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

Purple flowers growing in the soil in a cemetary

Environment

Composting a human body, explained Composting a human body, explained

By Angely Mercado

How to stay safe while working out in the heat

Environment

How to stay safe while working out in the heat How to stay safe while working out in the heat

By Isobel Whitcomb

Elephant, tiger, kangaroo, ostrich, crocodile, mantis shrimp, and other most power animals

Environment

The world’s most powerful animals, ranked The world’s most powerful animals, ranked

By Sara Chodosh

Squirrel climbing on a branch

Environment

Scientists confirm that squirrels are amazing gymnasts Scientists confirm that squirrels are amazing gymnasts

Pesticides might be worse for bees than we thought

Environment

Pesticides might be worse for bees than we thought Pesticides might be worse for bees than we thought

There’s a reason human-wildlife clashes are on the rise

Environment

There’s a reason human-wildlife clashes are on the rise There’s a reason human-wildlife clashes are on the rise

By Angely Mercado

A hedgehog drinking water out of a bowl on some grass.

DIY

How to protect wildlife from extreme heat How to protect wildlife from extreme heat

By Natalie Wallington

What is the ‘dead zone’ in the Gulf of Mexico, and why is it super-sized this year?

Environment

What is the ‘dead zone’ in the Gulf of Mexico, and why is it super-sized this year? What is the ‘dead zone’ in the Gulf of Mexico, and why is it super-sized this year?

an adult giraffe stands in the grass with a young giraffe

Science

Giraffe grandmas help keep herds going Giraffe grandmas help keep herds going

Shark Week may be hurting, not helping, its namesake creature

Environment

Shark Week may be hurting, not helping, its namesake creature Shark Week may be hurting, not helping, its namesake creature

Rows of recyclable plastic bottles

Environment

To shore up packaging recycling, Maine is making businesses foot the bill To shore up packaging recycling, Maine is making businesses foot the bill

By Sara Kiley Watson

Light brown dog rising its paw as in a greeting

DIY

Moisturize your pup’s pads with some DIY paw balm Moisturize your pup’s pads with some DIY paw balm

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

A ladybug on a leaf.

DIY

Fight household pests with a friendly army of plants and insects Fight household pests with a friendly army of plants and insects

By Ellen Airhart

From Bat Ears to Sonar

Technology

From Bat Ears to Sonar From Bat Ears to Sonar

By Michael Stroh

What is ecocide, and why might it be criminalized worldwide?

Environment

What is ecocide, and why might it be criminalized worldwide? What is ecocide, and why might it be criminalized worldwide?

By Angely Mercado

How bird brains thrived during a mass extinction

Science

How bird brains thrived during a mass extinction How bird brains thrived during a mass extinction

By Kate Baggaley

Dried grass and flowers in a drought and heat wave

Environment

More than a dozen US states are under a heatwave alert More than a dozen US states are under a heatwave alert

By Sara Kiley Watson

These fossils could represent the oldest animals ever found

Environment

These fossils could represent the oldest animals ever found These fossils could represent the oldest animals ever found

By Kate Baggaley

An owl sitting on the branch of an evergreen tree in the forest.

DIY

Transform your yard into an owl kingdom Transform your yard into an owl kingdom

By Natalie Wallington

Woman on laptop with dog and bag of vegetables.

Environment

How to lower your dog or cat’s carbon pawprint How to lower your dog or cat’s carbon pawprint

By Angely Mercado

Mother and baby killer whale swimming in ocean with mountains in the background.

Environment

These killer whales go through menopause These killer whales go through menopause

A dam on Lake Powell displays a chalky white bathtub-like ring that shows how much water reservoir levels have declined amid an ongoing drought.

Environment

40 million Americans depend on two reservoirs that just hit record lows 40 million Americans depend on two reservoirs that just hit record lows

coral reefs of Moorea as seen from height

Environment

Why Some Coral Reefs Might Survive Climate Change Why Some Coral Reefs Might Survive Climate Change

By James Vlahos

Chinese Scientists Engineer Teeny Tiny Pigs To Sell As Pets

Environment

Chinese Scientists Engineer Teeny Tiny Pigs To Sell As Pets Chinese Scientists Engineer Teeny Tiny Pigs To Sell As Pets

Red-winged blackbird singing.

Technology

Birders behold: Cornell’s Merlin app is now a one-stop shop for bird identification Birders behold: Cornell’s Merlin app is now a one-stop shop for bird identification

By Charlotte Hu

Environment

Worried your Netflix binge is killing the planet? You can chill—for now. Worried your Netflix binge is killing the planet? You can chill—for now.

By Sara Kiley Watson

A red-eyed, black-bodied cicada with amber legs and wings perches on a brown stick facing towards the camera. The cicada's head is in sharp focus while the rest of the image blurs into the green background.

Environment

Baby Brood X cicadas are headed underground. What lies ahead is still a mystery. Baby Brood X cicadas are headed underground. What lies ahead is still a mystery.

By Lauren Leffer

skycool-panels-on-rool

Environment

This California company wants to make modern AC obsolete This California company wants to make modern AC obsolete

By Andrew Zaleski

Discovery Of Fairy Circles In Australia Helps Scientists Pinpoint Their Mysterious Origins

Environment

Discovery Of Fairy Circles In Australia Helps Scientists Pinpoint Their Mysterious Origins Discovery Of Fairy Circles In Australia Helps Scientists Pinpoint Their Mysterious Origins

By Claire Maldarelli

Captive Research Chimp Population Gets A New Home In Georgia

Environment

Captive Research Chimp Population Gets A New Home In Georgia Captive Research Chimp Population Gets A New Home In Georgia

By Mary Beth Griggs

A black Mercedes-Benz in a parking lot.

Technology

How I converted my Mercedes-Benz to run on veggie oil How I converted my Mercedes-Benz to run on veggie oil

Japanese great tit

Environment

These Songbirds Can Speak To Each Other Like Humans Do These Songbirds Can Speak To Each Other Like Humans Do

By Grennan Milliken

Science

Your Nose Is Bad At Warming Air Your Nose Is Bad At Warming Air

By Alexandra Ossola

a sulfur-crested cockatoo perched on a wall

Environment

Australian cockatoos are teaching each other to open trash cans Australian cockatoos are teaching each other to open trash cans

By Philip Kiefer

Northern cardinal bird with right side male red and left female tan in a bare tree

Environment

4 unexpected facts about the Northern cardinal, a bird you should know better 4 unexpected facts about the Northern cardinal, a bird you should know better

By Purbita Saha

how to identify ticks

Environment

A guide to the tick species every American should know A guide to the tick species every American should know

By Tim MacWelch/ Outdoor Life

Silence Before the Storm

Environment

Silence Before the Storm Silence Before the Storm

By Gregory Mone

A pack of wolf puppies.

Environment

Puppies beat out young wolves in one important skill Puppies beat out young wolves in one important skill

Person shopping with basket.

Environment

Are carbon labels on products just greenwashing? Are carbon labels on products just greenwashing?

By Angely Mercado

house destroyed in natural disaster

Environment

Our infrastructure can’t handle climate disasters. We need to build differently. Our infrastructure can’t handle climate disasters. We need to build differently.

The world’s worst conductor could be a game changer in the climate crisis

Science

The world’s worst conductor could be a game changer in the climate crisis The world’s worst conductor could be a game changer in the climate crisis

mosquito biting a human limb

Environment

Mosquitoes that carry dengue might not survive rising temperatures Mosquitoes that carry dengue might not survive rising temperatures

By Kate Baggaley

Yard garden with flowers, shrubs, bushes and trees.

Environment

Floods from storms are destructive, but a humble rain garden can help Floods from storms are destructive, but a humble rain garden can help

By Angely Mercado

A brown scorpion on a light brown rock during the daytime.

DIY

Everything you need to know about scorpion stings and venom Everything you need to know about scorpion stings and venom

By Alisha McDarris

Monarch butterflies are beloved—and declining for this sad reason

Environment

Monarch butterflies are beloved—and declining for this sad reason Monarch butterflies are beloved—and declining for this sad reason

By Kate Baggaley

Android phone on a table

Environment

You Can Now Sense Earthquakes On Your Smartphone You Can Now Sense Earthquakes On Your Smartphone

By Mary Beth Griggs

illustration of horse, wolf, with chernobyl in background

Environment

How nature has taken over Chernobyl How nature has taken over Chernobyl

By Neel Dhanesha

Small bird with bowl of bird food in a field.

Environment

Wild birds don’t need your backyard feeders to survive Wild birds don’t need your backyard feeders to survive

Weather thermometer on wooden wall

Environment

What the ‘hottest day on record’ really means What the ‘hottest day on record’ really means

By Sara Kiley Watson

A carpet of moss next to a brown rock.

DIY

Why and how to grow your own moss garden Why and how to grow your own moss garden

By Ellen Airhart

flood waters surrounding a bench

Environment

Europe’s floods and the Pacific Northwest’s heat waves share a common culprit Europe’s floods and the Pacific Northwest’s heat waves share a common culprit

By Philip Kiefer

A fibrous black diamond.

Environment

Diamonds contain remnants of Earth’s ancient atmosphere Diamonds contain remnants of Earth’s ancient atmosphere

stack of apple devices

Environment

How a new executive order might help your phone last longer How a new executive order might help your phone last longer

band-playing-for-elephants

Environment

Can music help animals relax? Can music help animals relax?

By Bill Gourgey

Airport with green and solar roof.

Environment

Rethinking our roofs, parking lots, and sidewalks could save money and lives Rethinking our roofs, parking lots, and sidewalks could save money and lives

By Angely Mercado

tins of dog food

Environment

Raw dog food can harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria Raw dog food can harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria

By Philip Kiefer

These insects have 80 times the suction power of an elephant and pee at an alarming rate

Environment

These insects have 80 times the suction power of an elephant and pee at an alarming rate These insects have 80 times the suction power of an elephant and pee at an alarming rate

Saving the Seas: Smarter Hooks and Nets

Environment

Saving the Seas: Smarter Hooks and Nets Saving the Seas: Smarter Hooks and Nets

The West Coast is full of wildfires. Here’s what’s going on in Oregon and California.

Environment

The West Coast is full of wildfires. Here’s what’s going on in Oregon and California. The West Coast is full of wildfires. Here’s what’s going on in Oregon and California.

By Sara Kiley Watson

Microbes found in cow stomachs could help solve our plastic problem

Environment

Microbes found in cow stomachs could help solve our plastic problem Microbes found in cow stomachs could help solve our plastic problem

By Angely Mercado

The Week In Drones: Google Delivery, Reaper Gods, And More

Technology

The Week In Drones: Google Delivery, Reaper Gods, And More The Week In Drones: Google Delivery, Reaper Gods, And More

By Kelsey D. Atherton

flood water under park bench

Environment

Why we’re going to see a rapid rise in sunny day floods Why we’re going to see a rapid rise in sunny day floods

By Sara Chodosh

birds eye view of a US city

Environment

Congress is watering down the American Jobs Plan—and our infrastructure will pay the price Congress is watering down the American Jobs Plan—and our infrastructure will pay the price

The argument for a permanent Olympic City

Environment

The argument for a permanent Olympic City The argument for a permanent Olympic City

By Angely Mercado