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

map of the world's temperatures

Climate Change

2019 was the second warmest year on record—here’s what this means for our future 2019 was the second warmest year on record—here’s what this means for our future

By Kate Baggaley

camels crossing red clay and grass terrain

Animals

Heat and drought are causing feral camels to overrun communities in Australia Heat and drought are causing feral camels to overrun communities in Australia

a volcano errupting

Environment

The volcano erupting in the Philippines could be building up to another explosion The volcano erupting in the Philippines could be building up to another explosion

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

Environment

Experts predict dozens more earthquake aftershocks in Puerto Rico Experts predict dozens more earthquake aftershocks in Puerto Rico

By Richard Aster/The Conversation

philadelphia eagles' football field

Environment

The Philadelphia Eagles are driving the NFL toward a greener future The Philadelphia Eagles are driving the NFL toward a greener future

By Eleanor Cummins

Animals

This frog’s signature chirp can be heavenly or hellish This frog’s signature chirp can be heavenly or hellish

By Eleanor Cummins

African grey parrot.

Animals

For some African grey parrots, sharing is caring For some African grey parrots, sharing is caring

By Sara Kiley Watson

ferret captures a prairie dog

Animals

The race to save the most elusive ferret in the U.S. The race to save the most elusive ferret in the U.S.

By Elizabeth Miller/Undark

satellite image of smoke over amazon rainforest

Climate Change

The Amazon stores tons of carbon. Climate change-fueled wildfires could ruin that. The Amazon stores tons of carbon. Climate change-fueled wildfires could ruin that.

a hummingbird on a tree

Animals

Hummingbirds get their wild coloring from ‘air-filled pancakes’ in their feathers Hummingbirds get their wild coloring from ‘air-filled pancakes’ in their feathers

By Kate Baggaley

cuttlefish with 3D glasses

Animals

Cuttlefish perceive depth—and they wore 3D glasses to prove it Cuttlefish perceive depth—and they wore 3D glasses to prove it

By Sara Kiley Watson

a firefighter silhouetted against a bushfire

Climate Change

Australia’s government needs to take drastic action to prevent future fires—and so do the rest of us Australia’s government needs to take drastic action to prevent future fires—and so do the rest of us

SF ebike Jordan Rosen

Environment

Ebikes might soon speed past electric cars in sales Ebikes might soon speed past electric cars in sales

By Cycle Volta Staff

Close up of fresh organic super food salad in white bowl with fork on side and olive oil, red wine vinegar and lemons

Agriculture

Why romaine lettuce keeps getting recalled Why romaine lettuce keeps getting recalled

coal power plant emitting smoke

Climate Change

We save lives and crops every time a coal plant closes We save lives and crops every time a coal plant closes

Animals

Four whistles and instruments you can use to call wildlife Four whistles and instruments you can use to call wildlife

By John Kennedy

Boy Changes Temperature On Central Heating Thermostat Control Using Mobile Phone App

DIY

It’s not easy being green, but it doesn’t have to be expensive It’s not easy being green, but it doesn’t have to be expensive

Environment

The fire ‘time bomb’ is finally detonating on the world The fire ‘time bomb’ is finally detonating on the world

By Ellen Airhart

firefighting helicopter

Environment

Track Australia’s raging bushfires with these official sources Track Australia’s raging bushfires with these official sources

By Amanda Gearing/The Conversation

Animals

Australia’s historic bushfires could impact the world’s biodiversity forever Australia’s historic bushfires could impact the world’s biodiversity forever

Kwaksistalla Wathl’thla with Mayanilh

Environment

Ecological secrets hide between the notes of Indigenous songs Ecological secrets hide between the notes of Indigenous songs

By Dana Lepofsky, Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares, and Oqwilowgwa Kim Recalma-Clutesi/The Conversation

A packed canoe on the shore in Bowron Lake Provincial Park, of Canada.

Animals

The 10 best canoe trips in the U.S. and Canada The 10 best canoe trips in the U.S. and Canada

By Ben Duchesney/Field & Stream

Aerial view of deforested area of the Amazon rainforest

Conservation

The Amazon has shrunk by 24,000 square miles over the last decade The Amazon has shrunk by 24,000 square miles over the last decade

By Liberty Vittert/The Conversation

Six ways you can ease your dog’s fear of fireworks

Animals

Six ways you can ease your dog’s fear of fireworks Six ways you can ease your dog’s fear of fireworks

By Christine Calder/The Conversation

Looking down on an open pit mine in the Brazilian Amazon

Energy

Latin American environmentalists face unprecedented violence in defending their land Latin American environmentalists face unprecedented violence in defending their land

By Martha Pskowski/Undark

man delivering drinking water in jugs

Environment

To solve global water scarcity, we need to get more serious about desalination To solve global water scarcity, we need to get more serious about desalination

National Library of Medicine’s Toxmap

Climate Change

U.S. government ‘retires’ (read removes) detailed pollution map from internet U.S. government ‘retires’ (read removes) detailed pollution map from internet

By Michael Schulson/Undark

a bunch of small tomatoes

Agriculture

These gene-edited tomatoes grow in cute little bouquets suited to urban farming These gene-edited tomatoes grow in cute little bouquets suited to urban farming

South Pole Science Lab

Environment

How one of the most remote places in the world hosts some of the most incredible science How one of the most remote places in the world hosts some of the most incredible science

By Alex Schwartz

image of an airplane in front of a night sky

Climate Change

Astronomers are struggling to study the stars without ruining Earth Astronomers are struggling to study the stars without ruining Earth

By Charlie Wood

couple building an artificial christmas tree

Environment

Your Christmas tree’s environmental impact has nothing to do with whether it’s real or fake Your Christmas tree’s environmental impact has nothing to do with whether it’s real or fake

By Bert Cregg/The Conversation

meerkat war dance

Animals

Watch meerkats engage in a fiercely adorable war dance Watch meerkats engage in a fiercely adorable war dance

By Sara Chodosh

A northern sea otter swims on its back in Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.

Animals

A modest proposal for hunting sea otters A modest proposal for hunting sea otters

By Michael R. Shea/Field & Stream

Baboon making sounds

Animals

Monkey mouth sounds could push the evolution of speech back by 27 million years Monkey mouth sounds could push the evolution of speech back by 27 million years

By Thomas R. Sawallis & Louis-Jean Boë/The Conversation

smokestacks spewing smoke into the sky

Environment

Everything that happened at COP25, a potentially world-changing climate conference Everything that happened at COP25, a potentially world-changing climate conference

person taking test at desk

Climate Change

Indoor carbon dioxide can make us dumber, and that will get worse with climate change Indoor carbon dioxide can make us dumber, and that will get worse with climate change

a bucket of penis fish

Animals

Get to know the very charismatic penis fish invading a California beach Get to know the very charismatic penis fish invading a California beach

By Rachel Feltman

earthworms in soil

Animals

Invasive earthworms are burrowing into boreal forests worldwide Invasive earthworms are burrowing into boreal forests worldwide

Greta Thunberg in a crowd of activists at a protest

Climate Change

Greta Thunberg is TIME’s person of the year, but she isn’t the only young climate activist worth celebrating Greta Thunberg is TIME’s person of the year, but she isn’t the only young climate activist worth celebrating

A degraded coral reef.

Climate Change

Scientists have found an unlikely ally in the fight to save coral reefs Scientists have found an unlikely ally in the fight to save coral reefs

By Marlene Cimons/Nexus Media

a pile of french fries and a bowl of ketchup

Agriculture

Our french fry supply is safe for now, but the future is uncertain Our french fry supply is safe for now, but the future is uncertain

small colorful planets against a black background

Climate Change

Early climate change models held up better than you think Early climate change models held up better than you think

landscape filled with smog with industrial building in the distance

Climate Change

Another year, another carbon emissions record Another year, another carbon emissions record

a power plant spews smoke into an orange sky

Climate Change

COP25 may be the most important climate change meeting ever—and the US is barely there COP25 may be the most important climate change meeting ever—and the US is barely there

Why do some animals engage in same-sex sexual behavior? The better question is… why not?

Animals

Why do some animals engage in same-sex sexual behavior? The better question is… why not? Why do some animals engage in same-sex sexual behavior? The better question is… why not?

Environment

Scared about ‘forever chemicals’ after watching Dark Waters? Here’s what you need to know. Scared about ‘forever chemicals’ after watching Dark Waters? Here’s what you need to know.

Cars in a blizzard caused by a bomb cyclone

Environment

What the heck is a bomb cyclone? What the heck is a bomb cyclone?

By Rachel Feltman

A U.S. service member gets a flu vaccination.

Climate Change

A warmer climate could make every season flu season A warmer climate could make every season flu season

By Marlene Cimons

a sad droopy dog

Animals

New legislation makes animal abuse a felony New legislation makes animal abuse a felony

rendering of modular house on hill with shrubland around it

Environment

Fire-proofing California’s homes is possible—but at what cost? Fire-proofing California’s homes is possible—but at what cost?

By Eleanor Cummins

Animals

Why turkeys circle dead things—the creepy vigil, explained Why turkeys circle dead things—the creepy vigil, explained

By Rachel Feltman

Baby chimp leaning back on adults

Animals

These animal photos are way funnier than anything humans did this year These animal photos are way funnier than anything humans did this year

By Popular Science Staff

Baby chimp leaning back on adults

Animals

2019 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

By

black and white photo of a row of damaged houses from an earthquake

Environment

When should we issue earthquake warnings? It’s complicated. When should we issue earthquake warnings? It’s complicated.

close up of mosquito on skin

Animals

Mosquitoes are becoming resistant to our best defenses Mosquitoes are becoming resistant to our best defenses

gas pipeline across snowy landscape at sunset

Climate Change

Natural gas extraction is booming—and so are harmful methane leaks Natural gas extraction is booming—and so are harmful methane leaks

Environment

Americans’ need for a perfect lawn comes down to neighborhood peer pressure Americans’ need for a perfect lawn comes down to neighborhood peer pressure

Our best bet against tick infestations might be fire

Animals

Our best bet against tick infestations might be fire Our best bet against tick infestations might be fire

By Ellen Airhart

Beach pollution. Plastic bottles and other trash on sea beach

Climate Change

The sun can help break down ocean plastic, but there’s a catch The sun can help break down ocean plastic, but there’s a catch

By Sara Kiley Watson

Octopus illustration

Animals

When you give octopus MDMA they hug it out When you give octopus MDMA they hug it out

By Alex Schwartz

a house destroyed by a hurricane

Climate Change

Hurricanes really are becoming more destructive Hurricanes really are becoming more destructive

Animals

To remain hidden, these beetles sparkle like jewels To remain hidden, these beetles sparkle like jewels

Vietnamese mousedeer

Animals

What looks like a deer, is the size of a rabbit, and was just photographed for the first time in decades? What looks like a deer, is the size of a rabbit, and was just photographed for the first time in decades?

By Sara Kiley Watson

dog with second tail on forehead

Animals

The science behind this adorable puppy’s forehead tail The science behind this adorable puppy’s forehead tail