Environment(Page 5)

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

Scientists are studying squirrels and hibernation that could help humans get to deep space

Hibernation scientists studying squirrels could get humans to deep space Hibernation scientists studying squirrels could get humans to deep space

By Lauren Leffer

Chaunacops fish with 2024 Look Back article headline

Ghost ships to ghost sharks: 10 wildest underwater discoveries of 2024 Ghost ships to ghost sharks: 10 wildest underwater discoveries of 2024

a svalbard reindeer with antlers standing on muddy terrain

Shorter, fatter, and hairier: 5 fun facts about the world’s smallest reindeer Shorter, fatter, and hairier: 5 fun facts about the world’s smallest reindeer

By Laura Baisas

a glacier hiker climbs in the foreground with a headlamp as a rainbow colored aurora dances above

11 sensational images from the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year awards 11 sensational images from the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year awards

By Popular Science Team

Modern eco home illustration. Building modern design. Energy conservation and wind turbine. Flat vector linear illustration. Tree and bushes. Trendy line style vector.

Gear

6 easy ways to make your home more sustainable 6 easy ways to make your home more sustainable

a strange fish with a blob on its head sits on a rock

27 new, exciting, and blobby species discovered in the Peruvian rainforest 27 new, exciting, and blobby species discovered in the Peruvian rainforest

By Laura Baisas

Snowcat car in a snow ski resort.

The science of ski grooming The science of ski grooming

By Alisha McDarris

Two mastodon teeth found in Orange County, New York

Man discovers giant mastodon jaw in his backyard Man discovers giant mastodon jaw in his backyard

A Sombrero ground lizard (Pholidoscelis corvinus) photographed on Sombrero Island in June 2021. This species is endemic to the Carribbean island.

Population of nearly extinct lizard grows 16X in only six years Population of nearly extinct lizard grows 16X in only six years

By Laura Baisas

An Andean bear at the nature reserve Bioparque Wakata, in Briceno municipality near Bogota, Colombia, on June 21, 2023.

Shy ‘Paddington’ bears need more plants to survive Shy ‘Paddington’ bears need more plants to survive

By Laura Baisas

Modern Kitchen with wooden table, kitchen utensils, cooking pots and others, white background.

Recent panic over black plastic started with a math error Recent panic over black plastic started with a math error

a squirrel sits eating a vole, pulling its meat with its teeth

‘Shocking:’ These squirrels are hunting and eating other rodents ‘Shocking:’ These squirrels are hunting and eating other rodents

By Laura Baisas

a turtle swims in a tank wearing a black weighted harness on its side

Sea turtle with ‘bubble butt syndrome’ gets a 3D-printed custom harness Sea turtle with ‘bubble butt syndrome’ gets a 3D-printed custom harness

By Laura Baisas

A reconstruction of the oldest known gorgonopsian in life.

This dog-like predator is the oldest known mammal ancestor This dog-like predator is the oldest known mammal ancestor

By Laura Baisas

a small blue-colored penguin called a little penguin swims in the ocean

Turtles and penguins have a swimming sweet spot that reduces drag Turtles and penguins have a swimming sweet spot that reduces drag

By Laura Baisas

a group of people walking on a large glacier

Don’t even think about hiking on a glacier without a guide Don’t even think about hiking on a glacier without a guide

By Alisha McDarris

A dramatic blue-grey sky highlights the soft greys of a Weddell seal as it rests on an ice floe.

25 enchanting images from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice awards 25 enchanting images from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice awards

By Popular Science Team

an orange cat with green eyes with its tongue out

Why do some cats have orange fur? New hue clues in an old mystery. Why do some cats have orange fur? New hue clues in an old mystery.

By Clarissa Brincat

a close up of the eyes of an older dog. it has black fur with touches of grey

Is my dog ‘old’? Vets finally have the answers Is my dog ‘old’? Vets finally have the answers

By Laura Baisas

a bird opens it mouth to eat a bug.

9 fascinating images from the Royal Society Publishing Photography Prize 9 fascinating images from the Royal Society Publishing Photography Prize

By Popular Science Team

Striated frogfish (Antennarius striatus), also known as the hairy frogfish.

Anglerfish use ‘extremely rare’ mechanism to control their lures Anglerfish use ‘extremely rare’ mechanism to control their lures

waves in a deep cavern

Earthquake off northern California shook the water in Devils Hole, 500 miles away Earthquake off northern California shook the water in Devils Hole, 500 miles away

By Laura Baisas

Dogs really are communicating via button boards, new research suggests Dogs really are communicating via button boards, new research suggests

By Lauren Leffer

A juvenile Nile crocodile. It is small with pointed teeth

Why are crocodiles so bumpy? A dermatological mystery has been solved Why are crocodiles so bumpy? A dermatological mystery has been solved

By Laura Baisas

a new shrimp-like crustacean. it is white with two protruding tusk-like appendages at its head, at least 8 legs, and two tail-like appendages at the back

New predator uncovered 25,000+ feet under the Pacific New predator uncovered 25,000+ feet under the Pacific

By Laura Baisas

a microscopic zooplankton

Microscopic ‘eating and pooping machines’ are great at sucking up carbon Microscopic ‘eating and pooping machines’ are great at sucking up carbon

By Laura Baisas

Nautilus captured on video

After 15 years, a vessel named ‘Nautilus’ actually saw a nautilus After 15 years, a vessel named ‘Nautilus’ actually saw a nautilus

a variety of products on a banner reading 'best of what's new 2024'

The 50 greatest innovations of 2024 The 50 greatest innovations of 2024

By Popular Science Team

a hand touching grass

What happens to our bodies when we touch grass What happens to our bodies when we touch grass

By Kathy Willis

twisted trees create a perfect reflection in still water

13 jaw-dropping International Landscape Photographer of the Year images 13 jaw-dropping International Landscape Photographer of the Year images

By Popular Science Team

dog kissing human licking face

Why do dogs lick humans? It could be a sign of affection. Why do dogs lick humans? It could be a sign of affection.

By Lauren Leffer

An oil rig in Oklahoma.

‘A needle in a haystack:’ How AI is helping uncover abandoned oil wells ‘A needle in a haystack:’ How AI is helping uncover abandoned oil wells

By Mack DeGeurin

Frozen surface of Lake Enigma

Life discovered lurking under Antarctica’s frozen Lake Enigma Life discovered lurking under Antarctica’s frozen Lake Enigma

Two views of a slingshot spider (Theridiosoma gemmosum) web. The right image shows the web’s cone shape with a spider at the tip.

Watch a slingshot spider deploy a perfectly-timed trap Watch a slingshot spider deploy a perfectly-timed trap

By Laura Baisas

a siberian husky sits in the snow. it has piercing blue eyes and its ears are perked up

Humans gave dogs treats 12,000 years ago, new archeological evidence suggests Humans gave dogs treats 12,000 years ago, new archeological evidence suggests

By Laura Baisas

Researchers say they were inspired by the way the Manta ray effortlessly propels itself forward using its fins.

This Manta ray robot is the world’s fastest soft-bodied swimmer This Manta ray robot is the world’s fastest soft-bodied swimmer

By Mack DeGeurin

leaded gasoline reminder

Childhood leaded gasoline exposure damaged Americans’ mental health Childhood leaded gasoline exposure damaged Americans’ mental health

By Lauren Leffer

The anglerfish species Lophius piscatorius.

Anglerfish are so much more than just their dangly bioluminescent lures Anglerfish are so much more than just their dangly bioluminescent lures

By Laura Baisas

brain scans in pink, blue, and yellow

Humans may have big brains thanks to our gut Humans may have big brains thanks to our gut

By Laura Baisas

cattle grazing in a field

Feeding seaweed to gassy cattle can reduce methane Feeding seaweed to gassy cattle can reduce methane

By Laura Baisas

A Mila mini air purifier and a Mila air purifier next to each other.

Gear

My Mila air purifiers are the most stylish ones I’ve tested, and they’re almost 30% off for Cyber Monday My Mila air purifiers are the most stylish ones I’ve tested, and they’re almost 30% off for Cyber Monday

an orca whale dorsal fin coming out of the water

Orcas observed preying on massive whale sharks Orcas observed preying on massive whale sharks

By Laura Baisas

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel in grass, Leelanau State Park, Michigan.

How hibernating squirrels go more than six months without water—and don’t get thirsty How hibernating squirrels go more than six months without water—and don’t get thirsty

By Lauren Leffer

a photo from the movie "moana 2." a whale shark swims by a group of voyagers on the ocean

‘We know the way’: How Polynesian voyagers navigate Earth’s biggest ocean ‘We know the way’: How Polynesian voyagers navigate Earth’s biggest ocean

By Laura Baisas

a polar bear covered in snow

13 marvelous images from the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards 13 marvelous images from the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards

By Popular Science Team

A new study suggests that great apes (specifically gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans) seem to track events in the way that we do.

Great apes may have cognitive foundations for language Great apes may have cognitive foundations for language

Peach and Blossom, the National Thanksgiving Turkeys, are seen on the South Lawn of the White House before recieving a Presidential Pardon from US President Joe Biden in Washington, DC, on November 25, 2024.

How did Thanksgiving turkeys get so darn big? How did Thanksgiving turkeys get so darn big?

By Mack DeGeurin

a more colorful dominant male fish next to a more muted subordinate fish

Stress is warping these fish brains Stress is warping these fish brains

By Laura Baisas

Image of aircraft wing over Greenland ice sheet with radar image of Camp Century underneath it

NASA radar picks up frozen, buried Cold War base Camp Century NASA radar picks up frozen, buried Cold War base Camp Century

Focaccia baked in kiln

Focaccia likely originated in Mesopotamia, not Rome Focaccia likely originated in Mesopotamia, not Rome

A black tiger—known for its merged stripes—patrols the Similipal Tiger Reserve. (Photo by for Prasenjeet Yadav for National Geographic)

5 fascinating wildlife images from National Geographic’s Pictures of the Year 5 fascinating wildlife images from National Geographic’s Pictures of the Year

By Popular Science Team

Looking from the stern of the ship as it tows the long horizontal array of hydrophones. The tow cable can be seen going through the metal horn at the stern. The hydrophone array is several hundred meters behind the ship and about 200 meters deep. Credit: Ross Chapman

New theory explains mysterious ocean quacking first heard in the 1960s New theory explains mysterious ocean quacking first heard in the 1960s

a scan of a zebrafish with its eye highlighted in green and other parts of its anatomy stained red and blue

Mapping the shifting gaze of ‘fishlets’ Mapping the shifting gaze of ‘fishlets’

By Laura Baisas

bottlenose dolphin screaming

A lone dolphin has been yelling into Baltic Sea for years A lone dolphin has been yelling into Baltic Sea for years

By Mack DeGeurin

Ethiopian wolf licking nectar from Ethiopian red hot poker plant

These wolves are the first known carnivores to ‘enjoy’ sweets These wolves are the first known carnivores to ‘enjoy’ sweets

A mother and calf West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in Crystal River, Florida.

Florida’s famous manatees were originally tourists Florida’s famous manatees were originally tourists

By Laura Baisas

SpaceX Starship launching on fifth test flight

The SpaceX Starship is so loud, it may kill birds The SpaceX Starship is so loud, it may kill birds

Aerial view of brine ponds and processing areas of the lithium mine of the Chilean company SQM (Sociedad Quimica Minera) in the Atacama Desert, Calama, Chile, on September 12, 2022.

‘Everything has a cost:’ High-tech products and the new era of mineral mining ‘Everything has a cost:’ High-tech products and the new era of mineral mining

By Mack DeGeurin

An eye and arms of an octopus. The small dots visible around the eye are the chromatophores.

For octopuses, changing colors is hard work For octopuses, changing colors is hard work

By Lauren Leffer

An illustration of two Skiphosoura bavarica in flight.

New pterosaur species sliced through the air with a sword-like tail New pterosaur species sliced through the air with a sword-like tail

By Laura Baisas

This fluorescence image shows chloroplasts (magenta colored) successfully incorporated into the hamster cells, with other features of the animal cell also highlighted (nuclei in light blue and organelles in yellow-green).

Bioengineers made mutant, solar-powered hamster cells Bioengineers made mutant, solar-powered hamster cells

raw milk poured into a glass

Is raw milk safe? Science has a clear answer. Is raw milk safe? Science has a clear answer.

By Lauren Leffer

a tick half embedded in human skin

How hitchhiking ticks are bringing diseases to new places How hitchhiking ticks are bringing diseases to new places

By Laura Baisas

a shepherd dog shakes water off its head on a black background

19 charming winners from the Dog Photography Awards 19 charming winners from the Dog Photography Awards

By Popular Science Team