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

Environment

Dogs can understand more complex words than we thought Dogs can understand more complex words than we thought

By Margo Milanowski

oil spill on water sea surface

Environment

Yemen’s defunct oil tanker could set off a public health crisis Yemen’s defunct oil tanker could set off a public health crisis

By Angely Mercado

Melting ice cap in the ocean aerial

Environment

The oil and gas industry knew about climate change in the 1950s The oil and gas industry knew about climate change in the 1950s

By Benjamin Franta/The Conversation

Colorful clothes hanging on a laundry line outside on a sunny day—one of the best ways to reduce microplastic pollution from laundry.

DIY

The secret to longer-lasting clothes will also reduce plastic pollution The secret to longer-lasting clothes will also reduce plastic pollution

By Alisha McDarris

a small brown and red bird perched on a branch

Environment

You’ve heard of truffle pigs. Now get ready for truffle birds. You’ve heard of truffle pigs. Now get ready for truffle birds.

By Kate Baggaley

Baltimore checkerspot caterpillar curled up in a black and orange ball

Science

Inflatable tentacles and silk hats: See how caterpillars trick predators to survive Inflatable tentacles and silk hats: See how caterpillars trick predators to survive

By Erin Fennessy

Parent and child engaging in baby talk and language development in a cartoon

Environment

Baby talk isn’t just cute—it’s critical for kids’ vocabularies Baby talk isn’t just cute—it’s critical for kids’ vocabularies

By Sarah Witman

Great white shark that has the potential to bite a swimmer that it mistakes for a seal

Environment

Great whites don’t hunt humans—they just have blind spots Great whites don’t hunt humans—they just have blind spots

Smoke stacks emit greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change over a city waterfront

Environment

Countries aren’t moving aggressively enough toward climate goals Countries aren’t moving aggressively enough toward climate goals

By Sara Kiley Watson

Fire managers, wildfire patches in forests, and illustrated flames from prescribed burns and a compass

Environment

Prescribed burns can keep wildfires in check. So why are politicians standing in the way? Prescribed burns can keep wildfires in check. So why are politicians standing in the way?

By Madeline Ostrander/Undark

Environment

When is a tooth a tusk? It’s surprisingly complex. When is a tooth a tusk? It’s surprisingly complex.

By Margo Milanowski

Two gray pigeons in a spotlight in a Rosemary Mosco cartoon

DIY

How to speak city pigeon How to speak city pigeon

By Rosemary Mosco

Your website could be doing the environment dirty. Here’s how to clean it up.

Environment

Your website could be doing the environment dirty. Here’s how to clean it up. Your website could be doing the environment dirty. Here’s how to clean it up.

By Angely Mercado

What is a nor’easter, and why are they so powerful?

Environment

What is a nor’easter, and why are they so powerful? What is a nor’easter, and why are they so powerful?

A lemur holding onto a vine with one arm.

Environment

These fuzzy lemurs have a human-like ability to sing on beat These fuzzy lemurs have a human-like ability to sing on beat

By Philip Kiefer

the aftermath of an avalanche on a snowy mountain, with rocks and grass exposed where a ledge of snow is missing

Environment

Climate change could mean fewer avalanches Climate change could mean fewer avalanches

By Kate Baggaley

Wind farm along shorelines represent the US shift to clean energy through the CEPP

Environment

CEPP could boost the biggest climate policy in US history—if it survives the Senate CEPP could boost the biggest climate policy in US history—if it survives the Senate

By Sara Kiley Watson

Cotton plants on a regenerative farming plot against the blue sky

Environment

If you want sustainable clothes, focus on the farms If you want sustainable clothes, focus on the farms

By Sara Kiley Watson

Devil's tooth fungus in the Pine Barrens, NJ

Environment

9 creatures that have made spookiness their brand 9 creatures that have made spookiness their brand

By Elana Spivack

Ivory poaching has triggered a surge in elephants born without tusks

Environment

Ivory poaching has triggered a surge in elephants born without tusks Ivory poaching has triggered a surge in elephants born without tusks

By Kate Baggaley

PFAS are everywhere—and the EPA has a new plan to fight back

Environment

PFAS are everywhere—and the EPA has a new plan to fight back PFAS are everywhere—and the EPA has a new plan to fight back

By Angely Mercado

Entombed in amber, this tiny crab hails from the age of dinosaurs

Environment

Entombed in amber, this tiny crab hails from the age of dinosaurs Entombed in amber, this tiny crab hails from the age of dinosaurs

By Kate Baggaley

Halloween treats can be a trick for the environment—but there are sustainable swaps

Environment

Halloween treats can be a trick for the environment—but there are sustainable swaps Halloween treats can be a trick for the environment—but there are sustainable swaps

By Margo Milanowski

A translucent krill with red spots on its belly.

Environment

In constant darkness, Arctic krill migrate by twilight and the Northern Lights In constant darkness, Arctic krill migrate by twilight and the Northern Lights

By Philip Kiefer

A large black crater in a volcano with smog and lava

Environment

Kīlauea has belched 4.2 billion gallons of lava—and it isn’t done yet Kīlauea has belched 4.2 billion gallons of lava—and it isn’t done yet

By Elana Spivack

moose in a lake with mountains in the background

DIY

How to track and spot a wild moose How to track and spot a wild moose

By Noah Lederman

Freshwater mangrove forest off the Yucatan in Mexico and Guatemala

Environment

This secret mangrove forest is unlike any other in the world This secret mangrove forest is unlike any other in the world

By Sula E Vanderplank/The Conversation

A new vaccine may curb the koala chlamydia epidemic

Environment

A new vaccine may curb the koala chlamydia epidemic A new vaccine may curb the koala chlamydia epidemic

New York City’s subway system isn’t ready for a storm-filled future

Environment

New York City’s subway system isn’t ready for a storm-filled future New York City’s subway system isn’t ready for a storm-filled future

By Angely Mercado

A zookeeper wearing a mask vaccinates an orangutan through a grille.

Health

Zoo animals are getting COVID vaccines made specially for them Zoo animals are getting COVID vaccines made specially for them

By Philip Kiefer

reused concrete bridge

Environment

This Swiss bridge proves it’s possible to reuse concrete This Swiss bridge proves it’s possible to reuse concrete

Ancient architecture might be key to creating climate-resilient buildings

Environment

Ancient architecture might be key to creating climate-resilient buildings Ancient architecture might be key to creating climate-resilient buildings

By Angely Mercado

La Niña is likely back for another unpredictable winter

Environment

La Niña is likely back for another unpredictable winter La Niña is likely back for another unpredictable winter

By Sara Kiley Watson

Environment

As El Niño years get worse, right whales suffer As El Niño years get worse, right whales suffer

By Margo Milanowski

After the dinosaurs, Earth became an all-you-can-eat buffet for snakes

Science

After the dinosaurs, Earth became an all-you-can-eat buffet for snakes After the dinosaurs, Earth became an all-you-can-eat buffet for snakes

By Kate Baggaley

Gen Z and millennial kid and parent with curly hair and leather jackets sticking their tongues out in the mirror of a red motorcycle

Environment

The myth of generations, debunked The myth of generations, debunked

By Yasmin Tayag

Microsoft Surface laptop

Gear

Microsoft is making it easier for customers to repair devices. Will other companies follow? Microsoft is making it easier for customers to repair devices. Will other companies follow?

Two-headed turtle

Environment

A rare two-headed turtle is alive and thriving, surprising scientists A rare two-headed turtle is alive and thriving, surprising scientists

Plastic production is a fossil fuel problem

Environment

Plastic production is a fossil fuel problem Plastic production is a fossil fuel problem

By Erica Cirino

fossilized tree fern trunk

Environment

Fossilized plants give us hints about what ice age forests may have looked like Fossilized plants give us hints about what ice age forests may have looked like

By Kate Baggaley

Fluorescent microscopy images of nematodes

Environment

These worms produce milk, but only when they kick the bucket These worms produce milk, but only when they kick the bucket

By Elana Spivack

Minnesota’s Line 3 pipeline threatens one of North America’s only native grains

Environment

Minnesota’s Line 3 pipeline threatens one of North America’s only native grains Minnesota’s Line 3 pipeline threatens one of North America’s only native grains

By Angely Mercado

What we know—and don’t know—about the Huntington Beach oil spill

Environment

What we know—and don’t know—about the Huntington Beach oil spill What we know—and don’t know—about the Huntington Beach oil spill

By Sara Kiley Watson

adult Aenigmanu alvareziae

Environment

After 50 years, botanists finally identified this Amazonian plant After 50 years, botanists finally identified this Amazonian plant

By Margo Milanowski

A bird flying near a concrete commercial building with large windows on a sunny day.

DIY

How to help birds avoid crashing into your windows How to help birds avoid crashing into your windows

By Natalie Wallington

Chaos spelled in Scrabble pieces

Environment

Chaos is more predictable than you think Chaos is more predictable than you think

By Mitchell Newberry/The Conversation

Green Southern cassowary egg drawing

Science

Ancient humans might have bred one of the scariest birds on the planet Ancient humans might have bred one of the scariest birds on the planet

By Elana Spivack

solar panels against a blue sky

Environment

Solar power got cheap. So why aren’t we using it more? Solar power got cheap. So why aren’t we using it more?

The price of solar panels just went up—here’s what that means for you

Environment

The price of solar panels just went up—here’s what that means for you The price of solar panels just went up—here’s what that means for you

By Eleanor Cummins

a person walking a dog along a trail in the forest

DIY

The right way to walk your dog The right way to walk your dog

By John Kennedy

kid holding puppy laughing

DIY

What you need to know before bringing a puppy home for your kids What you need to know before bringing a puppy home for your kids

By Jean Levasseur

Dog in the tub getting a bath

DIY

How to bathe, brush, and trim your pets at home How to bathe, brush, and trim your pets at home

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

dog with sunglasses at the beach

DIY

Keep your dog safe and cool during summer Keep your dog safe and cool during summer

an illustration of a huge group of small dark birds flying in a cloud-like formation against a colorful sunset

Environment

This annual starling murmuration is so dense it’s called ‘The Black Sun’ This annual starling murmuration is so dense it’s called ‘The Black Sun’

By Chris Iovenko

rendering of human shaping of amazon rainforest

Environment

This wild grassland in the Amazon isn’t as untouched as it seems This wild grassland in the Amazon isn’t as untouched as it seems

By Philip Kiefer

banana operation

Technology

Can this fruit be saved? Can this fruit be saved?

One way to cut down air pollutants: call an Uber

Environment

One way to cut down air pollutants: call an Uber One way to cut down air pollutants: call an Uber

By Angely Mercado

A small plant sprouting out of some brown dirt.

DIY

Quick and dirty tips to make sure your plants love the soil they’re in Quick and dirty tips to make sure your plants love the soil they’re in

By Ellen Airhart

How to survive a tsunami

Environment

How to survive a tsunami How to survive a tsunami

By Kate Baggaley

Scientists discovered an extremely rare tardigrade fossil trapped in Dominican amber

Science

Scientists discovered an extremely rare tardigrade fossil trapped in Dominican amber Scientists discovered an extremely rare tardigrade fossil trapped in Dominican amber

Whatever you do, don’t set your pet goldfish free in a stream

Environment

Whatever you do, don’t set your pet goldfish free in a stream Whatever you do, don’t set your pet goldfish free in a stream

By Mary Beth Griggs

300 years of tree rings show just how badly hurricanes have soaked the Carolinas

Environment

300 years of tree rings show just how badly hurricanes have soaked the Carolinas 300 years of tree rings show just how badly hurricanes have soaked the Carolinas

By Kate Baggaley

person's hands holding tiny plant growing out of soil

Environment

You have no idea how much you need these bacteria You have no idea how much you need these bacteria

By Erin Fennessy

How to tell if your sustainable investments really are good for the planet

Environment

How to tell if your sustainable investments really are good for the planet How to tell if your sustainable investments really are good for the planet

By Angely Mercado