Conservation

Protecting natural resources—from sea to sky—is about much more than planting a few trees.

Latest in Conservation

Stressed clams turn ghostly white in warming waters

Animals

Stressed clams turn ghostly white in warming waters Stressed clams turn ghostly white in warming waters

By Janine Peralta/Hakai Magazine

Elephants have complex communities and distinct traditions

Animals

Elephants have complex communities and distinct traditions Elephants have complex communities and distinct traditions

By Mridula Chari/Undark

Yellow-green cyanobacteria bloom in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. Events like these can cause mass fish dieoffs.

Animals

A fish-kill mystery in a remote Alaska village takes a toxic turn A fish-kill mystery in a remote Alaska village takes a toxic turn

By Saima Sidik/Hakai Magazine

How to keep harmful algae blooms from spoiling your vacation

Climate Change

How to keep harmful algae blooms from spoiling your vacation How to keep harmful algae blooms from spoiling your vacation

By Brad Reisfeld/The Conversation

Amazonian dark earth (ADE) is a nutrient rich dark soil that could play a role in reforestation.

Biology

How 2,000-year-old soil could be a lifeline for the Amazon rainforest How 2,000-year-old soil could be a lifeline for the Amazon rainforest

By Laura Baisas

A swirl of dust from the Sahara desert is carried on winds above the Mediterranean.

Conservation

The epic journey of dust in the wind often ends with happy plankton The epic journey of dust in the wind often ends with happy plankton

A rendering of Proteus.

Conservation

An ambitious underwater ‘space station’ just got a major research collaborator An ambitious underwater ‘space station’ just got a major research collaborator

By Charlotte Hu

Volcanoes can be a fiery death sentence for fish

Animals

Volcanoes can be a fiery death sentence for fish Volcanoes can be a fiery death sentence for fish

By Chris Baraniuk / Hakai Magazine

Protecting wildlife starts with securing land for animals to roam

Animals

Protecting wildlife starts with securing land for animals to roam Protecting wildlife starts with securing land for animals to roam

By David Jachowski/The Conversation

tsunami warning sign in Israel

AI

New AI-based tsunami warning software could help save lives New AI-based tsunami warning software could help save lives

By Jamie Dickman

A mushroom called coprophilous grows in woods.

Animals

What prehistoric poop reveals about extinct giant animals What prehistoric poop reveals about extinct giant animals

By Laura Baisas

Deep-sea mining has murky aftereffects

Animals

Deep-sea mining has murky aftereffects Deep-sea mining has murky aftereffects

By Elham Shabahat/Hakai Magazine

A new robotic seed can wriggle into soil to harvest climate data

Agriculture

A new robotic seed can wriggle into soil to harvest climate data A new robotic seed can wriggle into soil to harvest climate data

By Sara Kiley Watson

Sleeping elephant seals on a California beach

Animals

Seals snooze during 20-minute ‘sleeping dives’ to avoid predators Seals snooze during 20-minute ‘sleeping dives’ to avoid predators

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

White Moluccan cockatoo on a branch turning toward a person's hand. Reddish flames are behind the bird to symbolize past trauma. Illustrated.

Animals

Parrots are deeply intelligent. But do we understand their emotions? Parrots are deeply intelligent. But do we understand their emotions?

By Brandon Keim

Turf wars between whales and crabbers have increased due to climate change

Animals

Turf wars between whales and crabbers have increased due to climate change Turf wars between whales and crabbers have increased due to climate change

By Jesse Kathan / Hakai Magazine

The UN’s first high seas treaty could help dwindling Pacific salmon

Animals

The UN’s first high seas treaty could help dwindling Pacific salmon The UN’s first high seas treaty could help dwindling Pacific salmon

By Sarah Trent / High Country News

Examples of floating plastics collected in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre during The Ocean Cleanup’s 2018 expedition.

Animals

Some coastal critters are thriving in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch Some coastal critters are thriving in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

By Laura Baisas

A mangrove tree in Florida to represent blue carbon and the ocean's power to fight climate change

Climate Change

Blue carbon is a natural climate solution with big potential Blue carbon is a natural climate solution with big potential

People walk in a field with blooming poppy flowers near the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve following an unusually wet winter on April 14, 2023 near Lancaster, California. Historic levels of rainfall fell in some parts of California, amid a barrage of atmospheric river winter storms, which has led to a 'super bloom' of wildflowers in certain parts of the state this spring.

Biology

California’s eye-popping super bloom is one for the books California’s eye-popping super bloom is one for the books

By Laura Baisas

Baby cod seem to be drawn to the lullaby of wind turbines

Animals

Baby cod seem to be drawn to the lullaby of wind turbines Baby cod seem to be drawn to the lullaby of wind turbines

By Emily Harwitz / Hakai Magazine

What happens when a tree dies?

Biology

What happens when a tree dies? What happens when a tree dies?

By Camille Stevens-Rumann/The Conversation

Ocean waves crashing on rocky shoreline on cloudy day.

Climate Change

Pendulums under ocean waves could prevent beach erosion Pendulums under ocean waves could prevent beach erosion

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin photographed on the moon during Apollo 11 by Neil Armstrong

Conservation

Lunar laws could protect the moon from humanity Lunar laws could protect the moon from humanity

Dog’s are a human’s best friend—and a shorebird’s worst enemy

Animals

Dog’s are a human’s best friend—and a shorebird’s worst enemy Dog’s are a human’s best friend—and a shorebird’s worst enemy

By Ben Goldfarb/Hakai Magazine

Chronic wasting disease is sickening deer and elk. Could predators help?

Animals

Chronic wasting disease is sickening deer and elk. Could predators help? Chronic wasting disease is sickening deer and elk. Could predators help?

By Christine Peterson/High Country News

Icebergs over the ocean in Greenland.

Climate Change

Antarctic ice can melt 20 times faster than we thought Antarctic ice can melt 20 times faster than we thought

By Laura Baisas

A close-up of extended polyps of an apparently healthy great star coral colony on a reef near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The tentacles surrounding the mouth of each polyp help trap food particles for the coral to eat.

Animals

Caribbean coral is getting sick and dying. A probiotic could help. Caribbean coral is getting sick and dying. A probiotic could help.

By Laura Baisas

This is how bad a ‘super pig’ problem can really get

Agriculture

This is how bad a ‘super pig’ problem can really get This is how bad a ‘super pig’ problem can really get

By Sage Marshall/Field & Stream

Lolita the killer whale performing its 40th anniversary performance at Miami Seaquarium.

Animals

After 50 years in captivity, Lolita the orca may be freed After 50 years in captivity, Lolita the orca may be freed

By Laura Baisas

Ilinizas Volcanoes under the Quilotoa lagoon in the Andes Mountains in Ecuador. Scientists recently discovered two new carnivorous plant species in the rugged high Andes.

Biology

Two newly discovered Andes Mountain plant species have an appetite for insects Two newly discovered Andes Mountain plant species have an appetite for insects

By Laura Baisas

Bears can run at surprisingly fast speeds—here’s how they vary by species

Animals

Bears can run at surprisingly fast speeds—here’s how they vary by species Bears can run at surprisingly fast speeds—here’s how they vary by species

By Bill Heavey/Field & Stream

How can you tell a dolphin’s age? Check its freckles.

Animals

How can you tell a dolphin’s age? Check its freckles. How can you tell a dolphin’s age? Check its freckles.

By Marina Wang / Hakai Magazine

A white-tailed jackrabbit in it's winter white fur.

Animals

Jackrabbit’s color-changing fur may prepare them for climate change Jackrabbit’s color-changing fur may prepare them for climate change

By Laura Baisas

Ankylosaur in blue floatie and life vest riding the ocean waves. Prehistoric trees and a full moon are in the background. Illustrated.

Biology

Why dinosaurs were terrible swimmers Why dinosaurs were terrible swimmers

President Joe Biden standing at a podium, addressing the White House Conservation in Action Summit.

Climate Change

The US inches closer to protecting 30 percent of all its lands and oceans The US inches closer to protecting 30 percent of all its lands and oceans

By Laura Baisas

A bug on a green leaf feeding on a caterpillar.

Animals

Save caterpillars by turning off your outdoor lights Save caterpillars by turning off your outdoor lights

By Laura Baisas

The sun shining on glaciers.

Biology

‘Humanity on thin ice’ says UN, but there is still time to act on climate change ‘Humanity on thin ice’ says UN, but there is still time to act on climate change

By Laura Baisas

Close up of a newly discovered orchid species named Spiranthes hachijoensis with pink petals,

Biology

This new species of pink orchid looks like delicate glasswork This new species of pink orchid looks like delicate glasswork

By Laura Baisas

Poop emoji covered in soap bubbles on a light blue background

Agriculture

Your poop is useful. Meet the father-son team creating ‘humanure.’ Your poop is useful. Meet the father-son team creating ‘humanure.’

By Lina Zeldovich

A stinky, 5,000-mile-long wad of seaweed is about to gunk up Florida’s beaches

Animals

A stinky, 5,000-mile-long wad of seaweed is about to gunk up Florida’s beaches A stinky, 5,000-mile-long wad of seaweed is about to gunk up Florida’s beaches

By Sara Kiley Watson

The US government wants to round up the West’s feral cattle

Agriculture

The US government wants to round up the West’s feral cattle The US government wants to round up the West’s feral cattle

By Jonathan Thompson / High Country News

Ecologists have declared war on this popular decorative tree

Biology

Ecologists have declared war on this popular decorative tree Ecologists have declared war on this popular decorative tree

By Ryan W. McEwan / The Conversation

Whitespotted eagle ray swimming in the ocean.

Agriculture

Scientists test different gear for protecting clams from ‘crunching’ rays Scientists test different gear for protecting clams from ‘crunching’ rays

By Laura Baisas

X1 Wind's X30 floating wind turbine prototype off the Canary Islands coast

Conservation

This floating wind turbine just generated its first kilowatt hour of power This floating wind turbine just generated its first kilowatt hour of power

A tiny fish is more genetically diverse than we thought. Here’s why that matters.

Animals

A tiny fish is more genetically diverse than we thought. Here’s why that matters. A tiny fish is more genetically diverse than we thought. Here’s why that matters.

By Brian Owens / Hakai Magazine

Underwater image of sunken ship, Ironton, in Lake Huron

Archaeology

Get a high-tech tour of the long-lost Ironton shipwreck discovered in the Great Lakes Get a high-tech tour of the long-lost Ironton shipwreck discovered in the Great Lakes

A pod of dolphins swimming together in blue water.

Animals

The ‘High-Seas Treaty’ to protect marine life in the open ocean finally makes progress The ‘High-Seas Treaty’ to protect marine life in the open ocean finally makes progress

By Laura Baisas

Lichens may help forecast sea level rise

Climate Change

Lichens may help forecast sea level rise Lichens may help forecast sea level rise

By Ian Rose / Hakai Magazine

Research student holding graphene seaweed hydrogel in gloved hand

Conservation

MasterChef inspired an edible medical sensor MasterChef inspired an edible medical sensor

Beaver driving construction truck with logs on back to symbolize ecosystem engineer. Illustrated in purple, yellow, and brown.

Animals

Beavers, snails, and elephants are top grads from nature’s college of engineering Beavers, snails, and elephants are top grads from nature’s college of engineering

By Philip Kiefer

A moniker fairy lantern plant detonates, with its petals unfurling.

Biology

Scientists just rediscovered a rare, fungi-eating ‘fairy lantern’ Scientists just rediscovered a rare, fungi-eating ‘fairy lantern’

By Laura Baisas

A pine tree in Clark County, Washington damaged by the 2021 heat wave. The trees in the background are scorched Douglas-fir.

Climate Change

Even the cool forests of the Pacific Northwest face the danger of extreme heat Even the cool forests of the Pacific Northwest face the danger of extreme heat

By Sarah Trent / High Country News

Purple sea urchins clumped together in an urchin barren.

Animals

These urchin-eating sea stars might be helping us reduce carbon levels These urchin-eating sea stars might be helping us reduce carbon levels

Several European spruce bark beetles on a dry piece of wood.

Animals

These beetles sniff out fungus-infected trees to find their next target These beetles sniff out fungus-infected trees to find their next target

By Laura Baisas

barnacles on the beach

Climate Change

Slow-moving shoreline creatures are sitting ducks for climate change Slow-moving shoreline creatures are sitting ducks for climate change

By Michael Allen / Hakai Magazine

Human interactions can drastically change wolf pack dynamics

Animals

Human interactions can drastically change wolf pack dynamics Human interactions can drastically change wolf pack dynamics

By Kylie Mohr / High Country News

An adult humpback whale surfaces above the water in eastern Australia.

Animals

A group of humpback whales is choosing violence A group of humpback whales is choosing violence

By Laura Baisas

A European hedgehog on a road with a yellow flower.

Animals

Why Danish citizen scientists were on a quest to find the oldest European hedgehog Why Danish citizen scientists were on a quest to find the oldest European hedgehog

By Laura Baisas

Pink pigeon in New York City wildlife rescue center that was dyed for gender reveal party

Climate Change

Gender reveal parties are turning nature pink and blue Gender reveal parties are turning nature pink and blue

A Eurasian lynch perches in a fallen tree in a forest.

Animals

The endangered Eurasian lynx might never recover fully in France The endangered Eurasian lynx might never recover fully in France

By Laura Baisas

How thinning could help prevent wildfires

Climate Change

How thinning could help prevent wildfires How thinning could help prevent wildfires

By Emily Shepherd / High Country News

Millions of dead crabs ended up in the deep sea. Scientists still aren’t sure why.

Animals

Millions of dead crabs ended up in the deep sea. Scientists still aren’t sure why. Millions of dead crabs ended up in the deep sea. Scientists still aren’t sure why.

By Fanni Szakal / Hakai Magazine

A woman in a field observes a plant.

Animals

Citizen science is another great form of nature therapy Citizen science is another great form of nature therapy

By Laura Baisas