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

Beach showers are washing pollutants into the ocean

Climate Change

Beach showers are washing pollutants into the ocean Beach showers are washing pollutants into the ocean

By Jea Morris / Hakai Magazine

Recycled notebook and metal straw.

Climate Change

Consumers are skeptical of buying recycled goods. Are they right? Consumers are skeptical of buying recycled goods. Are they right?

By Carla Delgado

A rare tropical storm will skirt by the Southwest, just days after historic heatwave

Environment

A rare tropical storm will skirt by the Southwest, just days after historic heatwave A rare tropical storm will skirt by the Southwest, just days after historic heatwave

By Laura Baisas

Components from the board game Promesa.

Agriculture

You’ll need to solve Puerto Rico’s debt crisis to win this new board game You’ll need to solve Puerto Rico’s debt crisis to win this new board game

By Maria Parazo Rose

Up close image of mosquito.

Animals

New four-dose malaria vaccine is up to 80 percent effective New four-dose malaria vaccine is up to 80 percent effective

By Laura Baisas

A cooked lobster claw.

Animals

Eating sustainably may mean skipping the lobster for now Eating sustainably may mean skipping the lobster for now

By Laura Baisas

wine-glass-with-smoke

Climate Change

The terroir of wildfire: How winemakers are adapting to a smokier world The terroir of wildfire: How winemakers are adapting to a smokier world

By Philip Kiefer

A bluefin tuna swimming in the open ocean.

Animals

Where food is scarce, ocean predators find snacks in swirling eddies Where food is scarce, ocean predators find snacks in swirling eddies

By Laura Baisas

In a rare, fatal shark attack, tourist killed in the Bahamas

Animals

In a rare, fatal shark attack, tourist killed in the Bahamas In a rare, fatal shark attack, tourist killed in the Bahamas

By Laura Baisas

a pile of plastic trash with an emphasis of a gray crate filled with other plastic items including a black plastic eel trap

Climate Change

A close look at the Great Pacific Garbage Patch reveals a common culprit A close look at the Great Pacific Garbage Patch reveals a common culprit

By Lauren J. Young

Why sea lampreys are going to be a bigger problem for the Great Lakes

Animals

Why sea lampreys are going to be a bigger problem for the Great Lakes Why sea lampreys are going to be a bigger problem for the Great Lakes

By Rebecca Redelmeier / Undark

Historic heat dome sets yet another climate record in Western US

Climate Change

Historic heat dome sets yet another climate record in Western US Historic heat dome sets yet another climate record in Western US

By Laura Baisas

Solar PV panel up close.

Climate Change

Are solar panels headed for space? Are solar panels headed for space?

The Thwaites ‘doomsday’ glacier is on the cusp of disaster

Climate Change

The Thwaites ‘doomsday’ glacier is on the cusp of disaster The Thwaites ‘doomsday’ glacier is on the cusp of disaster

By Laura Baisas

Seal-spooking tech could help protect endangered salmon

Animals

Seal-spooking tech could help protect endangered salmon Seal-spooking tech could help protect endangered salmon

By Marina Wang / Hakai Magazine

Full-grown bison standing in a prairie full of yellow goldenrod wildflowers

Animals

Bison are bringing biodiversity back to Kansas prairie land Bison are bringing biodiversity back to Kansas prairie land

In photos: The widespread threats of melting Himalayan glaciers

Climate Change

In photos: The widespread threats of melting Himalayan glaciers In photos: The widespread threats of melting Himalayan glaciers

By Zakir Hossain Chowdhury / Undark

AI

Artificial intelligence is helping scientists decode animal languages Artificial intelligence is helping scientists decode animal languages

By Charlotte Hu

A bucket of crabs, who have a multi-purpose material called chitosan in their shells.

Animals

Sustainable batteries could one day be made from crab shells Sustainable batteries could one day be made from crab shells

Printer making flyers.

Agriculture

Should we switch from petroleum ink to soy-based ink? Should we switch from petroleum ink to soy-based ink?

By Carla Delgado

Rare ‘triple dip’ La Niña predicted for 2022

Environment

Rare ‘triple dip’ La Niña predicted for 2022 Rare ‘triple dip’ La Niña predicted for 2022

By Laura Baisas

A glossy beetle on a wet leaf.

Animals

A pocketful of bacteria helps these beetles through their most dramatic life changes A pocketful of bacteria helps these beetles through their most dramatic life changes

By Philip Kiefer

Moose calf running from grizzly bear in shallow water

Animals

A wedding videographer filmed a bear preying on a moose—during the groom’s vows A wedding videographer filmed a bear preying on a moose—during the groom’s vows

By Dac Collins / Outdoor Life

Blue-throated macaws are making a slow, but hopeful, comeback

Animals

Blue-throated macaws are making a slow, but hopeful, comeback Blue-throated macaws are making a slow, but hopeful, comeback

By Laura Baisas

the three pyramids of giza under a sunny day

Technik

A dried-up arm of the Nile provides another clue to how Egyptians built the pyramids A dried-up arm of the Nile provides another clue to how Egyptians built the pyramids

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A prolonged drought lowered the level of the Elbe River so much that the so-called Hunger Stone, one of the oldest hydrological monuments in Central Europe, appeared in Decin, Czech Republic on August 18, 2022. It heralded the famine years - reduced harvests due to drought. The stone is engraved with the years, the oldest from 1616, and inscriptions, the most distinct of which are the old German "Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine"

Climate Change

‘Hunger stones’ showing the history of drought in Europe are resurfacing ‘Hunger stones’ showing the history of drought in Europe are resurfacing

By Laura Baisas

People wade across a flooded street after heavy monsoon rainfall in Karachi on July 25, 2022

Climate Change

A ‘monsoon on steroids’ has submerged a third of Pakistan A ‘monsoon on steroids’ has submerged a third of Pakistan

By Laura Baisas

Male dolphins form alliances to help each other pick up mates

Animals

Male dolphins form alliances to help each other pick up mates Male dolphins form alliances to help each other pick up mates

By Laura Baisas

Two elderly people looking at a large grey generator in the woods

DIY

10 common mistakes people make with home generators 10 common mistakes people make with home generators

By Emma Caplan / BobVila

Close up of electric vehicle charger plugged into electric car

Climate Change

New ‘super-fast’ method can shave EV battery charging down to minutes New ‘super-fast’ method can shave EV battery charging down to minutes

Coast of Lake Superior

Animals

The untouched ‘wilderness’ of the Great Lakes is an illusion The untouched ‘wilderness’ of the Great Lakes is an illusion

By Dave Dempsey

European red fox crouched on concrete and looking directly into the camera

Animals

Can invasive species ever be ‘good’? Can invasive species ever be ‘good’?

Birders watch rare bird

Animals

Lost bird sightings can draw hundreds of thousands of tourist dollars Lost bird sightings can draw hundreds of thousands of tourist dollars

By Marina Wang / Hakai Magazine

Gila monster lizard and real-life dragon hissing in the desert

Animals

Could dragons be real? Not in the way we think. Could dragons be real? Not in the way we think.

By Purbita Saha

Are drones the future of sustainable deliveries?

Aviation

Are drones the future of sustainable deliveries? Are drones the future of sustainable deliveries?

By Carla Delgado

After 75 years, an extremely rare sea turtle returns to Louisiana

Animals

After 75 years, an extremely rare sea turtle returns to Louisiana After 75 years, an extremely rare sea turtle returns to Louisiana

By Kris Millgate/Field & Stream

California poised to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars

Climate Change

California poised to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars California poised to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars

By Laura Baisas

Smoke stacks at coal burning power plant

Energy

Hawaii’s only coal plant will shut down for good in September Hawaii’s only coal plant will shut down for good in September

By Laura Baisas

A field of corn with farmhouse in the distance

Climate Change

We’re thinking about carbon credits all wrong We’re thinking about carbon credits all wrong

By Cadence Bambenek / Hothouse

Six young bees curled inside a honeycomb

Animals

Bees make more friends when they’re full of healthy gut bacteria Bees make more friends when they’re full of healthy gut bacteria

By Philip Kiefer

Tropical Fish on a coral reef and Doublebar bream.

Animals

For marine life to survive, we must cut carbon emissions For marine life to survive, we must cut carbon emissions

By Laura Baisas

Environmental justice protest

Climate Change

‘Green amendments’ could help states lock in environmental protections ‘Green amendments’ could help states lock in environmental protections

By Sam Jones / Nexus Media News

A mysterious virus is killing dogs in Michigan

Animals

A mysterious virus is killing dogs in Michigan A mysterious virus is killing dogs in Michigan

By Laura Baisas

Severe droughts are bringing archaeological wonders and historic horrors to the surface

Climate Change

Severe droughts are bringing archaeological wonders and historic horrors to the surface Severe droughts are bringing archaeological wonders and historic horrors to the surface

By Laura Baisas

George Washington Bridge traffic going into Manhattan in the daytime when congestion pricing will apply

Climate Change

Why congestion pricing reduces traffic better than new highway lanes Why congestion pricing reduces traffic better than new highway lanes

A woman wearing a blue short sleeved shirt and a wearable fan around her neck.

Sponsored Content

Can this portable fan help you stay cool, even during a heat wave? Can this portable fan help you stay cool, even during a heat wave?

By Stack Commerce

Parasitic fungi bursting from a fly's back in macro

Animals

These thoughtful nature images were captured by scientists in action These thoughtful nature images were captured by scientists in action

By Popular Science Team

Why it’s so hard to swat flies, according to science

Animals

Why it’s so hard to swat flies, according to science Why it’s so hard to swat flies, according to science

By Jamie Theobald and Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi / The Conversation

High Line elevated walkway and forest in Manhattan, New York City

Conservation

4 ways the Inflation Reduction Act invests in healthier forests and greener cities 4 ways the Inflation Reduction Act invests in healthier forests and greener cities

Orange male betta fish surrounded by eggs in a greenery-filled aquarium

Animals

Captive fish have feelings we’re just beginning to understand Captive fish have feelings we’re just beginning to understand

By Brandon Keim

A scuba diver takes a step into the ocean.

Conservation

A diver’s guide to a more sustainable scuba adventure A diver’s guide to a more sustainable scuba adventure

By Carla Delgado

Animals

3D models show the megalodon was faster, fiercer than we ever thought 3D models show the megalodon was faster, fiercer than we ever thought

By Laura Baisas

Snapping turtle brutally takes down a water snake on camera

Animals

Snapping turtle brutally takes down a water snake on camera Snapping turtle brutally takes down a water snake on camera

By Steven Hill/Field & Stream

Juicy peach with slit to represent vabbing on an orange background

Animals

Does ‘vabbing’ work? The truth about vaginal pheromones. Does ‘vabbing’ work? The truth about vaginal pheromones.

By Lyric Aquino

Environment

What the Colorado River’s record lows mean for western US What the Colorado River’s record lows mean for western US

By Laura Baisas

High-tech buoys with underwater microphones could save sperm whales from ship collisions

Animals

High-tech buoys with underwater microphones could save sperm whales from ship collisions High-tech buoys with underwater microphones could save sperm whales from ship collisions

By Claudia Geib / Hakai Magazine

A genetics startup wants to bring the Tasmanian tiger back from extinction

Animals

A genetics startup wants to bring the Tasmanian tiger back from extinction A genetics startup wants to bring the Tasmanian tiger back from extinction

By Laura Baisas

Best reef-safe sunscreen sliced header

Conservation

Best reef-safe sunscreens Best reef-safe sunscreens

By Suzie Dundas

a semi-translucent fish with a tadpole-shaped body and small flecks of red and yellow

Animals

Biofluorescent snailfish brave Arctic waters with built-in antifreeze Biofluorescent snailfish brave Arctic waters with built-in antifreeze

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Atarraya's Shrimpbox design

Climate Change

This startup wants to farm shrimp in computer-controlled cargo containers This startup wants to farm shrimp in computer-controlled cargo containers

By Charlotte Hu

YouTube screenshot of snake using DIY invention to walk with robot legs

Animals

Watch a snake wearing robot trousers strut like a lizard Watch a snake wearing robot trousers strut like a lizard

Older couple sitting on bench in Miami.

Climate Change

By 2050, most of the US will be blanketed by extreme heat belt By 2050, most of the US will be blanketed by extreme heat belt

By Laura Baisas

a black woman in a stanford baseball cap stands in the hatch of a submersible about to load

Conservation

Meet the marine geologist mapping the deepest point on Earth Meet the marine geologist mapping the deepest point on Earth

By Tatyana Woodall

From lions to waterfalls, here are some of the year’s best nature photos

Animals

From lions to waterfalls, here are some of the year’s best nature photos From lions to waterfalls, here are some of the year’s best nature photos

By Marissa Wu / Popular Photography