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

Parasitic birds like cuckoos seem to target victims who can’t see well

Environment

Parasitic birds like cuckoos seem to target victims who can’t see well Parasitic birds like cuckoos seem to target victims who can’t see well

By Kate Baggaley

vampire bats hanging inside a tree

Environment

Vampire bats rendezvous with their friends when dining out Vampire bats rendezvous with their friends when dining out

By Elana Spivack

A new program will incentivize utility companies to tap clean sources, and that’s not the only good news

Environment

A new program will incentivize utility companies to tap clean sources, and that’s not the only good news A new program will incentivize utility companies to tap clean sources, and that’s not the only good news

By Angely Mercado

Sustainable diet of salad on a pink and purple background

Environment

How to eat sustainably without sacrificing your favorite foods How to eat sustainably without sacrificing your favorite foods

By Sara Kiley Watson

A satellite image of a hurricane, which appears as a white swirling vortex over dark blue water.

Environment

Hurricane Sam will likely intensify rapidly this weekend Hurricane Sam will likely intensify rapidly this weekend

By Sara Kiley Watson

Red pickup truck stopped in front of a tornado in Nebraska

Environment

3 wild ideas for how to stop a tornado 3 wild ideas for how to stop a tornado

By Popular Science Team

A closeup of a bunch of red maple seed, still red and green and unripe.

Environment

Floating whirligig microchips could help us monitor nature without leaving a trace Floating whirligig microchips could help us monitor nature without leaving a trace

An illustration of a 2-legged dinosaur running beside a small brown bird, on a checkered background. Their skin is see-through, revealing bones and tendons.

Science

Two-legged dinosaurs wagged their tails like giant, scaly puppies Two-legged dinosaurs wagged their tails like giant, scaly puppies

Rerouting billions in agriculture subsidies could boost global food security

Environment

Rerouting billions in agriculture subsidies could boost global food security Rerouting billions in agriculture subsidies could boost global food security

By Angely Mercado

a human's hands hold a metal rod as they manipulate a rounded piece of orange glass

Environment

How glassblowers turn silica, soda ash, and lime into stunning works of art How glassblowers turn silica, soda ash, and lime into stunning works of art

By Rachel Feltman

greenland ice sheet

Environment

The jet stream is moving north. Here’s what that means for you. The jet stream is moving north. Here’s what that means for you.

By Philip Kiefer

Lockdown made cities friendlier for some birds

Environment

Lockdown made cities friendlier for some birds Lockdown made cities friendlier for some birds

By Kate Baggaley

Smokestacks with greenhouse gas emissions in the sunset over trees

Environment

There’s only one country doing its Paris Agreement homework There’s only one country doing its Paris Agreement homework

By Sara Kiley Watson

A frog in a dark pond with its vocal sac filled up with air.

Environment

The next generation of skincare might come from frog foam The next generation of skincare might come from frog foam

a baby chimp and baby human

Science

What scientists learned when they tried to raise a chimp with a human baby What scientists learned when they tried to raise a chimp with a human baby

By Popular Science Team

Expecting parents holding an ultrasound

Health

If climate change is impacting your desire to have kids, you’re not alone If climate change is impacting your desire to have kids, you’re not alone

By Sara Kiley Watson

North american porcupine sitting on the ground among wild flower

DIY

How to not get pricked by a North American porcupine How to not get pricked by a North American porcupine

By Natalie Wallington

This 120-million-year-old bird may have been one of the first to shake its tail feathers

Environment

This 120-million-year-old bird may have been one of the first to shake its tail feathers This 120-million-year-old bird may have been one of the first to shake its tail feathers

By Kate Baggaley

An illustration of an extinct species of giant penguins. Two penguins stand upright and one huddles down on a rocky island.

Environment

Schoolkids in New Zealand discovered a new species of giant penguin Schoolkids in New Zealand discovered a new species of giant penguin

Why a record number of container ships are backed up off the coast of California

Environment

Why a record number of container ships are backed up off the coast of California Why a record number of container ships are backed up off the coast of California

Cyclones can be fatal for seabirds, but not in the way you think

Environment

Cyclones can be fatal for seabirds, but not in the way you think Cyclones can be fatal for seabirds, but not in the way you think

By Kate Baggaley

Potty-trained cows could seriously help the planet

Environment

Potty-trained cows could seriously help the planet Potty-trained cows could seriously help the planet

By Sara Kiley Watson

satellite image of smoke from the australian wildfires

Environment

Australian wildfires fueled an algae bloom bigger than the continent itself Australian wildfires fueled an algae bloom bigger than the continent itself

By Philip Kiefer

A humpback whale breaches water and hangs in mid-air, in front of forested cliffs.

Environment

A rare humpback whale ‘megapod’ was spotted snacking off the Australian coast A rare humpback whale ‘megapod’ was spotted snacking off the Australian coast

point reyes national seashore lighthouse

Environment

Why Point Reyes’ new land management plan is so controversial Why Point Reyes’ new land management plan is so controversial

By Philip Kiefer

Hairs and pores on a southern oak leaf

Environment

11 views of the microscopic world in brilliant detail 11 views of the microscopic world in brilliant detail

By Popular Science Team

Humans are pushing into animals’ homes, but nature is as rebellious as ever

Environment

Humans are pushing into animals’ homes, but nature is as rebellious as ever Humans are pushing into animals’ homes, but nature is as rebellious as ever

By Sara Kiley Watson

Rendering of mammoth in forest.

Health

This CRISPR startup thinks that mammoths can save the Arctic. Is it right? This CRISPR startup thinks that mammoths can save the Arctic. Is it right?

By Charlotte Hu

greenland seen from an airplane

Environment

Greenland is racking up historic climate events Greenland is racking up historic climate events

By Sara Chodosh

A satellite image of Tropical Storm Nicholas moving towards coastal Texas and Louisiana.

Environment

Nicholas marks the 14th named storm of 2021—a number we usually hit in November Nicholas marks the 14th named storm of 2021—a number we usually hit in November

By Sara Kiley Watson

satellite view of what remains of hurricane ida

Environment

Why Ida drenched the Northeast—and what that means for future storms Why Ida drenched the Northeast—and what that means for future storms

By Philip Kiefer

Google headquarters in Mountain View, California

Environment

Are ‘water positive’ pledges from tech companies just a new kind of greenwashing? Are ‘water positive’ pledges from tech companies just a new kind of greenwashing?

By Angely Mercado

broken bow water treatment facility

Environment

This EPA unit fights terrorism with science This EPA unit fights terrorism with science

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

a statue of a firefighter sits with the One World Trade Center tower in the background

Health

What 20 years of screening 9/11 first responders for health risks has taught us What 20 years of screening 9/11 first responders for health risks has taught us

By Betsy Ladyzhets

To prevent catastrophic global warming, we need to leave fossils fuels in the ground

Environment

To prevent catastrophic global warming, we need to leave fossils fuels in the ground To prevent catastrophic global warming, we need to leave fossils fuels in the ground

New Orleans’ billion-dollar levees survived Hurricane Ida. Can they handle what’s coming?

Environment

New Orleans’ billion-dollar levees survived Hurricane Ida. Can they handle what’s coming? New Orleans’ billion-dollar levees survived Hurricane Ida. Can they handle what’s coming?

By Philip Kiefer

This ancient ‘mothership’ used probing ‘fingers’ to scrape the ocean floor for prey

Environment

This ancient ‘mothership’ used probing ‘fingers’ to scrape the ocean floor for prey This ancient ‘mothership’ used probing ‘fingers’ to scrape the ocean floor for prey

By Kate Baggaley

A red and brown ant on a green leaf.

Environment

Surprise: Ants have teeth. Here’s how they keep them sharp. Surprise: Ants have teeth. Here’s how they keep them sharp.

Bulldozer in silica sand mining pit

Environment

Super hot sand could help us store renewable energy Super hot sand could help us store renewable energy

By Angely Mercado

atlas-uranium-mill0overhead

Environment

Once the Uranium Capital of the World, Moab, Utah, wants to unload its radioactive legacy Once the Uranium Capital of the World, Moab, Utah, wants to unload its radioactive legacy

By Sarah Scoles

A light brown and dark brown tabby cat lays on its back and looks at a camera upside down.

Environment

We finally know what turns cats into tabbies We finally know what turns cats into tabbies

transmission lines at sunset

Environment

Are mass power outages unavoidable after hurricanes? Are mass power outages unavoidable after hurricanes?

By Neel Dhanesha

Wildfire in forest with smoke and flames.

Environment

The Dixie fire is on track to be California’s biggest ever The Dixie fire is on track to be California’s biggest ever

By Popular Science Team

Colorful t-shirts made of soft bamboo

Environment

Bamboo fabric is less sustainable than you think Bamboo fabric is less sustainable than you think

By Sara Kiley Watson

power line repair

Environment

Hurricanes can pack a one-two punch: the storm, then deadly heat Hurricanes can pack a one-two punch: the storm, then deadly heat

By Philip Kiefer

Food wrapped in beeswax wrap

Environment

The truth about reusable kitchen essentials The truth about reusable kitchen essentials

By Angely Mercado

an old drawing of a kitchen with a large open fire and a small dog running on a mill-like wheel to turn the spit

Science

This dog was genetically engineered to be a kitchen appliance This dog was genetically engineered to be a kitchen appliance

By Popular Science Team

Bowl of chapulines

DIY

You should start eating bugs. Here’s how. You should start eating bugs. Here’s how.

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Maggots and algae could be the sustainable snacks of the future

Environment

Maggots and algae could be the sustainable snacks of the future Maggots and algae could be the sustainable snacks of the future

By Shaena Montanari

Assorted fruits, mushrooms, vegetables and other food spread out on table

Environment

11 percent of food waste comes from our homes 11 percent of food waste comes from our homes

By Sara Kiley Watson

This rainbow-scaled lizard lived anonymously in the Andes—until now

Environment

This rainbow-scaled lizard lived anonymously in the Andes—until now This rainbow-scaled lizard lived anonymously in the Andes—until now

Almost half of the world’s children live in dangerous climate conditions

Environment

Almost half of the world’s children live in dangerous climate conditions Almost half of the world’s children live in dangerous climate conditions

By Angely Mercado

A tiger swallowtail butterfly puddling and drinking water in a muddy area.

DIY

Butterflies drink more than nectar—here’s how to turn your yard into an oasis Butterflies drink more than nectar—here’s how to turn your yard into an oasis

By Kristine Nemec

Adult otter biting pup

Environment

8 animals being naturally hilarious 8 animals being naturally hilarious

By Popular Science Team

Sea turtle. Queensland, Australia.

Environment

9 goofy, award-winning animal photos to turn your day around 9 goofy, award-winning animal photos to turn your day around

By Popular Science Team

African rainforests are stronger carbon sinks than the Amazon

Environment

African rainforests are stronger carbon sinks than the Amazon African rainforests are stronger carbon sinks than the Amazon

By Angely Mercado

Cracked cap bolete mushroom foraged in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York City

Environment

An urban cemetery is a surprising sanctuary for fantastic fungi An urban cemetery is a surprising sanctuary for fantastic fungi

By Lauren Leffer

ocean wave crashing

Environment

This yellow floatie can churn the power of the sea into electricity This yellow floatie can churn the power of the sea into electricity

satellite view of what remains of hurricane ida

Environment

Hurricane Ida’s remnants will bring record-breaking rain as it travels north Hurricane Ida’s remnants will bring record-breaking rain as it travels north

By Sara Chodosh

A microscopic image of a tardigrade, a pillowy creature with eight legs.

Environment

We’ve seen how tardigrades walk, and it’s mesmerizing We’ve seen how tardigrades walk, and it’s mesmerizing

How publicly owned power could shape the future of clean energy

Environment

How publicly owned power could shape the future of clean energy How publicly owned power could shape the future of clean energy

By Angely Mercado

Origami and octopus inspired robo-arms could one day be used to navigate our body cavities.

Technology

This magnetic robot arm was inspired by octopus tentacles This magnetic robot arm was inspired by octopus tentacles

By Charlotte Hu

The government is raising an army of parasitic wasps to fight invasive beetles

Environment

The government is raising an army of parasitic wasps to fight invasive beetles The government is raising an army of parasitic wasps to fight invasive beetles

By Kristine Grayson/The Conversation

Renewable energy needs storage. These 3 solutions can help.

Environment

Renewable energy needs storage. These 3 solutions can help. Renewable energy needs storage. These 3 solutions can help.

By Kerry Rippy/The Conversation