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

Leaked EPA memo: Not even the EPA knows what’s going on with the EPA

Environment

Leaked EPA memo: Not even the EPA knows what’s going on with the EPA Leaked EPA memo: Not even the EPA knows what’s going on with the EPA

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

This ghastly sack of cells may be your distant ancestor

Environment

This ghastly sack of cells may be your distant ancestor This ghastly sack of cells may be your distant ancestor

Celebrate Year of the Rooster with the best chicken science

Environment

Celebrate Year of the Rooster with the best chicken science Celebrate Year of the Rooster with the best chicken science

Scientists finally figured out how to make tomatoes taste good again

Technology

Scientists finally figured out how to make tomatoes taste good again Scientists finally figured out how to make tomatoes taste good again

By Mary Beth Griggs

This parasitic wasp forces other parasitic wasps to do its dirty work, then eats them

Environment

This parasitic wasp forces other parasitic wasps to do its dirty work, then eats them This parasitic wasp forces other parasitic wasps to do its dirty work, then eats them

By Sara Chodosh

Trashed electronics are piling up across Asia

Environment

Trashed electronics are piling up across Asia Trashed electronics are piling up across Asia

By Sophie Bushwick

Environment

Check out these gorgeous new images of Earth From the GOES-16 satellite Check out these gorgeous new images of Earth From the GOES-16 satellite

By Mary Beth Griggs

badlands national park

Environment

What we actually lose when the USDA and EPA can’t talk to the public What we actually lose when the USDA and EPA can’t talk to the public

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

*Harryplax severus*

Environment

New ‘Harry Potter’ crab species casts a spell New ‘Harry Potter’ crab species casts a spell

By Mary Beth Griggs

Scientists want to give the world a second chance at Caspian tigers

Environment

Scientists want to give the world a second chance at Caspian tigers Scientists want to give the world a second chance at Caspian tigers

California’s snowpack is good news for the parched state—for now

Environment

California’s snowpack is good news for the parched state—for now California’s snowpack is good news for the parched state—for now

By Mary Beth Griggs

Science

Here’s what the Obama administration did for science Here’s what the Obama administration did for science

By Jason Lederman

Climate change threatens American agriculture

Environment

Climate change threatens American agriculture Climate change threatens American agriculture

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Moth gut bacteria could help create new antibiotics

Environment

Moth gut bacteria could help create new antibiotics Moth gut bacteria could help create new antibiotics

By Claire Maldarelli

Ants can find their way home walking backwards, but they have to peek first

Environment

Ants can find their way home walking backwards, but they have to peek first Ants can find their way home walking backwards, but they have to peek first

By Sara Chodosh

It’s not in your head: The weather is weirder, and climate change is the reason why

Environment

It’s not in your head: The weather is weirder, and climate change is the reason why It’s not in your head: The weather is weirder, and climate change is the reason why

By Mark D. Kaufman

2016 was the hottest year on record

Environment

2016 was the hottest year on record 2016 was the hottest year on record

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Namibia fairy circle

Environment

A new study explains the origin of mysterious ‘fairy circles’ in the desert A new study explains the origin of mysterious ‘fairy circles’ in the desert

By Sara Chodosh

Climate change might mean nicer weather in some places—but don’t get too excited

Environment

Climate change might mean nicer weather in some places—but don’t get too excited Climate change might mean nicer weather in some places—but don’t get too excited

By Marlene Cimons

A mysterious stranding left nearly 100 dead dolphins off the coast of Florida

Environment

A mysterious stranding left nearly 100 dead dolphins off the coast of Florida A mysterious stranding left nearly 100 dead dolphins off the coast of Florida

By Eleanor Cummins

A female shark had a bunch of babies without male contact

Environment

A female shark had a bunch of babies without male contact A female shark had a bunch of babies without male contact

By Rachel Feltman

3 weird ways we can remotely control animals and bacteria

Environment

3 weird ways we can remotely control animals and bacteria 3 weird ways we can remotely control animals and bacteria

By Kate Baggaley

Wyoming is basically trying to outlaw clean energy

Environment

Wyoming is basically trying to outlaw clean energy Wyoming is basically trying to outlaw clean energy

By Eleanor Cummins

To understand the evolution of menopause, just look at family drama—in killer whales

Environment

To understand the evolution of menopause, just look at family drama—in killer whales To understand the evolution of menopause, just look at family drama—in killer whales

By Rachel Feltman

These freaky baboon shrieks could push back the evolution of speech

Science

These freaky baboon shrieks could push back the evolution of speech These freaky baboon shrieks could push back the evolution of speech

By Sara Chodosh

Environment

Want people to notice your climate research? Learn how to write. Want people to notice your climate research? Learn how to write.

By Marlene Cimons

Environment

The flooding in California won’t end its three-year drought The flooding in California won’t end its three-year drought

By Mary Beth Griggs

rusty patched bumblebee

Environment

This bumblebee is the first to become endangered—but it won’t be the last This bumblebee is the first to become endangered—but it won’t be the last

Cow nose up close

Environment

#DoesItFart is the burning science question you never knew you had #DoesItFart is the burning science question you never knew you had

By Sara Chodosh

New research might explain why you get so hungry when you’re drunk

Environment

New research might explain why you get so hungry when you’re drunk New research might explain why you get so hungry when you’re drunk

By Rachel Feltman

Warmer oceans are now linked to dangerous neurotoxins in shellfish

Environment

Warmer oceans are now linked to dangerous neurotoxins in shellfish Warmer oceans are now linked to dangerous neurotoxins in shellfish

By Rachel Feltman

These adorable birds are sexual nomads—and that helps protect their species

Environment

These adorable birds are sexual nomads—and that helps protect their species These adorable birds are sexual nomads—and that helps protect their species

By Sara Chodosh

Why is the smog in China so bad?

Environment

Why is the smog in China so bad? Why is the smog in China so bad?

By Mary Beth Griggs

Birds with bigger beaks get colder noses

Environment

Birds with bigger beaks get colder noses Birds with bigger beaks get colder noses

Environment

The global warming hiatus never actually happened The global warming hiatus never actually happened

By Mary Beth Griggs

Granny, the world’s oldest known orca, is likely dead

Environment

Granny, the world’s oldest known orca, is likely dead Granny, the world’s oldest known orca, is likely dead

By Rachel Feltman

Here are the last uncharted corners of the globe

Environment

Here are the last uncharted corners of the globe Here are the last uncharted corners of the globe

By Sara Chodosh

WTF is a pangolin? Fall in love with this sentient artichoke before it goes extinct

Environment

WTF is a pangolin? Fall in love with this sentient artichoke before it goes extinct WTF is a pangolin? Fall in love with this sentient artichoke before it goes extinct

By Rachel Feltman

These will be the best places to live in America in 2100 A.D.

Environment

These will be the best places to live in America in 2100 A.D. These will be the best places to live in America in 2100 A.D.

For this deep-sea archaeologist, finding the Titanic at the bottom of the sea was just the start

Environment

For this deep-sea archaeologist, finding the Titanic at the bottom of the sea was just the start For this deep-sea archaeologist, finding the Titanic at the bottom of the sea was just the start

By Mary Beth Griggs

Charting the volcanic eruptions that are pushing our world apart

Environment

Charting the volcanic eruptions that are pushing our world apart Charting the volcanic eruptions that are pushing our world apart

By Knvul Sheikh

Breaking the glass ceiling on the ocean floor

Environment

Breaking the glass ceiling on the ocean floor Breaking the glass ceiling on the ocean floor

By Sara Chodosh

This geophysicist uses rock-sniffing subs to understand polar magnetic flips

Environment

This geophysicist uses rock-sniffing subs to understand polar magnetic flips This geophysicist uses rock-sniffing subs to understand polar magnetic flips

Looking for aliens in the Arctic

Environment

Looking for aliens in the Arctic Looking for aliens in the Arctic

Environment

At 81, this record-breaking diver isn’t done exploring the ocean’s depths At 81, this record-breaking diver isn’t done exploring the ocean’s depths

By Mary Beth Griggs

Don’t hate on deep-sea critters. They’ve got to be weird to survive.

Environment

Don’t hate on deep-sea critters. They’ve got to be weird to survive. Don’t hate on deep-sea critters. They’ve got to be weird to survive.

By Kate Baggaley

Egyptian Fruit Bats

Environment

Now we know what an angry, hungry bat sounds like Now we know what an angry, hungry bat sounds like

By Mary Beth Griggs

The most surprising places where it (sometimes) snows

Environment

The most surprising places where it (sometimes) snows The most surprising places where it (sometimes) snows

By Rachel Feltman

Environment

#Bestspots is the adorable Twitter feud we need to get through 2016 #Bestspots is the adorable Twitter feud we need to get through 2016

By Sara Chodosh

Environment

Here’s a newt that kind of looks like a Klingon Here’s a newt that kind of looks like a Klingon

By Rachel Feltman

Environment

Tickle experiments reveal what a happy rat looks like Tickle experiments reveal what a happy rat looks like

The adorable ‘Casper’ octopod could be killed off by deep-sea mining

Environment

The adorable ‘Casper’ octopod could be killed off by deep-sea mining The adorable ‘Casper’ octopod could be killed off by deep-sea mining

By Rachel Feltman

Strange giant diamonds give hints to the inner Earth’s composition

Environment

Strange giant diamonds give hints to the inner Earth’s composition Strange giant diamonds give hints to the inner Earth’s composition

By Mary Beth Griggs

Scientists watch an undersea volcano shake, rattle, and inflate

Environment

Scientists watch an undersea volcano shake, rattle, and inflate Scientists watch an undersea volcano shake, rattle, and inflate

By Mary Beth Griggs

Environment

How to use big data to avoid building highways to hell How to use big data to avoid building highways to hell

By Marlene Cimons

This six-story monster wave sets a new world record

Environment

This six-story monster wave sets a new world record This six-story monster wave sets a new world record

By Kate Baggaley

Late-night comics could have a real impact on climate change denial

Environment

Late-night comics could have a real impact on climate change denial Late-night comics could have a real impact on climate change denial

By Jeremy Deaton

The Arctic just got its 2016 climate ‘report card’—and it’s flunking

Environment

The Arctic just got its 2016 climate ‘report card’—and it’s flunking The Arctic just got its 2016 climate ‘report card’—and it’s flunking

By Rachel Feltman

Glowworms trap dinner in fishing line made of water and urine

Environment

Glowworms trap dinner in fishing line made of water and urine Glowworms trap dinner in fishing line made of water and urine

By Kate Baggaley

Gifts that grow (even without a green thumb)

Gear

Gifts that grow (even without a green thumb) Gifts that grow (even without a green thumb)

By Sara Chodosh

Homeopathy doesn’t work for cows, either

Health

Homeopathy doesn’t work for cows, either Homeopathy doesn’t work for cows, either

By Sara Chodosh

reindeer in finland

Environment

Climate war on Christmas: Global warming is causing reindeer to shrink Climate war on Christmas: Global warming is causing reindeer to shrink

By Rachel Feltman

X-ray Video of Macaque Vocal Anatomy

Environment

Monkeys may technically be able to talk (but this will make you glad they don’t) Monkeys may technically be able to talk (but this will make you glad they don’t)

By Kelsey D. Atherton

The planet is heating up faster than species can migrate

Environment

The planet is heating up faster than species can migrate The planet is heating up faster than species can migrate

By Marlene Cimons