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

hurricane florence flooding

Climate Change

Why rivers rise long after a hurricane is gone Why rivers rise long after a hurricane is gone

By Sara Chodosh

These lizards are the holy grail of herpetology—they’re also targets in the illegal wildlife trade

Animals

These lizards are the holy grail of herpetology—they’re also targets in the illegal wildlife trade These lizards are the holy grail of herpetology—they’re also targets in the illegal wildlife trade

By Rachel Love Nuwer

During a hurricane, where does all the pig poop go? Into your water.

Agriculture

During a hurricane, where does all the pig poop go? Into your water. During a hurricane, where does all the pig poop go? Into your water.

a kitten and a puppy

Animals

The FDA just issued a warning for flea and tick medication that might cause seizures The FDA just issued a warning for flea and tick medication that might cause seizures

By Rachel Feltman

a map shows growing storms in the atlantic

Environment

Hurricane Florence helped spin up new storms in the Atlantic Hurricane Florence helped spin up new storms in the Atlantic

By Dennis Mersereau

Octopuses trip on ecstasy the same way we do

Animals

Octopuses trip on ecstasy the same way we do Octopuses trip on ecstasy the same way we do

By Charlie Wood

Want to save the planet? Don’t drain the swamps.

Climate Change

Want to save the planet? Don’t drain the swamps. Want to save the planet? Don’t drain the swamps.

By William Moomaw, Gillian Davies, and Max Finlayson/The Conversation

The government just made it easier for oil companies to leak methane on public land

Energy

The government just made it easier for oil companies to leak methane on public land The government just made it easier for oil companies to leak methane on public land

We can’t blame Hurricane Maria’s high death toll on the storm

Environment

We can’t blame Hurricane Maria’s high death toll on the storm We can’t blame Hurricane Maria’s high death toll on the storm

By Morten Wendelbo/The Conversation

Humans have been messing with the climate for thousands of years

Agriculture

Humans have been messing with the climate for thousands of years Humans have been messing with the climate for thousands of years

By Marlene Cimons

Cars and buses on busy London street at dusk.

Climate Change

We already know air pollution hurts your heart—and it might also hurt your brain We already know air pollution hurts your heart—and it might also hurt your brain

By Jillian Mock

man holding a candle in dark room

Environment

Here’s how a photojournalist prepares to cover a hurricane Here’s how a photojournalist prepares to cover a hurricane

By Jeanette D. Moses

Hurricanes are no longer just a coastal problem

Environment

Hurricanes are no longer just a coastal problem Hurricanes are no longer just a coastal problem

By Craig E. Colten/The Conversation

Animals

A blindfolded sea otter named Selka shows how the critters find food in murky water A blindfolded sea otter named Selka shows how the critters find food in murky water

a satellite view of hurricane florence

Animals

Scientists followed a leatherback turtle through Hurricane Florence—here’s what they saw Scientists followed a leatherback turtle through Hurricane Florence—here’s what they saw

By Mary Beth Griggs

a satellite view of hurricane florence

Environment

Megapixels: Hurricane Florence races the sun to reach the East Coast in this epic satellite photo Megapixels: Hurricane Florence races the sun to reach the East Coast in this epic satellite photo

By Charlie Wood

Hurricane Florence’s slow creep across the Carolinas is bad news

Environment

Hurricane Florence’s slow creep across the Carolinas is bad news Hurricane Florence’s slow creep across the Carolinas is bad news

By Dennis Mersereau

noaa hurricane florence

Environment

Hurricane category ratings can be misleading. Check out these deadly ‘minor’ storms. Hurricane category ratings can be misleading. Check out these deadly ‘minor’ storms.

By Sara Chodosh

Environment

Fatal gas explosions rock Massachusetts towns—and the cause is still unclear Fatal gas explosions rock Massachusetts towns—and the cause is still unclear

By Mary Beth Griggs

Sandhill cranes dancing at sunset

Animals

Our seasons are out of whack, which is really bad for migratory birds Our seasons are out of whack, which is really bad for migratory birds

By Neel V. Patel

Hurricanes are getting more intense—but should we add a Category 6?

Environment

Hurricanes are getting more intense—but should we add a Category 6? Hurricanes are getting more intense—but should we add a Category 6?

By Mary Beth Griggs

Hurricane Florence is coming. Here’s what you need to know.

Environment

Hurricane Florence is coming. Here’s what you need to know. Hurricane Florence is coming. Here’s what you need to know.

By Rachel Feltman

Conservation takes one scientist to the extreme

Climate Change

Conservation takes one scientist to the extreme Conservation takes one scientist to the extreme

By Marlene Cimons

decade of hurricanes

Climate Change

Charted: How hurricanes are becoming more extreme Charted: How hurricanes are becoming more extreme

By Sara Chodosh

How we found a beautiful new species of snailfish deep beneath the sea

Animals

How we found a beautiful new species of snailfish deep beneath the sea How we found a beautiful new species of snailfish deep beneath the sea

By Thomas Linley and Alan Jamieson/The Conversation

New trackers will help scientists follow elusive critters

Animals

New trackers will help scientists follow elusive critters New trackers will help scientists follow elusive critters

By Andrew Curry

Hurricane Florence could stall out over the East Coast for days, bringing intense flooding

Environment

Hurricane Florence could stall out over the East Coast for days, bringing intense flooding Hurricane Florence could stall out over the East Coast for days, bringing intense flooding

By Dennis Mersereau

California is set to go carbon-free by 2045

Energy

California is set to go carbon-free by 2045 California is set to go carbon-free by 2045

Adding clean energy to the Sahara could make it rain (and not just figuratively)

Energy

Adding clean energy to the Sahara could make it rain (and not just figuratively) Adding clean energy to the Sahara could make it rain (and not just figuratively)

By Mary Beth Griggs

Hurricane Harvey’s record-setting floodwaters were packed with pollution and disease

Climate Change

Hurricane Harvey’s record-setting floodwaters were packed with pollution and disease Hurricane Harvey’s record-setting floodwaters were packed with pollution and disease

By Marlene Cimons

Certain weather makes you more likely to get a rattlesnake bite

Animals

Certain weather makes you more likely to get a rattlesnake bite Certain weather makes you more likely to get a rattlesnake bite

By Neel V. Patel

Hurricane Florence could be heading for the East Coast—but she’s a tough storm to track

Environment

Hurricane Florence could be heading for the East Coast—but she’s a tough storm to track Hurricane Florence could be heading for the East Coast—but she’s a tough storm to track

By Dennis Mersereau

a many trying to sleep

Animals

The weirdest things we learned this week: deadly insomnia, the prettiest poop, and emergency beekeepers The weirdest things we learned this week: deadly insomnia, the prettiest poop, and emergency beekeepers

By Rachel Feltman

Charted: Here’s how much your food waste hurts the environment

Climate Change

Charted: Here’s how much your food waste hurts the environment Charted: Here’s how much your food waste hurts the environment

By Sara Chodosh

satellite image of a storm

Environment

Hurricane season has been quiet so far, but the Atlantic is finally waking up Hurricane season has been quiet so far, but the Atlantic is finally waking up

By Dennis Mersereau

a domesticated squirrel

Animals

How a pair of wildlife rescuers ended up with a chubby pet squirrel named Thumbelina How a pair of wildlife rescuers ended up with a chubby pet squirrel named Thumbelina

plant in the rain

Environment

Why you can smell rain—even though it’s odorless Why you can smell rain—even though it’s odorless

By Tim Logan/The Conversation

burned and unburned trees

Environment

Yellowstone thrived after its 1988 fires, but dry summers threaten all progress Yellowstone thrived after its 1988 fires, but dry summers threaten all progress

By Monica G. Turner/The Conversation

We trained crows to pick up garbage, but can we teach ourselves?

Animals

We trained crows to pick up garbage, but can we teach ourselves? We trained crows to pick up garbage, but can we teach ourselves?

As summers get hotter, death tolls will rise

Climate Change

As summers get hotter, death tolls will rise As summers get hotter, death tolls will rise

By Dana G. Smith

Your regular reminder that humans still waste way too much food

Environment

Your regular reminder that humans still waste way too much food Your regular reminder that humans still waste way too much food

By Rachel Feltman

vents of white bubbles rising up from ocean floor

Conservation

NASA is preparing for future space missions by exploring underwater volcanoes off Hawaii NASA is preparing for future space missions by exploring underwater volcanoes off Hawaii

By Shannon Stirone

A year after Hurricane Harvey, flawed flood risk maps are setting Texans up for another disaster

Environment

A year after Hurricane Harvey, flawed flood risk maps are setting Texans up for another disaster A year after Hurricane Harvey, flawed flood risk maps are setting Texans up for another disaster

By Wanyun Shao/The Conversation

a satellite image of hurricane lane approaching hawaii

Environment

No longer a hurricane, Lane continues to threaten Hawaii No longer a hurricane, Lane continues to threaten Hawaii

By Dennis Mersereau

Inside America’s largest collection of stuffed endangered animals

Animals

Inside America’s largest collection of stuffed endangered animals Inside America’s largest collection of stuffed endangered animals

By Bart Vandever

Animals

Shelters often mislabel dog breeds. But should we be labeling them at all? Shelters often mislabel dog breeds. But should we be labeling them at all?

By Sara Chodosh

How to prepare for a hurricane barging in on your vacation

Environment

How to prepare for a hurricane barging in on your vacation How to prepare for a hurricane barging in on your vacation

By Mary Beth Griggs

What happens when a hurricane unleashes toxic chemicals? The EPA is putting off figuring it out.

Environment

What happens when a hurricane unleashes toxic chemicals? The EPA is putting off figuring it out. What happens when a hurricane unleashes toxic chemicals? The EPA is putting off figuring it out.

Hurricanes like Lane rarely hit Hawaii. Here’s why.

Environment

Hurricanes like Lane rarely hit Hawaii. Here’s why. Hurricanes like Lane rarely hit Hawaii. Here’s why.

By Mary Beth Griggs

human body sweat

Animals

The weirdest things we learned this week: eating organs, celebrating sweat, and banning dogs The weirdest things we learned this week: eating organs, celebrating sweat, and banning dogs

By Sara Chodosh

Hurricane Gilbert hospital ruins Jamiaca

Climate Change

How hospitals prepare for increasingly dangerous hurricane seasons How hospitals prepare for increasingly dangerous hurricane seasons

By Eleanor Cummins

Trump’s EPA just released its version of the Clean Power Plan—and it’s not very clean

Climate Change

Trump’s EPA just released its version of the Clean Power Plan—and it’s not very clean Trump’s EPA just released its version of the Clean Power Plan—and it’s not very clean

Wasps, oak trees, and a creepy vine are involved in a parasitic Florida love triangle

Animals

Wasps, oak trees, and a creepy vine are involved in a parasitic Florida love triangle Wasps, oak trees, and a creepy vine are involved in a parasitic Florida love triangle

By Sara Chodosh

two contact lenses on a pink and blue background

Climate Change

Contact lenses don’t belong in your toilet Contact lenses don’t belong in your toilet

How the sunflower transformed from a garden novelty to a mighty beast

Climate Change

How the sunflower transformed from a garden novelty to a mighty beast How the sunflower transformed from a garden novelty to a mighty beast

By Stephen Harris/The Conversation

‘Zombie genes’ could be why so few elephants die of cancer

Animals

‘Zombie genes’ could be why so few elephants die of cancer ‘Zombie genes’ could be why so few elephants die of cancer

By Neel V. Patel

Climate change extreme rain Northeast

Climate Change

When rain is just as dangerous as drought When rain is just as dangerous as drought

By Eleanor Cummins

pig popping pills

Animals

Microbiologists are testing blood-sensing pills in pigs’ bellies Microbiologists are testing blood-sensing pills in pigs’ bellies

Trees are migrating west to escape climate change

Climate Change

Trees are migrating west to escape climate change Trees are migrating west to escape climate change

By Marlene Cimons

$New fracking wells are using many times more water than their predecessors$

Energy

New fracking wells are using many times more water than their predecessors New fracking wells are using many times more water than their predecessors

walter rothschild zebra carriage

Animals

The weirdest things we learned this week: bone flutes, zebra carriages, and laughing gas parties The weirdest things we learned this week: bone flutes, zebra carriages, and laughing gas parties

By Rachel Feltman

Federal judges finally just order the EPA to ban a dangerous pesticide

Environment

Federal judges finally just order the EPA to ban a dangerous pesticide Federal judges finally just order the EPA to ban a dangerous pesticide

Rising temperatures are causing soil to dump more carbon dioxide into the air

Climate Change

Rising temperatures are causing soil to dump more carbon dioxide into the air Rising temperatures are causing soil to dump more carbon dioxide into the air

By Marlene Cimons

A glowing green worm

Animals

You can set your watch to this glowing green worm orgy You can set your watch to this glowing green worm orgy

By Neel V. Patel