teach us about adapting to a human-altered world

Environment

What these flowers can teach us about adapting to a human-altered world What these flowers can teach us about adapting to a human-altered world

By Robert I Colautti / The Conversation

White cat on a red leash outdoors on a lawn full of pink lilac flowers

Environment

Outdoor cats are deadly—and not just for birds and squirrels Outdoor cats are deadly—and not just for birds and squirrels

By Kristine Liao

A great white shark and megalodon co-existed nearly 4 million years ago.

Environment

How great white sharks probably hastened the demise of megalodon How great white sharks probably hastened the demise of megalodon

By Kate Baggaley

Outdoor unit of heat pump

Environment

Two new bills could help pump up a climate-friendly system for heating and cooling homes Two new bills could help pump up a climate-friendly system for heating and cooling homes

By Sara Kiley Watson

Jars containing various materials from battery recycling.

Technology

The race to close the EV battery recycling loop The race to close the EV battery recycling loop

Little brown dog lawn sign telling people to curb their dog and pick up dog poop to prevent pollution

Environment

The planet needs you to pick up your dog’s poop The planet needs you to pick up your dog’s poop

By Jesse Greenspan

Carmakers are pouring billions into producing EV batteries

Technology

Carmakers are pouring billions into producing EV batteries Carmakers are pouring billions into producing EV batteries

By Bradley Brownell

Red and blue states race to become hydrogen energy hubs

Environment

Red and blue states race to become hydrogen energy hubs Red and blue states race to become hydrogen energy hubs

White cat outside in the night

Environment

It’s 10 PM. Do you know where your cat is? It’s 10 PM. Do you know where your cat is?

By Egill Bjarnason / Hakai Magazine

Environment

Inside the Yurok Tribe’s mission to make critically endangered condors thrive Inside the Yurok Tribe’s mission to make critically endangered condors thrive

By Brian Oaster / High Country News

A colorful parrot hooked onto a tree with its beak.

Environment

What’s got two legs and a head for climbing? Rosy-faced lovebirds. What’s got two legs and a head for climbing? Rosy-faced lovebirds.

By Philip Kiefer

Great Smoky Mountains seen from Townsend, Tennessee

Science

A humble seismograph beneath the Great Smoky Mountains could be one of the best in the world A humble seismograph beneath the Great Smoky Mountains could be one of the best in the world

By Alisha McDarris

An aerial view of meandering frozen channels of the Copper River in Alaska.

Environment

Some rivers suddenly change course, and we may finally know why Some rivers suddenly change course, and we may finally know why

Wind turbines along desert road.

Environment

Low-carbon energy minimizes racial disparities in neighborhoods with air pollution Low-carbon energy minimizes racial disparities in neighborhoods with air pollution

By Carla Delgado

A horde of horseshoe crabs mates on the beach

Environment

7 animal mating rituals that make horseshoe crab orgies look tame 7 animal mating rituals that make horseshoe crab orgies look tame

A recreation of Yorkicystis haefneri, a historic creature

Environment

This strange 500-million-year-old sea urchin relative lost its skeleton This strange 500-million-year-old sea urchin relative lost its skeleton

By Samuel Zamora / The Conversation

2022 is shaping up to be a busy year for hurricanes, NOAA predicts.

Environment

Forecasters predict an abnormally high number of storms for this hurricane season—again Forecasters predict an abnormally high number of storms for this hurricane season—again

firefighter in a field

Technology

A network of 1,000 cameras is watching for Western wildfires—and you can, too A network of 1,000 cameras is watching for Western wildfires—and you can, too

By Colleen Hagerty

Seashore in Chile.

Environment

Climate change is making the ocean lose its memory. Here’s what that means. Climate change is making the ocean lose its memory. Here’s what that means.

By Sara Kiley Watson

A jackdaw, a Eurasian bird that launches into the sky in flocks of hundreds.

Environment

Demo-crow-cy: Jackdaws leave the roost by voting Demo-crow-cy: Jackdaws leave the roost by voting

Ball of copper wire on green background

Technology

Can this MIT metallurgist clean up copper production? Can this MIT metallurgist clean up copper production?

By Andrew Zaleski

A photo of a humpback whale and her calf.

Environment

Boat noise is driving humpback whale moms into deep, dangerous water Boat noise is driving humpback whale moms into deep, dangerous water

By Marina Wang / Hakai Magazine

a small brown salamander on a log

Environment

Skydiving salamanders have mastered falling with style Skydiving salamanders have mastered falling with style

By Kate Baggaley

a large mass of jumping worms in a bucket is compared to a person's hand size

Environment

The jumping worm invasion may be less worrisome than it sounds The jumping worm invasion may be less worrisome than it sounds

Power lines against cloudy sunset sky.

Environment

AI can help fight climate change—but it can also make it worse AI can help fight climate change—but it can also make it worse

Images from the March 1954 issue of Popular Science.

Environment

From the archives: The promising new world of solar power—in the 1950s From the archives: The promising new world of solar power—in the 1950s

By Bill Gourgey

A photo of algae in a lake in Central Park.

Environment

A climate adaptation experiment is taking place in one of NYC’s biggest parks A climate adaptation experiment is taking place in one of NYC’s biggest parks

By Danielle Renwick / Nexus Media News

Photo of Antarctica.

Environment

To grow food in space, we had to start in the Antarctic To grow food in space, we had to start in the Antarctic

By Daniella McCahey / The Conversation

Wind turbines in the ocean to hint what the New York Bight offshore wind farm might look like

Environment

The NY Bight could write the book on how we build offshore wind farms in the future The NY Bight could write the book on how we build offshore wind farms in the future

Moose in Main are in danger.

Environment

Climate change-emboldened ticks are killing off moose in Maine Climate change-emboldened ticks are killing off moose in Maine

By Paul Richards / Field & Stream

A photo of steelmaking.

Environment

Steelmaking is a major source of emissions. These companies are racing to fix it. Steelmaking is a major source of emissions. These companies are racing to fix it.

By Marcello Rossi / Undark

Water and air pollution on beach

Environment

Pollution kills 1 in 6 people worldwide Pollution kills 1 in 6 people worldwide

By Sara Kiley Watson

three dolphins near the sea floor rub themselves against coral

Environment

Bottlenose dolphins glow-up with coral body scrubs Bottlenose dolphins glow-up with coral body scrubs

By Kate Baggaley

Octopus bimaculoides in tank.

Environment

Octopus mothers often ‘self destruct.’ We might be closer to knowing why. Octopus mothers often ‘self destruct.’ We might be closer to knowing why.

By Sara Kiley Watson

Undersea fiber optic cables can be used to sense earthquakes.

Technology

Deep-sea internet cables could help sense distant earthquake rumbles Deep-sea internet cables could help sense distant earthquake rumbles

Surgical tools on blue backdrop.

Environment

Can we decarbonize surgical healthcare? Can we decarbonize surgical healthcare?

By Carla Delgado

Aerial view of high chimney pipes with grey smoke from coal power plant. Production of electricity with fossil fuel.

Environment

Greenhouse gases, sea level rise, and ocean acidification all broke records in 2021 Greenhouse gases, sea level rise, and ocean acidification all broke records in 2021

Photo of Fungi Tremella Mesenterica in a forest

Environment

Earth would be unrecognizable without fungi Earth would be unrecognizable without fungi

By Matt Kasson, Et al. / The Conversation

A photo of a tiger surrounded by foliage.

Environment

Deadly tiger encounters are on the rise in India Deadly tiger encounters are on the rise in India

By Niranjana Rajalakshmi / Undark

remora fish attached to swimming manta ray

Environment

This amphibious drone hitchhikes like a suckerfish This amphibious drone hitchhikes like a suckerfish

By Charlotte Hu

Paleontologist with a laser scanner over plant imprints and other fossils in a seabed in British Columbia, Canada

Environment

These weird marine critters paved the way for the ‘Cambrian explosion’ of species These weird marine critters paved the way for the ‘Cambrian explosion’ of species

By Kate Baggaley

Palm fruit on grass.

Environment

Indonesia’s palm oil ban is hurting its own people the most Indonesia’s palm oil ban is hurting its own people the most

By Sara Kiley Watson

Rock containing cobalt

Environment

Can Idaho’s newest cobalt mine dig responsibly? Can Idaho’s newest cobalt mine dig responsibly?

By Andrew Zaleski

Art from the 1960 article of Popular Science.

Environment

From the archives: Inside the U.S. Army’s plan to build a luxurious city under the Arctic From the archives: Inside the U.S. Army’s plan to build a luxurious city under the Arctic

By Bill Gourgey

A photo of drought-stricken Lake Powell.

Environment

The numbers show just how devastatingly dry the Western US is right now The numbers show just how devastatingly dry the Western US is right now

By Theo Whitcomb/High Country News

Black farmer on a no-till tractor with pistachio trees in the background

Environment

US farmers can help in the battle for climate resiliency. A massive bill highlights how. US farmers can help in the battle for climate resiliency. A massive bill highlights how.

By Kristine Liao

A chimpanzee sitting with a baby between her leg. Her mouth is open to yell.

Environment

By combining screams, chimps seem to know 400 ‘words’ By combining screams, chimps seem to know 400 ‘words’

By Philip Kiefer

four orange candles are in a row with a black background

Environment

How to use candles and incense sustainably How to use candles and incense sustainably

A photo of a salmon hybrid.

Environment

This wild salmon hybrid is raising concerns in Canada This wild salmon hybrid is raising concerns in Canada

By Kris Millgate/Field & Stream

Grass field with homes and wind turbines in the background.

Environment

Why ‘rooftop wind’ simply can’t compete with rooftop solar Why ‘rooftop wind’ simply can’t compete with rooftop solar

A close up photo of a manatee.

Environment

Environmental groups blame the EPA for more than 1,000 dead manatees Environmental groups blame the EPA for more than 1,000 dead manatees

By Wade Thiel / Outdoor Life

A false-color image of Yosemite's half dome

Environment

These laser scans show how fires have changed Yosemite’s forests These laser scans show how fires have changed Yosemite’s forests

By Philip Kiefer

Glen Canyon dam and Arizona bridge.

Environment

Lake Powell’s drought is part of a growing threat to hydropower everywhere Lake Powell’s drought is part of a growing threat to hydropower everywhere

By Sara Kiley Watson

Two adults and a child in a rowboat on a calm lake at sunset. The man at the bow is paddling, the man at the back is holding a fishing rod, and the child is sitting between them.

Environment

A casual angler’s guide to taking kids fishing for the first time A casual angler’s guide to taking kids fishing for the first time

By Jean Levasseur

A closeup photo of the glass frog Hyalinobatrachium nouns, named after the Nouns DAO.

Technology

A crypto group named a new frog species, and people aren’t thrilled A crypto group named a new frog species, and people aren’t thrilled

By Kristine Liao

Quorn sausage and bean stew in a skillet.

Environment

This fermented meat alternative could help halve global deforestation rates This fermented meat alternative could help halve global deforestation rates

By Carla Delgado