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 animals inspiring the armor of the future

Technology

Three animals inspiring the armor of the future Three animals inspiring the armor of the future

By Kate Baggaley

The massive, record-breaking Hurricane Irma is on its way to Florida

Environment

The massive, record-breaking Hurricane Irma is on its way to Florida The massive, record-breaking Hurricane Irma is on its way to Florida

By Dennis Mersereau

Hurricane flood waters

Environment

Predicting a hurricane’s intensity is only going to get harder Predicting a hurricane’s intensity is only going to get harder

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Bats’ echolocation has one major blind spot

Environment

Bats’ echolocation has one major blind spot Bats’ echolocation has one major blind spot

By Mary Beth Griggs

Environment

To guard against climate change, Los Angeles is painting its streets white To guard against climate change, Los Angeles is painting its streets white

By Jeremy Deaton

Space weather may be killing sperm whales

Environment

Space weather may be killing sperm whales Space weather may be killing sperm whales

By Sara Chodosh

African wild dogs vote with sneezes on important pack issues

Environment

African wild dogs vote with sneezes on important pack issues African wild dogs vote with sneezes on important pack issues

By Ellen Airhart

Hurricane Irma threatens the United States with power rarely seen

Environment

Hurricane Irma threatens the United States with power rarely seen Hurricane Irma threatens the United States with power rarely seen

By Dennis Mersereau

Want to know how to save the bees?

Environment

Want to know how to save the bees? Want to know how to save the bees?

By Sara Chodosh

Plesiosaurs probably took over the world using all four flippers

Environment

Plesiosaurs probably took over the world using all four flippers Plesiosaurs probably took over the world using all four flippers

By Ellen Airhart

Look at the mysterious ‘dragon booger’ found in Vancouver’s Lost Lagoon

Science

Look at the mysterious ‘dragon booger’ found in Vancouver’s Lost Lagoon Look at the mysterious ‘dragon booger’ found in Vancouver’s Lost Lagoon

By Sara Chodosh

Environment

This 1,000-year-old oak tree survived Hurricane Harvey This 1,000-year-old oak tree survived Hurricane Harvey

By Ellen Airhart

Weather forecasts aren’t perfect, but they’re getting there

Environment

Weather forecasts aren’t perfect, but they’re getting there Weather forecasts aren’t perfect, but they’re getting there

By Kate Baggaley

What happens when you heat the Antarctic Ocean by a single degree?

Environment

What happens when you heat the Antarctic Ocean by a single degree? What happens when you heat the Antarctic Ocean by a single degree?

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Environment

Giant pandas are no longer endangered—but we’re not in the clear Giant pandas are no longer endangered—but we’re not in the clear

By Jason Lederman

Environment

The scientific community is mobilizing to save research hit by Harvey The scientific community is mobilizing to save research hit by Harvey

By Nicole Wetsman

person holding a bat

Environment

Hurricane Harvey’s putting bats at risk—but help is on the way Hurricane Harvey’s putting bats at risk—but help is on the way

By Ellen Airhart

Where will all the water from Hurricane Harvey go?

Environment

Where will all the water from Hurricane Harvey go? Where will all the water from Hurricane Harvey go?

By Mary Beth Griggs

The invisible engine that made Hurricane Harvey worse

Environment

The invisible engine that made Hurricane Harvey worse The invisible engine that made Hurricane Harvey worse

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

12,000 tons of food waste transformed a barren landscape into something surprising

Environment

12,000 tons of food waste transformed a barren landscape into something surprising 12,000 tons of food waste transformed a barren landscape into something surprising

By Marlene Cimons

Fish might be shrinking

Environment

Fish might be shrinking Fish might be shrinking

By Marlene Cimons

Hurricane Harvey is far from over

Environment

Hurricane Harvey is far from over Hurricane Harvey is far from over

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

satellite image of hurricane harvey

Environment

Hurricane Harvey is hitting Texas even harder than expected. Here’s what you need to know. Hurricane Harvey is hitting Texas even harder than expected. Here’s what you need to know.

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

flexible nanotube yarn

Environment

This yarn makes its own electricity This yarn makes its own electricity

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Almost every country in the world can power itself with renewable energy

Environment

Almost every country in the world can power itself with renewable energy Almost every country in the world can power itself with renewable energy

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Trees help keep you cozy, even when you’re indoors

Environment

Trees help keep you cozy, even when you’re indoors Trees help keep you cozy, even when you’re indoors

By Marlene Cimons

Scientists are solving the mystery of Earth’s thermostat

Environment

Scientists are solving the mystery of Earth’s thermostat Scientists are solving the mystery of Earth’s thermostat

By Jeremy Deaton

volcanic lightning

Environment

Five amazing natural phenomena that are harder to see than a total eclipse Five amazing natural phenomena that are harder to see than a total eclipse

By Rachel Feltman

Environment

The truth about cat and dog food The truth about cat and dog food

By Marlene Cimons

America’s craft breweries are on an environmental crusade

Environment

America’s craft breweries are on an environmental crusade America’s craft breweries are on an environmental crusade

By Jeremy Deaton

Why fish can’t help but eat our plastic garbage

Environment

Why fish can’t help but eat our plastic garbage Why fish can’t help but eat our plastic garbage

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

antarctic landscape

Environment

Important things found in Antarctica this week: 91 volcanoes and also a fruitcake Important things found in Antarctica this week: 91 volcanoes and also a fruitcake

By Sara Chodosh

Science

How goldfish use booze to get through a hard winter How goldfish use booze to get through a hard winter

By Rachel Feltman

Now climate change is coming for our sea turtles

Environment

Now climate change is coming for our sea turtles Now climate change is coming for our sea turtles

By Kate Baggaley

This paper battery is powered by bacteria in your spit

Environment

This paper battery is powered by bacteria in your spit This paper battery is powered by bacteria in your spit

By Jeremy Deaton

The earliest airborne mammals may have glided among the dinosaurs 160 million years ago

Science

The earliest airborne mammals may have glided among the dinosaurs 160 million years ago The earliest airborne mammals may have glided among the dinosaurs 160 million years ago

By Aparna Nathan

City-dwelling sea snakes are changing colors for a strange reason

Environment

City-dwelling sea snakes are changing colors for a strange reason City-dwelling sea snakes are changing colors for a strange reason

By Mary Beth Griggs

This smart window uses electricity to quickly change from clear to dark

Technology

This smart window uses electricity to quickly change from clear to dark This smart window uses electricity to quickly change from clear to dark

UK climate report confirms 2016 was really hot

Environment

UK climate report confirms 2016 was really hot UK climate report confirms 2016 was really hot

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Environment

Bats are disappearing from churches in Sweden, and that’s not a good thing Bats are disappearing from churches in Sweden, and that’s not a good thing

By Mary Beth Griggs

Add Greenland to the growing list of countries on fire

Environment

Add Greenland to the growing list of countries on fire Add Greenland to the growing list of countries on fire

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Environment

A key government report on climate change is out. Here’s what you need to know A key government report on climate change is out. Here’s what you need to know

By Mary Beth Griggs

This is how much of the world is currently on fire

Environment

This is how much of the world is currently on fire This is how much of the world is currently on fire

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Growing skin in a lab has benefits for humans and turtles alike

Technology

Growing skin in a lab has benefits for humans and turtles alike Growing skin in a lab has benefits for humans and turtles alike

By Kate Baggaley

Climate change is making our favorite carbs less nutritious

Environment

Climate change is making our favorite carbs less nutritious Climate change is making our favorite carbs less nutritious

By Marlene Cimons

What to do with your pet if you need to evacuate

Health

What to do with your pet if you need to evacuate What to do with your pet if you need to evacuate

By Sara Kiley Watson

Inside Salt Lake City’s dreary, dangerous smog dome

Environment

Inside Salt Lake City’s dreary, dangerous smog dome Inside Salt Lake City’s dreary, dangerous smog dome

By Eleanor Cummins

Every sunset ends with a green flash. Why is it so hard to see?

Environment

Every sunset ends with a green flash. Why is it so hard to see? Every sunset ends with a green flash. Why is it so hard to see?

By Mark D. Kaufman

What’s really going on with sea level rise

Environment

What’s really going on with sea level rise What’s really going on with sea level rise

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Scientists are trying to treat autoimmune disease with intestinal worms

Environment

Scientists are trying to treat autoimmune disease with intestinal worms Scientists are trying to treat autoimmune disease with intestinal worms

By Kate Baggaley

Sorry, but New Zealand really needs to kill these adorable rabbits

Science

Sorry, but New Zealand really needs to kill these adorable rabbits Sorry, but New Zealand really needs to kill these adorable rabbits

By Sara Chodosh

The world’s water quality might be in trouble

Environment

The world’s water quality might be in trouble The world’s water quality might be in trouble

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Scientists know how to make mice angry—but mice know how to keep their cool

Environment

Scientists know how to make mice angry—but mice know how to keep their cool Scientists know how to make mice angry—but mice know how to keep their cool

By Aparna Nathan

Planes can fly in a blizzard because they are tested in this indoor one first

Environment

Planes can fly in a blizzard because they are tested in this indoor one first Planes can fly in a blizzard because they are tested in this indoor one first

Sea ice, before it’s too late

Environment

Sea ice, before it’s too late Sea ice, before it’s too late

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Elephant seals hate fights as much as you do—rhythm is their best defense

Environment

Elephant seals hate fights as much as you do—rhythm is their best defense Elephant seals hate fights as much as you do—rhythm is their best defense

By Sara Kiley Watson

There may be something weird going on with Western men’s sperm

Environment

There may be something weird going on with Western men’s sperm There may be something weird going on with Western men’s sperm

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

This engineer has a wild plan to save coral reefs from climate change

Environment

This engineer has a wild plan to save coral reefs from climate change This engineer has a wild plan to save coral reefs from climate change

By Marlene Cimons

Why scientists are racing to uncover the Greenland shark’s secrets

Environment

Why scientists are racing to uncover the Greenland shark’s secrets Why scientists are racing to uncover the Greenland shark’s secrets

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

hoodwinker sunfish

Environment

Meet an elusive, tragic, and incredibly bizarre new species of fish Meet an elusive, tragic, and incredibly bizarre new species of fish

By Sara Chodosh

httpswww.popsci.comsitespopsci.comfilesimages201707woman_-_beach_clean_up.jpg

Environment

Guess how many giant patches of garbage there are in the ocean now? Guess how many giant patches of garbage there are in the ocean now?

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Environment

Stopping deforestation might be easier than we thought Stopping deforestation might be easier than we thought

By Mary Beth Griggs

Protecting our children from climate change might take more than just cutting emissions

Environment

Protecting our children from climate change might take more than just cutting emissions Protecting our children from climate change might take more than just cutting emissions

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Soft plant-inspired robot navigates a maze

Technology

Plant-inspired soft robot grows to reach difficult places Plant-inspired soft robot grows to reach difficult places

By Kelsey D. Atherton