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

An octopus hatchling emerges from a group of eggs at a new octopus nursery. This nursery was first discovered in June 2023 at Tengosed Seamount off Costa Rica.

Animals

Four new octopus species discovered in the deep-sea vents off Costa Rica Four new octopus species discovered in the deep-sea vents off Costa Rica

By Laura Baisas

John Deere 8R Autonomous Tractor in field

Agriculture

John Deere and Starlink partner to provide satellite internet for rural farmers John Deere and Starlink partner to provide satellite internet for rural farmers

The cost of freeing drinking water from ‘forever chemicals’

Climate Change

The cost of freeing drinking water from ‘forever chemicals’ The cost of freeing drinking water from ‘forever chemicals’

By Charles Schmidt / Undark

An Eastern dwarf tree frog covered in seeds.

Animals

These Australian frogs get absolutely covered in seeds These Australian frogs get absolutely covered in seeds

By Ethan Freedman

Check out some of the past year’s best close-up photography

Animals

Check out some of the past year’s best close-up photography Check out some of the past year’s best close-up photography

Four of the best small humidifiers side by side on a plain white background.

Climate Change

The best small dehumidifiers for 2024 The best small dehumidifiers for 2024

By John Alexander

A pink hummingbird sits on a perch inside of a tunnel. Green and black stripes are projected on the walls of the tunnel.

Animals

How hummingbirds switch gears at breakneck speeds How hummingbirds switch gears at breakneck speeds

By Laura Baisas

Team France in action during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Giant Slalom on February 25, 2023 in Palisades Tahoe, USA.

Environment

Tahoe avalanche: What causes seemingly safe snow slopes to collapse? Tahoe avalanche: What causes seemingly safe snow slopes to collapse?

By Nathalie Vriend / The Conversation

An artist’s impression of a group of G. blacki within a forest in southern China. Four of these giant apes sit on the grass near a stream, while an orangutan hangs from a tree branch. They are brown with yellow-ish manes around their faces.

Animals

These extinct, nearly 10-foot-tall apes could not adapt to shifting seasons These extinct, nearly 10-foot-tall apes could not adapt to shifting seasons

By Laura Baisas

Fruit bats hanging on tree branches in daylight in Bangladesh on November 6, 2023.

Animals

Why fruit bats can eat tons of sugar without getting diabetes Why fruit bats can eat tons of sugar without getting diabetes

By Laura Baisas

Microscopic view of Oikopleura dioica

Animals

This tiny sea creature builds a ‘snot palace’ to capture food This tiny sea creature builds a ‘snot palace’ to capture food

Dragonflies mating - Azure damselflies

Animals

The bizarre sex lives of insects The bizarre sex lives of insects

By Emmanuelle Pouydebat / MIT Press Reader

Mendenhall Glacier

Environment

In Juneau, Alaska, a carbon offset project that’s actually working In Juneau, Alaska, a carbon offset project that’s actually working

By Taylor Kate Brown / Grist

Data visualization of all maritime activity in the North Sea

AI

AI and satellite data helped uncover the ocean’s ‘dark vessels’ AI and satellite data helped uncover the ocean’s ‘dark vessels’

An illustration of the pelagic ecosystem and the organisms fossilized in Sirius Passet, revealing how Timorebestia was one of the largest predators in the water column more than 518 million years ago.

Animals

Extinct ‘terror beasts’ were some pretty formidable worms Extinct ‘terror beasts’ were some pretty formidable worms

By Laura Baisas

A Matabele ant tends to the wound of a fellow ant whose legs were bitten off in a fight with termites.

Animals

Matabele ants might be able to diagnose and treat infected wounds Matabele ants might be able to diagnose and treat infected wounds

By Laura Baisas

A Jackery solar generator on a plain background arranged in a brick pattern

Environment

Prepare for any storm ahead with 37% off this Jackery solar generator Prepare for any storm ahead with 37% off this Jackery solar generator

A lineup of four of the best mosquito traps

Animals

The 6 best mosquito traps for 2024 The 6 best mosquito traps for 2024

Levoit P350 Air Purifier next to a black dog on the floor.

Climate Change

The best air purifiers for pets in 2024, tested and reviewed The best air purifiers for pets in 2024, tested and reviewed

By Abby Ferguson

Salmon fishing in Alaska, fisherman in gloves handling fish in net on a boat

Agriculture

As salmon disappear, a battle over Alaska Native fishing rights heats up As salmon disappear, a battle over Alaska Native fishing rights heats up

By Max Graham/Grist

A jellyfish Cladonema pacificum with multiple branched tentacles.

Animals

These fingernail-sized jellyfish can regenerate tentacles—but how? These fingernail-sized jellyfish can regenerate tentacles—but how?

By Laura Baisas

Three feral hogs in grass. One is black and standing while grazing. The middle is gray and sitting. The third is brown and also sitting.

Agriculture

Wild ‘super pigs’ from Canada could become a new front in the war on feral hogs Wild ‘super pigs’ from Canada could become a new front in the war on feral hogs

By Marcus Lashley / The Conversation

Five new species of soft-furred hedgehogs have been identified

Animals

Five new species of soft-furred hedgehogs have been identified Five new species of soft-furred hedgehogs have been identified

By Laura Baisas

A small brown frog standing on leaves at the water’s edge.

Animals

This tiny ‘leaf-nester’ is the smallest known fanged frog This tiny ‘leaf-nester’ is the smallest known fanged frog

By Laura Baisas

Morel mushrooms growing in a greenhouse in central China's Hubei Province. The mushrooms have long brown caps and white stems.

Agriculture

Mysterious morel mushrooms at center of food poisoning outbreak Mysterious morel mushrooms at center of food poisoning outbreak

By Keely Larson / KFF Health News

The Best LED Grow Lights

Agriculture

The best LED grow lights for 2024 The best LED grow lights for 2024

By Sarah Horaczek

An aardvark with a long nose sits in grass.

Animals

Why scientists are studying aardvarks’ poop Why scientists are studying aardvarks’ poop

By Laura Baisas

Lessons from Lake Tanganyika’s scale eating fish

Animals

Lessons from Lake Tanganyika’s scale eating fish Lessons from Lake Tanganyika’s scale eating fish

By Jeffrey McKinnon / MIT Press Reader

A reindeer stands on snowy ground with hills in the distance.

Animals

Reindeer can see UV light—and we may know why Reindeer can see UV light—and we may know why

By Laura Baisas

Top: Beans at the CIAT gene bank in Colombia, which has just sent its latest consignments of seeds for conservation at the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard, Norway.

Agriculture

In the face of extreme weather, scientists look to adapt crops In the face of extreme weather, scientists look to adapt crops

By Lourdes Medrano/Undark

The Wakayama Soryu was about the size of a great white shark and lived more than 72 million years ago.

Animals

This ‘blue dragon’ sliced through the ancient Pacific with paddle-like fins This ‘blue dragon’ sliced through the ancient Pacific with paddle-like fins

By Laura Baisas

A lineup of the best automatic cat feeders on a plain background

Animals

The best automatic cat feeders for 2024 The best automatic cat feeders for 2024

A bearded seal swimming in Arctic waters in Svalbard, Norway. Their name comes from the long and sensitive facial whiskers that they use to find food.

Animals

Arctic seals have special noses Arctic seals have special noses

By Laura Baisas

Energy

The public lands and the energy transition conundrum The public lands and the energy transition conundrum

By Jonathan Thompson / High Country News

A bird called a green honeycreeper stands on a tree branch. It has blue male plumage on its left side and green female plumage on its right.

Animals

Rare bird with half male and half female plumage photographed in Colombia Rare bird with half male and half female plumage photographed in Colombia

By Laura Baisas

A man holes a 14-inch goldfish removed from the Niagara River.

Animals

Releasing pet goldfish into the wild has serious consequences Releasing pet goldfish into the wild has serious consequences

By Laura Baisas

New Zealand’s quest to save its rotund, flightless parrots

Animals

New Zealand’s quest to save its rotund, flightless parrots New Zealand’s quest to save its rotund, flightless parrots

By Rina Diane Caballar / Knowable Magazine

In Alaska, preparing for tsunamis is no small feat

Environment

In Alaska, preparing for tsunamis is no small feat In Alaska, preparing for tsunamis is no small feat

By Christian Elliott / Undark

Thick smoke from a wildfire in the tundra in Alaska.

Climate Change

Wildfires are thawing the tundra Wildfires are thawing the tundra

By Kylie Mohr / High Country News

Paleontologist Martin Lockley sits in front of a rock with dinosaur claw marks and shows how dinosaurs must have clawed into the rock during a mating ceremony where they made pseudo nests for potential mates.

Animals

Why dinosaur footprints inspired paleontologist Martin Lockley Why dinosaur footprints inspired paleontologist Martin Lockley

By Laura Baisas

Illustration of biofiber within cracked concrete

Biology

Bacterial ‘blood’ could heal cracks in concrete Bacterial ‘blood’ could heal cracks in concrete

Even lab mice are getting VR headsets now

Animals

Even lab mice are getting VR headsets now Even lab mice are getting VR headsets now

‘Forever chemicals’ found in freshwater fish, yet most states don’t warn residents

Animals

‘Forever chemicals’ found in freshwater fish, yet most states don’t warn residents ‘Forever chemicals’ found in freshwater fish, yet most states don’t warn residents

By Hannah Norman / KFF Health News

A circular grey fossil with long linear grooves on it.

Animals

Fossil first identified as plant is actually a baby turtle Fossil first identified as plant is actually a baby turtle

By Laura Baisas

Waves on the ocean.

Climate Change

Warming oceans could thaw trapped ‘fire-ice’ Warming oceans could thaw trapped ‘fire-ice’

By Laura Baisas

A sample of baboon skulls dating back 2,500 to 2,800 years in southern Egypt.

Animals

Ancient Egyptians likely kept baboons in captivity—and mummified them Ancient Egyptians likely kept baboons in captivity—and mummified them

By Laura Baisas

NeRmo mouse robot standing against blue background

Animals

Meet NeRmo, the mouse robot with backbone Meet NeRmo, the mouse robot with backbone

Multiple cows standing in an industrial barn.

Agriculture

What would happen if everyone stopped eating meat tomorrow? What would happen if everyone stopped eating meat tomorrow?

By Max Graham/Grist

A dark-furred mouse looks into a mirror.

Animals

Mice may be able to recognize their own reflections Mice may be able to recognize their own reflections

By Laura Baisas

Glowing blue lights of the tiny ostracods move in sync with one another.

Animals

Watch the mucus-filled, synchronized mating dance of bioluminescent ‘sea fireflies’ Watch the mucus-filled, synchronized mating dance of bioluminescent ‘sea fireflies’

By Laura Baisas

A dinosaur called poposaurus walks near some trees. The dinosaur comes from a group of extinct relatives of the crocodile known as Poposauroidea.

Animals

Tracing the crocodiles’ curious evolutionary family tree Tracing the crocodiles’ curious evolutionary family tree

By Laura Baisas

A mosquito encased in yellow-hued amber.

Animals

Millions of years ago, male mosquitoes may have been blood suckers too Millions of years ago, male mosquitoes may have been blood suckers too

By Laura Baisas

Completed JT-60SA experimental nuclear fusion facility in Japan

Energy

The world’s largest experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor is up and running The world’s largest experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor is up and running

A red-tailed hawk with a broken wing at the New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, Mass.

Animals

Digitized records from wildlife centers show the most common ways that humans harm wild animals Digitized records from wildlife centers show the most common ways that humans harm wild animals

By Tara K. Miller and Richard B. Primack / The Conversation

1-guilla eel robot without casing

Animals

Watch this eel robot effortlessly glide underwater Watch this eel robot effortlessly glide underwater

A white axolotl in a tank. Axolotls are sometimes called the ‘Peter Pan of amphibians’ since they do not go through a traditional metamorphosis and keep larval traits like their signature gills.

Animals

Go (virtually) adopt an axolotl, the ‘Peter Pan’ of amphibians Go (virtually) adopt an axolotl, the ‘Peter Pan’ of amphibians

By Laura Baisas

A cicada sitting on a green leaf. The insect has bright orange eyes and large wings. Cicadas live underground for 13 or 17 years, before emerging to mate.

Animals

Fiber optic cables can pick up cicadas’ droning din Fiber optic cables can pick up cicadas’ droning din

By Laura Baisas

US military says national security depends on ‘forever chemicals’

Environment

US military says national security depends on ‘forever chemicals’ US military says national security depends on ‘forever chemicals’

By Patricia Kime / KFF Health News

A French bulldog standing in a pile of leaves.

Animals

An unknown respiratory illness is sickening dogs in the US, but ‘don’t panic’ An unknown respiratory illness is sickening dogs in the US, but ‘don’t panic’

By Laura Baisas

Google and Fervo's geothermal power plant in Nevada at dusk

Climate Change

Geothermal energy now helps power Google’s desert data centers Geothermal energy now helps power Google’s desert data centers

A large rat stands on a tree trunk at night. The Vangunu giant rat is the first new species of rodent described from Solomon Islands in over 80 years.

Animals

A legendary Vangunu giant rat was finally caught on camera A legendary Vangunu giant rat was finally caught on camera

By Laura Baisas

All the fish we cannot see

Animals

All the fish we cannot see All the fish we cannot see

By Moira Donovan / Hakai Magazine

An orange California newt sits on a rock. The amphibians are endemic to California.

Animals

Female Taricha newts are more poisonous than males Female Taricha newts are more poisonous than males

By Laura Baisas

How AI could help scientists spot ‘ultra-emission’ methane plumes faster—from space

AI

How AI could help scientists spot ‘ultra-emission’ methane plumes faster—from space How AI could help scientists spot ‘ultra-emission’ methane plumes faster—from space