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 colorful adult female Joro spider. These arachnids are native to parts of Southeast Asia.

Science

No, ‘flying’ venomous spiders are not coming for you this summer No, ‘flying’ venomous spiders are not coming for you this summer

By Laura Baisas

A black dog sitting on an Orvis dog bed in a back yard

Gear

The best cooling dog beds The best cooling dog beds

By Stan Horaczek

Stink bugs were observed freezing in place when this drone hover bed above them.

Technology

How drones and AI could help farmers fight a stink bug invasion How drones and AI could help farmers fight a stink bug invasion

By Mack DeGeurin

a school of yellow and white swim near a reef

Animals

Fish swimming together fare better in turbulent waters Fish swimming together fare better in turbulent waters

By Laura Baisas

a tiger shark swimming in the ocean (left). a small spiky mammal with a pointy nose canned an echidna (right) on land

Environment

Unlucky shark vomits up hedgehog-like animal, shocks scientists Unlucky shark vomits up hedgehog-like animal, shocks scientists

By Laura Baisas

Environment

Climate change is coming for your oysters Climate change is coming for your oysters

By Devon Fredericksen / Hakai Magazine

An NA Negroni sitting on the arm of an Adirondack chair with the Cascade Mountains in the background.

Gear

Inside the first non-alcoholic distillery in the United States Inside the first non-alcoholic distillery in the United States

a large bird with blue plummage and orange eyes called a cassowary

Environment

The world’s most dangerous bird is at risk of extinction The world’s most dangerous bird is at risk of extinction

By Laura Baisas

OceanXplorers sub

Animals

Watch the exclusive trailer premiere for James Cameron’s new ‘OceanXplorers’ series Watch the exclusive trailer premiere for James Cameron’s new ‘OceanXplorers’ series

Science

Why do we send so many fish to space? Why do we send so many fish to space?

By Briley Lewis

Bornean Orangutan

Science

These orangutans indulge in a spa-like skincare routine These orangutans indulge in a spa-like skincare routine

By Popular Science Team

yaks and sheep grazing on grassland with mountains in the distance

Science

Bronze Age nomads used cauldrons for blood sausage and yak milk Bronze Age nomads used cauldrons for blood sausage and yak milk

By Laura Baisas

Concept art of superstructure with gravity battery inside

Climate Change

Colossal skyscrapers could harness height for gravity batteries Colossal skyscrapers could harness height for gravity batteries

A huge thermokarst crater showing the damage to the permafrost and our climate, Batagay, Russia.

Science

Earth’s ‘Gateway to Hell’ is growing Earth’s ‘Gateway to Hell’ is growing

By Lauren Leffer

an american flamingo. the bird has pink and white plumage with a black beak

Environment

A ‘pink wave’ of flamingoes settles into the Sunshine State A ‘pink wave’ of flamingoes settles into the Sunshine State

By Laura Baisas

a snake spits venom out of its mouth

Environment

Snake venom’s deadly secrets decoded with fake blood vessels Snake venom’s deadly secrets decoded with fake blood vessels

By Laura Baisas

Common cuttlefish

Technology

Cuttlefish tentacles and origami inspired a new robotic claw Cuttlefish tentacles and origami inspired a new robotic claw

a close up of a cicada with blue eyes

Environment

A ‘one-in-a-million’ blue-eyed cicada spotted by 4-year-old child A ‘one-in-a-million’ blue-eyed cicada spotted by 4-year-old child

By Laura Baisas

While scientists have seen colossal squid before—like this specimen examined by New Zealander researchers in 2014—their interactions have always been with animals that were either pulled from the depths, washed up on shore, or otherwise removed from their natural habitat.

Environment

Visiting the kraken at home Visiting the kraken at home

By Evert Lindquist / Hakai Magazine

An artistic life reconstruction of Genyornis newtoni, the last of the dromornithids, at the water’s edge

Environment

Giant 500-pound geese once honked around the Australian outback Giant 500-pound geese once honked around the Australian outback

By Laura Baisas

11 US National Parks where you can find fossils

Environment

11 US National Parks where you can find fossils 11 US National Parks where you can find fossils

By Alisha McDarris

How do animals get their spots and stripes? A Turing mechanism holds clues to patterns

Environment

How do animals get their spots and stripes? A Turing mechanism holds clues to patterns How do animals get their spots and stripes? A Turing mechanism holds clues to patterns

By Amber Dance/Knowable Magazine

Cute jack russell dog terrier puppy sleeping on yellow knitted blanket. Funny small sleepy white and brown doggy. Concept of cozy home, comfort, warmth, autumn, winter.

Environment

Do dogs dream? The answer might make you appreciate your pup even more. Do dogs dream? The answer might make you appreciate your pup even more.

By Keith Wagstaff

Close-up of three cows

Agriculture

Cow poop might make cleaner hydrogen gas a reality Cow poop might make cleaner hydrogen gas a reality

white fluffy clouds on blue sky

DIY

NASA needs your help identifying clouds NASA needs your help identifying clouds

By Alisha McDarris

beer being poured from a tap

Technology

How recycled beer yeast can remove lead from water How recycled beer yeast can remove lead from water

Metamaterial film on glass

Engineering

New material looks like frosted glass but lets in more light than a window New material looks like frosted glass but lets in more light than a window

Orcas only need one breath between dives

Environment

Orcas only need one breath between dives Orcas only need one breath between dives

By Laura Baisas

a brown snail sits on a green lettuce leaf

Animals

Slimy slugs and snails surprisingly thriving in LA Slimy slugs and snails surprisingly thriving in LA

By Laura Baisas

Underwater image of Titanic wreckage

Conservation

Billionaire plans to ride $20 million submersible to the Titanic Billionaire plans to ride $20 million submersible to the Titanic

an otter eating while floating on its back

Environment

Female sea otters use tools more than males Female sea otters use tools more than males

By Laura Baisas

The best air purifiers for smoke on a plain white background.

Gear

The best air purifiers for smoke in 2024, tested and reviewed The best air purifiers for smoke in 2024, tested and reviewed

By Terri Williams

coral polyps before spawning

Animals

Scientists are studying the mysterious sex lives of coral Scientists are studying the mysterious sex lives of coral

By Laura Baisas

Concept art of EarthCARE satellite scanning clouds above Earth

Climate Change

The ‘White Dragon’ satellite will keep watch over our clouds The ‘White Dragon’ satellite will keep watch over our clouds

This noble necklace worm, laden with eggs, will eventually release her developed larvae into the water column as plankton.

Environment

Stunning images offer a peek into the ocean’s microscopic baby boom Stunning images offer a peek into the ocean’s microscopic baby boom

Text by Kelly Fretwell and Adrienne Mason / Hakai Magazine, Photos by Hakai Institute

a green stick insect blending into a green plant

Environment

Chance or pattern? Stick insects show repeatable evolution in action Chance or pattern? Stick insects show repeatable evolution in action

By Laura Baisas

Science

Fit for a dog? The latest science on CBD for pets Fit for a dog? The latest science on CBD for pets

By Ula Chrobak / Knowable Magazine

Private jet on tarmac at sunset

Aviation

Tracking private jets just got much harder Tracking private jets just got much harder

Carrion crow (Corvus corone) perched on wooden fence post and calling. (Photo by: Sven-Erik Arndt/Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Science

Crows can ‘count’ similarly to toddlers, according to new study Crows can ‘count’ similarly to toddlers, according to new study

By Lauren Leffer

Factory worker overseeing steel forge

Climate Change

Zero-emission ‘electric cement’ is an ‘absolute miracle’ Zero-emission ‘electric cement’ is an ‘absolute miracle’

A proboscis monkey in a mangrove conservation forest in Tarakan, North Borneo, Indonesia. It is light brown in color with a very large, round, droopy, and prominent nose.

Animals

These monkeys have giant noses for exactly the reason you think These monkeys have giant noses for exactly the reason you think

By Laura Baisas

An artist’s impression of ESA’s ExoMars rover, Rosalind Franklin.

Energy

Europe’s first Mars rover will use nuclear-powered heaters Europe’s first Mars rover will use nuclear-powered heaters

closeup of bumblebee

Science

How scientists accidentally found out that some bees can hibernate underwater How scientists accidentally found out that some bees can hibernate underwater

By Popular Science Team

‘Lungless’ frog species actually had little lungs all along

Environment

‘Lungless’ frog species actually had little lungs all along ‘Lungless’ frog species actually had little lungs all along

An aerial view of the rust-colored Kutuk River in Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska. Thawing permafrost is exposing minerals to weathering, increasing the acidity of the water, which releases metals like iron, zinc, and copper.

Environment

Why are Alaska’s rivers turning orange? Why are Alaska’s rivers turning orange?

By Laura Baisas

Small Plastic pellets on blue cloth

Animals

Every human testicle contained microplastics in a new study Every human testicle contained microplastics in a new study

The so-called 'severe-convective storms' are large and powerful thunderstorms that form and disappear within a few hours or days, often spinning off hail storms and tornadoes as they shoot across the flat expanses of the central United States.

Environment

How ‘kitty cats’ are wrecking the home insurance industry How ‘kitty cats’ are wrecking the home insurance industry

By Jake Bittle/Grist

To find out the age of dolphins, ask their poop

Science

To find out the age of dolphins, ask their poop To find out the age of dolphins, ask their poop

By Jason Bittel / Hakai Magazine

#NoMowMay may just be a hashtag.

Science

There’s little science behind ‘No Mow May’ There’s little science behind ‘No Mow May’

By Peter Andrey Smith/Undark

The Red Pyramid at the Dahshur necropolis, constructed during the Fourth Dynasty.

Environment

Long-lost Nile branch may explain landlocked pyramids Long-lost Nile branch may explain landlocked pyramids

Science

Making babies may take 10 times more energy than we thought Making babies may take 10 times more energy than we thought

By Lauren Leffer

Nature can’t run without parasites. What happens when they start to disappear?

Environment

Nature can’t run without parasites. What happens when they start to disappear? Nature can’t run without parasites. What happens when they start to disappear?

By Jesse Nichols / Grist

toilet seat on wooden bench with bucket of saw dust, toilet brush, and toilet paper

Environment

How does a composting toilet work? Ditch the flush. How does a composting toilet work? Ditch the flush.

By

an orangutan sits in the forest with its mouth open wide, showing its teeth

Environment

Orangutans’ distinct yells decoded with help from AI Orangutans’ distinct yells decoded with help from AI

By Laura Baisas

wasp uses viruses

Environment

The wasps that turned viruses into tiny biological weapons The wasps that turned viruses into tiny biological weapons

By Nala Rogers / Knowable Magazine

two mantis shrimp punching one another

Environment

Bullet-fast mantis shrimp punches caught by super-speed cameras Bullet-fast mantis shrimp punches caught by super-speed cameras

By Laura Baisas

Chicken looking at camera against black background

Environment

Chicken fat supercapacitors could store green energy of the future Chicken fat supercapacitors could store green energy of the future

How Viking-age hunters took down the biggest animal on Earth

Environment

How Viking-age hunters took down the biggest animal on Earth How Viking-age hunters took down the biggest animal on Earth

By Andrew Chapman / Hakai Magazine

amphibian parents

Science

The tender art of tadpole parenting The tender art of tadpole parenting

By Tim Vernimmen / Knowable Magazine

A lineup of the best air purifiers on a white background

Gear

The best air purifiers so you can breathe easy in 2024 The best air purifiers so you can breathe easy in 2024

By Stacey L. Nash, Amanda Reed, Brandt Ranj

Scotland suddenly has a lot of mosquitoes

Science

Scotland suddenly has a lot of mosquitoes Scotland suddenly has a lot of mosquitoes

A dog dyed black and white to mimic a panda cub at Cute Pet Games cafe in Chengdu in China's southwestern Sichuan province on October 23, 2019.

Environment

Chinese zoo dyes chow chows to look like ‘panda dogs’ Chinese zoo dyes chow chows to look like ‘panda dogs’

By Laura Baisas

a small, blue fish called the Devils Hole pupfish swims in a hole

Environment

Devils Hole pupfish are clawing their way back from the brink of extinction Devils Hole pupfish are clawing their way back from the brink of extinction

By Laura Baisas

A male African elephant named Doma and a female named Kariba greet one another. Doma touches Kariba´s temporal gland while flapping his ears and Kariba holds her ears spread.

Environment

Expressive elephants use gestures and vocal cues to communicate Expressive elephants use gestures and vocal cues to communicate

By Laura Baisas