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 barge near an oil terminal

Climate Change

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve only covers a fraction of US energy demands The Strategic Petroleum Reserve only covers a fraction of US energy demands

By Philip Kiefer

Proteus underwater lab design mockup

Biology

Jacques Cousteau’s grandson is building a network of ocean floor research stations Jacques Cousteau’s grandson is building a network of ocean floor research stations

By Charlotte Hu

Energy

What we know about the firefight at Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant on Friday What we know about the firefight at Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant on Friday

By Paul Szoldra / Task & Purpose

An orange starfish on a rock.

Animals

Classifying invertebrates is hard. Butts can help. Classifying invertebrates is hard. Butts can help.

By Philip Kiefer

San Andreas fault's Soda Lake.

Archaeology

Earthquake models get a big shakeup with clues buried in the San Andreas fault Earthquake models get a big shakeup with clues buried in the San Andreas fault

Clothing rack of colorful tops.

Environment

Does renting your clothes reduce fashion waste? Does renting your clothes reduce fashion waste?

By Carla Delgado

president joe biden looking solemn

Climate Change

One glaring issue with Biden’s State of the Union One glaring issue with Biden’s State of the Union

An Apple MacBook's lithium-ion battery.

Energy

We need safer ways to recycle electric car and cellphone batteries We need safer ways to recycle electric car and cellphone batteries

By Anuradha Varanasi

A black bear, which people can struggle to distinguish from other bears.

Animals

Burglar bear Hank the Tank might be even tougher to catch. Here’s why. Burglar bear Hank the Tank might be even tougher to catch. Here’s why.

Farmers in jeans and t-shirts at an urban farm covered in pink tulips in Chicago

Agriculture

Urban farmers are revitalizing neighborhoods in Chicago, Philadelphia, and beyond Urban farmers are revitalizing neighborhoods in Chicago, Philadelphia, and beyond

By Omnia Saed / Saveur

Northern fulmar seabird sitting on a grassy hill with small pink flowers

Animals

Can birds smell? This ornithologist is debunking a long-standing myth. Can birds smell? This ornithologist is debunking a long-standing myth.

By Danielle J. Whittaker

Man tending to sheep in a drought on Australian farm.

Agriculture

Climate change is blowing our predictions out of the water, says the IPCC Climate change is blowing our predictions out of the water, says the IPCC

By Sara Kiley Watson

Dallas-Forth Worth water gardens as an example of green infrastructure and walkable cities

Climate Change

Walkability won’t solve neighborhood health inequities Walkability won’t solve neighborhood health inequities

Belo Monte dam in the Amazon lowlands of Brazil

AI

How AI could help bring a sustainable reckoning to hydropower How AI could help bring a sustainable reckoning to hydropower

By Anuradha Varanasi

birds flying across the moon at night

Animals

A moon-watching robot can demystify what migrating birds do at night A moon-watching robot can demystify what migrating birds do at night

By Charlotte Hu

a dark brown frog with a longer cone shaped nose and large round eyes

Animals

Behold, the tapir frog’s magnificent snout Behold, the tapir frog’s magnificent snout

By Kate Baggaley

A row of suburban houses with a hill behind and an approaching wildfire over the California hills

Climate Change

Don’t blame national forests for America’s massive wildfires Don’t blame national forests for America’s massive wildfires

By Philip Kiefer

Street with trash, drink bottle, paper.

Climate Change

Most roadside litter comes from just down the street Most roadside litter comes from just down the street

By Carla Delgado

Dust cloud from the Great Salt Lake in studio light and on a black background

Cancer

Dust clouds are killing people out West—and the dangers could spread Dust clouds are killing people out West—and the dangers could spread

By Virginia Gewin

Students at a climate rally holding blue environmentalism signs on a cloudy day

Climate Change

The best ways to teach and talk about climate change with kids The best ways to teach and talk about climate change with kids

By Mary DeMocker / Hothouse

Tesla fremont factory

Climate Change

Tesla got fined for polluting (again) Tesla got fined for polluting (again)

By Colleen Hagerty

natural gas stove

Energy

What a key natural-gas pipeline has to do with the Russia-Ukraine crisis What a key natural-gas pipeline has to do with the Russia-Ukraine crisis

By Kelsey D. Atherton

a white ghostly outline of the international space station floating in the ocean

Conservation

There’s a lot we don’t know about the International Space Station’s ocean grave There’s a lot we don’t know about the International Space Station’s ocean grave

By Tatyana Woodall

Climate change protest poster with COVID mask

Climate Change

How public opinion can help shape climate policies How public opinion can help shape climate policies

By Sara Kiley Watson

A black bear in the woods.

Animals

A 500-pound black bear keeps breaking into California homes. What’s next? A 500-pound black bear keeps breaking into California homes. What’s next?

Department of Energy employee with long brown hair, green sweater, and lab goggles holding a pipette over a white basin full of algae

Climate Change

The cost of algae-based biofuel is still too high The cost of algae-based biofuel is still too high

A park with tree canopy and benches in the fall.

Environment

Urban green spaces can’t beat climate change on their own Urban green spaces can’t beat climate change on their own

By Sara Kiley Watson

Two adult African elephants running along the dusky savannah with tusks held up prominently

Animals

A DNA tool designed to solve murders is exposing elephant poachers A DNA tool designed to solve murders is exposing elephant poachers

By Dac Collins / Outdoor Life

a bald eagle perched on a branch

Animals

Eagles face another major threat in the US: lead poisoning Eagles face another major threat in the US: lead poisoning

By Kate Baggaley

Flooded Miami street at night as an effect of sea level rise and coastal flooding

Climate Change

NOAA predicts sea level rise will bring floods across the US—even to inland areas NOAA predicts sea level rise will bring floods across the US—even to inland areas

By Jianjun Yin / The Conversation

Flooding in Brazil has killed at least 104 people.

Environment

Historic downpours in Brazil trigger deadly mudslides and floods Historic downpours in Brazil trigger deadly mudslides and floods

Stack of books and e-reader in a library.

Environment

You may need to read dozens of books each year to offset that new e-reader You may need to read dozens of books each year to offset that new e-reader

By Carla Delgado

Black Tesla with white EV charger on a personal lot

Electric Vehicles

EV charging stations need repairs—but who’s going to foot the bill? EV charging stations need repairs—but who’s going to foot the bill?

By Kevin Williams / The Drive

Female adult deer tick or black-legged tick positions on a pink flower petal

Animals

Biologists successfully hatched gene-edited ticks for the first time Biologists successfully hatched gene-edited ticks for the first time

Megadrought in the US West is a 1,200-year record.

Climate Change

The American West is drier than it’s been in at least 1,200 years The American West is drier than it’s been in at least 1,200 years

Heron resting on floating solar panel.

Climate Change

Floating solar panels could be the next big thing in clean energy Floating solar panels could be the next big thing in clean energy

Google data center and server farm in St. Ghislain, Belgium, with cooling towers lit up at night

Climate Change

Inside the physical footprint of the Cloud Inside the physical footprint of the Cloud

By Steven Gonzales Monserrate/The MIT Press Reader

Three gray wolves in the snow. The species is at the center of a US lawsuit over the endangered species list.

Animals

Gray wolves are headed back to the endangered species list Gray wolves are headed back to the endangered species list

By Sage Marshall/Field & Stream

Cemetary with large stone chapel and headstones.

Climate Change

COVID-19 is overcrowding cemeteries and causing heavy metal pollution COVID-19 is overcrowding cemeteries and causing heavy metal pollution

By Anuradha Varanasi

Thale cress plant leaf shown with defenses and regeneration against a black background

Agriculture

A chemical tweak could help plants bounce back from damage faster A chemical tweak could help plants bounce back from damage faster

This is the Army’s plan to battle climate change—and still fight wars

Army

This is the Army’s plan to battle climate change—and still fight wars This is the Army’s plan to battle climate change—and still fight wars

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Two chemists pulling apart an old computer in a rare earth metal recycling experiment

Environment

Inside the high-powered process that could recycle rare earth metals Inside the high-powered process that could recycle rare earth metals

ET interior with superimposed plasma.

Energy

In 5 seconds, this fusion reactor made enough energy to power a home for a day In 5 seconds, this fusion reactor made enough energy to power a home for a day

By Sara Kiley Watson

Museum collections tag for Indigenous seeds from the University of Michigan

Agriculture

Indigenous farmers are ‘rematriating’ centuries-old seeds to plant a movement Indigenous farmers are ‘rematriating’ centuries-old seeds to plant a movement

By Kalen Goodluck

Moose laying down in snow in front of an Air Force base in Alaska

Air Force

The Air Force dreads engaging wayward moose The Air Force dreads engaging wayward moose

By David Roza/Task & Purpose

Crops grown in NASA's Advanced Plant Habitat.

Agriculture

NASA has big plans for space farms NASA has big plans for space farms

By Tatyana Woodall

a small crab raises its large claw in the air

Animals

These crustaceans take cheap shots at rivals by growing enormous claws These crustaceans take cheap shots at rivals by growing enormous claws

By Kate Baggaley

There's less water in mountain glaciers than thought.

Climate Change

Many glaciers aren’t as thick as we thought Many glaciers aren’t as thick as we thought

Why young orphans were once used as human refrigerators

Animals

Why young orphans were once used as human refrigerators Why young orphans were once used as human refrigerators

By Popular Science Team

an airplane and the sun

Aviation

All your burning questions about sustainable aviation fuel, answered All your burning questions about sustainable aviation fuel, answered

By Casey Crownhart

Marble countertop samples.

Environment

Marble is luxurious—but is it sustainable? Marble is luxurious—but is it sustainable?

By Carla Delgado

A white polar bear standing on snow in a zoo with blue bars in the background.

Animals

Secrets from zoo polar bears could help conservation efforts in the wild Secrets from zoo polar bears could help conservation efforts in the wild

By Maggie Galloway

Climate change protest poster.

Climate Change

Dozens of companies with ‘net-zero’ goals just got called out for greenwashing Dozens of companies with ‘net-zero’ goals just got called out for greenwashing

By Sara Kiley Watson

Monarch butterfly feeding on nectar of a purple coneflower in a native meadow

Animals

Monarch butterflies show hints of a comeback out West, but experts are cautious Monarch butterflies show hints of a comeback out West, but experts are cautious

Winter Storm Landon moving off the Gulf Coast on the night of February 3 on a weather radar satellite image

Environment

Ice, tornadoes, and cracking trees: Why Winter Storm Landon dragged a melee of weather across the US Ice, tornadoes, and cracking trees: Why Winter Storm Landon dragged a melee of weather across the US

By Philip Kiefer

Person with black gloves pouring rock salt over a sidewalk despite environmental pollution

Climate Change

There’s a better way to use rock salt on snow There’s a better way to use rock salt on snow

By Purbita Saha

person on the floor sorting laundry

DIY

Sorting your laundry correctly will make your clothes last longer Sorting your laundry correctly will make your clothes last longer

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

a violent wave crashes over a row of homes

Climate Change

The future of hurricanes is full of floods—a lot of them The future of hurricanes is full of floods—a lot of them

By Kate Baggaley

Iceberg melts into various shapes

Climate Change

Ice doesn’t always melt the same way—and these visuals prove it Ice doesn’t always melt the same way—and these visuals prove it

a large cloud system snowstorm swirls above the north east United States, taken from a satellite

Aviation

NASA’s storm-chasing planes fly through blizzards to improve snowfall forecasts NASA’s storm-chasing planes fly through blizzards to improve snowfall forecasts

By Lauren J. Young

Climate Change

Hitting Biden’s greenhouse goals could save billions in health-related costs Hitting Biden’s greenhouse goals could save billions in health-related costs

By Sara Kiley Watson

a gray wolf looks over its shoulder in the snow

Animals

Snowy weather could determine life or death for Wisconsin’s poached gray wolves Snowy weather could determine life or death for Wisconsin’s poached gray wolves

By Kate Baggaley

Foundation of house destroyed by Hurricane Katrina

Environment

Brad Pitt’s affordable housing project in New Orleans failed Hurricane Katrina survivors Brad Pitt’s affordable housing project in New Orleans failed Hurricane Katrina survivors

By Judith Keller / The Conversation

Person throwing COVID-19 disposable mask in trash can.

COVID-19

This new recycling system could keep COVID PPE out of landfills This new recycling system could keep COVID PPE out of landfills

By Sara Kiley Watson