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

Three reasons why the U.S. is vulnerable to big disasters—and getting more vulnerable all the time

Environment

Three reasons why the U.S. is vulnerable to big disasters—and getting more vulnerable all the time Three reasons why the U.S. is vulnerable to big disasters—and getting more vulnerable all the time

By Morten Wendelbo/The Conversation

It’s time to take a more holistic view of coral reef health

Environment

It’s time to take a more holistic view of coral reef health It’s time to take a more holistic view of coral reef health

This is how, and why, explorers go cave diving

Technology

This is how, and why, explorers go cave diving This is how, and why, explorers go cave diving

Pruitt’s replacement won’t be any better for the EPA

Environment

Pruitt’s replacement won’t be any better for the EPA Pruitt’s replacement won’t be any better for the EPA

A heat wave made this bridge too swole to function

Environment

A heat wave made this bridge too swole to function A heat wave made this bridge too swole to function

How whale corpses feed ocean floors

Environment

How whale corpses feed ocean floors How whale corpses feed ocean floors

By Eleanor Cummins

spider on a flower

Environment

Arachnids may sense electrical fields to gain a true spidey sense Arachnids may sense electrical fields to gain a true spidey sense

Scott Pruitt just resigned as EPA administrator

Environment

Scott Pruitt just resigned as EPA administrator Scott Pruitt just resigned as EPA administrator

By Rachel Feltman

Meteorologists just found the coldest natural temperatures on the planet

Science

Meteorologists just found the coldest natural temperatures on the planet Meteorologists just found the coldest natural temperatures on the planet

winter storm january 2018

Environment

2018 has been full of weird weather so far 2018 has been full of weird weather so far

By Sara Chodosh

Earth from space

Science

Earth’s first animals probably triggered a change in climate Earth’s first animals probably triggered a change in climate

By Neel V. Patel

Wildfires are burning across the country—here’s how to prepare

Environment

Wildfires are burning across the country—here’s how to prepare Wildfires are burning across the country—here’s how to prepare

By Mary Beth Griggs

thermacell radius

Environment

Thermacell’s Radius Zone mosquito repellent keeps your blood inside your body Thermacell’s Radius Zone mosquito repellent keeps your blood inside your body

By Stan Horaczek

a girl looks at a touch screen

Environment

Climate change forced a famously old-school museum to go digital Climate change forced a famously old-school museum to go digital

By Eleanor Cummins

Environment

Koala genes might reveal how they survive a toxic diet Koala genes might reveal how they survive a toxic diet

If we don’t want to run out of water, we should look to the sun

Environment

If we don’t want to run out of water, we should look to the sun If we don’t want to run out of water, we should look to the sun

By Jeremy Deaton

the great blue hole

Environment

Here’s some rare good news about coral reefs Here’s some rare good news about coral reefs

By Neel V. Patel

Run, don’t walk, to see New York City’s latest corpse flower bloom

Environment

Run, don’t walk, to see New York City’s latest corpse flower bloom Run, don’t walk, to see New York City’s latest corpse flower bloom

By Rachel Feltman

manta ray swims through Flower Garden Banks

Environment

Why biologists are so excited to find a bunch of puny manta rays Why biologists are so excited to find a bunch of puny manta rays

Meet the designer who wants to make fruit labels out of soap and save the world from swizzle sticks

Environment

Meet the designer who wants to make fruit labels out of soap and save the world from swizzle sticks Meet the designer who wants to make fruit labels out of soap and save the world from swizzle sticks

By Eleanor Cummins

Thinking about aliens could help us beat climate change

Environment

Thinking about aliens could help us beat climate change Thinking about aliens could help us beat climate change

By Marlene Cimons

deforestation in Indonesia

DIY

Our love of palm oil is destroying forests. Here’s how to use less of it. Our love of palm oil is destroying forests. Here’s how to use less of it.

By Sophie Bushwick

Koko, the beloved gorilla who communicated through sign-language, dies at age 46

Environment

Koko, the beloved gorilla who communicated through sign-language, dies at age 46 Koko, the beloved gorilla who communicated through sign-language, dies at age 46

Meet the menagerie of parasites that can live in human eyes

Environment

Meet the menagerie of parasites that can live in human eyes Meet the menagerie of parasites that can live in human eyes

By Kate Baggaley

What is ‘trancing’ and why does it make my dog act so weird around plants?

Environment

What is ‘trancing’ and why does it make my dog act so weird around plants? What is ‘trancing’ and why does it make my dog act so weird around plants?

Your efforts to save water are actually making a difference

Environment

Your efforts to save water are actually making a difference Your efforts to save water are actually making a difference

Environment

Everything you think you know about bald eagles is wrong Everything you think you know about bald eagles is wrong

By Sara Chodosh

Two wolves travel in a single-file line across ice and snow in winter.

Environment

A pack of wolves is about to save this national park A pack of wolves is about to save this national park

Yes, a tax bill can—and likely will—spoil America’s most pristine wildlife refuge

Environment

Yes, a tax bill can—and likely will—spoil America’s most pristine wildlife refuge Yes, a tax bill can—and likely will—spoil America’s most pristine wildlife refuge

By Lauren Steele

The EPA might change the way it weighs human health against industry profit

Environment

The EPA might change the way it weighs human health against industry profit The EPA might change the way it weighs human health against industry profit

A snake with blue eyes

Environment

These snakes slurp snails, and that’s great for farmers These snakes slurp snails, and that’s great for farmers

academik lomonosov at sea

Environment

Russia floats new nuclear power station—and new risks Russia floats new nuclear power station—and new risks

an illustration of a frog

Environment

Tropical frogs were alive 99 million years ago, and we have the amber to prove it Tropical frogs were alive 99 million years ago, and we have the amber to prove it

By Neel V. Patel

A warmer planet might make deadly bacteria more resistant to antibiotics

Environment

A warmer planet might make deadly bacteria more resistant to antibiotics A warmer planet might make deadly bacteria more resistant to antibiotics

By Marlene Cimons

Contrary to most doomsday visions, climate change will probably make for smaller waves and calmer seas

Environment

Contrary to most doomsday visions, climate change will probably make for smaller waves and calmer seas Contrary to most doomsday visions, climate change will probably make for smaller waves and calmer seas

By Erin Blakemore

What will Antarctica look like in 2070? These researchers want to show us.

Environment

What will Antarctica look like in 2070? These researchers want to show us. What will Antarctica look like in 2070? These researchers want to show us.

Farmer plowing field

Environment

Small farmers are mixing old equipment with new tech Small farmers are mixing old equipment with new tech

By Eleanor Cummins

Scientists wanted to understand how baobab trees live for thousands of years. Then the ancient trees started dying.

Environment

Scientists wanted to understand how baobab trees live for thousands of years. Then the ancient trees started dying. Scientists wanted to understand how baobab trees live for thousands of years. Then the ancient trees started dying.

By Neel V. Patel

Even the clothes you donate probably end up in a landfill

Environment

Even the clothes you donate probably end up in a landfill Even the clothes you donate probably end up in a landfill

By Nell Durfee/Scienceline

Could astrobiology research convince us to fight climate change?

Environment

Could astrobiology research convince us to fight climate change? Could astrobiology research convince us to fight climate change?

Honeybees are surprisingly great at math

Environment

Honeybees are surprisingly great at math Honeybees are surprisingly great at math

By Claire Maldarelli

electricity house

Environment

What it really takes to power your home for a day What it really takes to power your home for a day

lightning behind desert cactus

Environment

How far away was that lightning? Here’s how to figure it out. How far away was that lightning? Here’s how to figure it out.

By Becky Bolinger/The Conversation

In a shocking turn of events, lightning strikes on Jupiter look a lot like our own

Science

In a shocking turn of events, lightning strikes on Jupiter look a lot like our own In a shocking turn of events, lightning strikes on Jupiter look a lot like our own

By Neel V. Patel

A dog in a medical mask

Environment

There’s an outbreak of canine flu. What do we do? There’s an outbreak of canine flu. What do we do?

Why don’t we put power lines underground?

Environment

Why don’t we put power lines underground? Why don’t we put power lines underground?

By Eleanor Cummins

Melting bergy bits are more serious than they sound, but this scientist found a way to study them

Environment

Melting bergy bits are more serious than they sound, but this scientist found a way to study them Melting bergy bits are more serious than they sound, but this scientist found a way to study them

By Erin Blakemore

The genes of many marine creatures are patented—and one company owns half of them

Environment

The genes of many marine creatures are patented—and one company owns half of them The genes of many marine creatures are patented—and one company owns half of them

NASA is learning the best way to grow food in space

Environment

NASA is learning the best way to grow food in space NASA is learning the best way to grow food in space

By Sarah Scoles

a hydrogen balloon on its side

Science

The weirdest things we learned this week: underwater horse videos, the call of the void, and an ill-fated, icy balloon trip The weirdest things we learned this week: underwater horse videos, the call of the void, and an ill-fated, icy balloon trip

By Rachel Feltman

The cockpit of a hurricane hunter flight

Technology

These U.S. Air Force pilots are ready for hurricane hunting season These U.S. Air Force pilots are ready for hurricane hunting season

Cleaner pig poop could reduce bacon’s environmental burden

Environment

Cleaner pig poop could reduce bacon’s environmental burden Cleaner pig poop could reduce bacon’s environmental burden

By Marlene Cimons

Volcano vocabulary to help you understand the most recent eruptions

Environment

Volcano vocabulary to help you understand the most recent eruptions Volcano vocabulary to help you understand the most recent eruptions

Four intense ways insects sacrifice themselves for the good of the colony

Environment

Four intense ways insects sacrifice themselves for the good of the colony Four intense ways insects sacrifice themselves for the good of the colony

By Kate Baggaley

Shyness pays off…when you’re a hungry prawn

Environment

Shyness pays off…when you’re a hungry prawn Shyness pays off…when you’re a hungry prawn

Ernest Hemingway’s Florida home is ready to withstand its 168th hurricane season

Environment

Ernest Hemingway’s Florida home is ready to withstand its 168th hurricane season Ernest Hemingway’s Florida home is ready to withstand its 168th hurricane season

By Eleanor Cummins

Everything you need to know about the chemical one White House aide called a ‘public relations nightmare’

Health

Everything you need to know about the chemical one White House aide called a ‘public relations nightmare’ Everything you need to know about the chemical one White House aide called a ‘public relations nightmare’

Avoiding GMO food might be tougher than you think

Technology

Avoiding GMO food might be tougher than you think Avoiding GMO food might be tougher than you think

By Sara Chodosh

Spiders are secretly great roommates

Environment

Spiders are secretly great roommates Spiders are secretly great roommates

By Matt Bertone/The Conversation

Carbon emissions are sucking the nutrition out of our food

Health

Carbon emissions are sucking the nutrition out of our food Carbon emissions are sucking the nutrition out of our food

By Nick Stockton

Exploring the complicated link between volcanoes and religion

Environment

Exploring the complicated link between volcanoes and religion Exploring the complicated link between volcanoes and religion

By Dan Robitzski

You could be eating a side of e-waste with your takeout

Health

You could be eating a side of e-waste with your takeout You could be eating a side of e-waste with your takeout

Scientists just discovered 125 million-year-old dinosaur dandruff

Science

Scientists just discovered 125 million-year-old dinosaur dandruff Scientists just discovered 125 million-year-old dinosaur dandruff

By Neel V. Patel

The EPA has a new plan that’s good for business and bad for bodies

Environment

The EPA has a new plan that’s good for business and bad for bodies The EPA has a new plan that’s good for business and bad for bodies