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 bucket of penis fish

Environment

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

Environment

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

Environment

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.

Environment

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

Environment

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

Environment

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

Environment

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

a power plant spews smoke into an orange sky

Environment

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?

Science

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.

Health

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

Environment

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

Environment

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

By Rachel Feltman

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

Health

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

gas pipeline across snowy landscape at sunset

Environment

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

Environment

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

Environment

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

Environment

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

Environment

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

Environment

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

dog with second tail on forehead

Environment

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

bench next to a path in the middle of a forest with sunlight shining through

Health

Nature saves us trillions of dollars in healthcare Nature saves us trillions of dollars in healthcare

Three fish crows attacking a red-tailed hawk

Science

Why are crows and ravens such jerks? Why are crows and ravens such jerks?

By Nicholas Lund

high risk buildings in Jakarta, Indonesia in front of golden sun

Environment

These maps show how many people will lose their homes to rising seas—and it’s worse than we thought These maps show how many people will lose their homes to rising seas—and it’s worse than we thought

By Sara Chodosh

Arctic blast forming over the US.

Environment

An Arctic blast is headed our way this week, and it’s earlier than usual An Arctic blast is headed our way this week, and it’s earlier than usual

By Sara Kiley Watson

Antietam National Battlefield

Environment

Countries can salvage places scarred by the horrors of war Countries can salvage places scarred by the horrors of war

By Todd Lookingbill and Peter Smallwood/The Conversation

A vulture perched in a tree.

Environment

Vultures are going extinct because people won’t stop consuming their brains Vultures are going extinct because people won’t stop consuming their brains

By Cathleen O’Grady/Undark

Environment

Arctic critters are sneezing on each other like never before Arctic critters are sneezing on each other like never before

Wood ant colony in Poland

Environment

Scientists helped a horde of cannibal ants escape from a Soviet nuclear bunker Scientists helped a horde of cannibal ants escape from a Soviet nuclear bunker

colorful carrots with locally grown tag attached

Environment

Is organic food bad for the environment? Is organic food bad for the environment?

Government report reveals disturbing, widespread harassment against park rangers

Environment

Government report reveals disturbing, widespread harassment against park rangers Government report reveals disturbing, widespread harassment against park rangers

By Ben Long/ Outdoor Life

Thousands of scientists from 153 countries plead: Do something about the climate emergency

Environment

Thousands of scientists from 153 countries plead: Do something about the climate emergency Thousands of scientists from 153 countries plead: Do something about the climate emergency

The U.S. is officially leaving the Paris Climate Accord, but the world is still fighting

Environment

The U.S. is officially leaving the Paris Climate Accord, but the world is still fighting The U.S. is officially leaving the Paris Climate Accord, but the world is still fighting

By Sara Kiley Watson

Brazilian farmers owe Monsanto $7.7 billion, court rules

Environment

Brazilian farmers owe Monsanto $7.7 billion, court rules Brazilian farmers owe Monsanto $7.7 billion, court rules

By Karine Eliane Peschard/The Conversation

Keystone Pipeline spills 383,000 gallons of oil in North Dakota wetlands

Environment

Keystone Pipeline spills 383,000 gallons of oil in North Dakota wetlands Keystone Pipeline spills 383,000 gallons of oil in North Dakota wetlands

The California wildfire culprit no one’s talking about: invasive grasses

Environment

The California wildfire culprit no one’s talking about: invasive grasses The California wildfire culprit no one’s talking about: invasive grasses

Female vampire bats regurgitate bloody dinners for their starving girlfriends

Environment

Female vampire bats regurgitate bloody dinners for their starving girlfriends Female vampire bats regurgitate bloody dinners for their starving girlfriends

Switching to renewable energy is actually cost-effective

Environment

Switching to renewable energy is actually cost-effective Switching to renewable energy is actually cost-effective

California is primed to burn—but humans aren’t exactly helping

Environment

California is primed to burn—but humans aren’t exactly helping California is primed to burn—but humans aren’t exactly helping

By Eleanor Cummins

Frogs in tiny taffeta shorts paved the way for human in-vitro fertilization

Science

Frogs in tiny taffeta shorts paved the way for human in-vitro fertilization Frogs in tiny taffeta shorts paved the way for human in-vitro fertilization

By Popular Science Team

a deer crossing the street

Environment

These states want you to eat more roadkill These states want you to eat more roadkill

Horseshoe crab blood is rare but crucial for medicine, so this scientist came up with a solution

Environment

Horseshoe crab blood is rare but crucial for medicine, so this scientist came up with a solution Horseshoe crab blood is rare but crucial for medicine, so this scientist came up with a solution

By Rachel Nuwer

This map shows how food travels from farms to your home

Environment

This map shows how food travels from farms to your home This map shows how food travels from farms to your home

By Megan Konar/The Conversation

America’s obsession with meat, explained

Environment

America’s obsession with meat, explained America’s obsession with meat, explained

By Eleanor Cummins

Your ‘basic’ fall leaf photos could serve as evidence of climate change

Environment

Your ‘basic’ fall leaf photos could serve as evidence of climate change Your ‘basic’ fall leaf photos could serve as evidence of climate change

By Stephanie Spera/The Conversation

Finally, some good news about humpback whales

Environment

Finally, some good news about humpback whales Finally, some good news about humpback whales

A 500-year-dormant fault in California just shook our view of how earthquakes form

Environment

A 500-year-dormant fault in California just shook our view of how earthquakes form A 500-year-dormant fault in California just shook our view of how earthquakes form

Three ways environmentally conscious countries can conquer the fossil fuel industry

Environment

Three ways environmentally conscious countries can conquer the fossil fuel industry Three ways environmentally conscious countries can conquer the fossil fuel industry

By Christian Downie/The Conversation

How to identify the tracks of 10 common North American animals

DIY

How to identify the tracks of 10 common North American animals How to identify the tracks of 10 common North American animals

By Tim MacWelch and Jim Zumbo/ Outdoor Life

Northern California’s coasts are turning into underwater deserts

Environment

Northern California’s coasts are turning into underwater deserts Northern California’s coasts are turning into underwater deserts

What’s big, lives underwater, and fights climate change with its body and booty? Whale give you one guess.

Environment

What’s big, lives underwater, and fights climate change with its body and booty? Whale give you one guess. What’s big, lives underwater, and fights climate change with its body and booty? Whale give you one guess.

By Sara Kiley Watson

The Forest Service wants to open 9.2 million acres to potential logging. Here’s your chance to say something about it.

Environment

The Forest Service wants to open 9.2 million acres to potential logging. Here’s your chance to say something about it. The Forest Service wants to open 9.2 million acres to potential logging. Here’s your chance to say something about it.

By Alex Robinson / Outdoor Life

How to stay safe around moose

DIY

How to stay safe around moose How to stay safe around moose

By Alisha McDarris

How microgrids could protect California from blackouts during fire season

Environment

How microgrids could protect California from blackouts during fire season How microgrids could protect California from blackouts during fire season

Bed bugs once ate bat blood—so why do they bite us?

Environment

Bed bugs once ate bat blood—so why do they bite us? Bed bugs once ate bat blood—so why do they bite us?

These ancient trilobites are forever frozen in a conga line

Environment

These ancient trilobites are forever frozen in a conga line These ancient trilobites are forever frozen in a conga line

Wild burros on a dry lake bed

Environment

Does Death Valley have a wild ass problem? Does Death Valley have a wild ass problem?

By Asher Elbein/Undark

Global warming is forcing species to reorganize their ecosystems

Environment

Global warming is forcing species to reorganize their ecosystems Global warming is forcing species to reorganize their ecosystems

2019 has been a record-breaking year for this rare, deadly virus

Health

2019 has been a record-breaking year for this rare, deadly virus 2019 has been a record-breaking year for this rare, deadly virus

By Nicole Wetsman

A fox attacking a marmot

Environment

The most astonishing wildlife photos of 2019 range from meme-able to political The most astonishing wildlife photos of 2019 range from meme-able to political