Environment(Page 58)

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

Smoke during sunset.

It’s time to grieve the world we’ve lost to climate change—and start to move on It’s time to grieve the world we’ve lost to climate change—and start to move on

By Eric Holthaus

protestors of pipelines

Activists have shut down two major fossil fuel pipelines—at least for now Activists have shut down two major fossil fuel pipelines—at least for now

a white-throated sparrow

White-throated sparrows are ditching their classic song for a new tune White-throated sparrows are ditching their classic song for a new tune

By Kate Baggaley

Insects from the mid-Cretaceous period preserved in amber were found in present-day northern Myanmar.

These insects preserved in amber are still glowing 99 million years later These insects preserved in amber are still glowing 99 million years later

Beavers might be making the Arctic melt even faster Beavers might be making the Arctic melt even faster

Kevin Shulz catches air at the Waco training grounds.

Pro surfers hit artificial waves in the heat of the climate crisis Pro surfers hit artificial waves in the heat of the climate crisis

mangrove forest

Healthy ecosystems are nature’s barrier to hurricane damage Healthy ecosystems are nature’s barrier to hurricane damage

massive caldera

A massive volcanic eruption may have contributed to the rise of the Roman Empire A massive volcanic eruption may have contributed to the rise of the Roman Empire

By Kate Baggaley

A black shepherd dog along a river

Snakebites can be deadly for dogs, but some simple precautions can save them Snakebites can be deadly for dogs, but some simple precautions can save them

By Tom Davis/Field & Stream

road running through hot flatlands with sun shining

The latest summer forecast calls for deadly heat waves The latest summer forecast calls for deadly heat waves

satellite image of dust cloud

Five wild facts about the Saharan dust plume before it hits the US Five wild facts about the Saharan dust plume before it hits the US

By Candice Wang

Mass die-offs in marine mammals are accelerating, and climate change will only make it worse Mass die-offs in marine mammals are accelerating, and climate change will only make it worse

By Kate Baggaley

A gas pipeline under construction

Landowners say pipelines are being constructed in their backyards with little regard for COVID-19 Landowners say pipelines are being constructed in their backyards with little regard for COVID-19

By Jeremy Deaton/Nexus Media

sand dunes in a desert with blue skies

Half of the Earth is still free from human impact, but it’s not all good news Half of the Earth is still free from human impact, but it’s not all good news

Hummingbirds can see colors we can’t even imagine Hummingbirds can see colors we can’t even imagine

By Kate Baggaley

ancient ancestor of the modern crocodile, which walked on two feet.

Crocodiles’ ancient ancestors may have walked on two legs Crocodiles’ ancient ancestors may have walked on two legs

By Kate Baggaley

The US could shift to 90-percent renewable energy by 2035 at no extra cost The US could shift to 90-percent renewable energy by 2035 at no extra cost

By Jeremy Deaton/Nexus Media

oil gas pipeline

Trump’s latest executive order could let agencies shirk environmental responsibility Trump’s latest executive order could let agencies shirk environmental responsibility

A cluster of spawning sockeye salmon.

The battle over Alaska’s Pebble Mine is about to get more dramatic The battle over Alaska’s Pebble Mine is about to get more dramatic

By Michael R. Shea/Field & Stream

ship deck looking over icy water

Ice sheets can melt much faster than we thought Ice sheets can melt much faster than we thought

Pesticide-killed locusts

An unprecedented locust swarm is creating unlikely allies An unprecedented locust swarm is creating unlikely allies

By Lou Del Bello/Undark

Mangrove plants flourish on coastlines, but rising seas may outpace them by 2050 Mangrove plants flourish on coastlines, but rising seas may outpace them by 2050

By Kate Baggaley

Black kids with binoculars

Black birders have never been safe or celebrated Black birders have never been safe or celebrated

By Jacqueline L. Scott/The Conversation

Nature helps nurture relationships between incarcerated mothers and their children Nature helps nurture relationships between incarcerated mothers and their children

By Julie Stevens/The Conversation

person using diabetes equipment to test their blood sugar

Sea snail venom could lead to better insulin for diabetics Sea snail venom could lead to better insulin for diabetics

A blue morpho butterfly spread out on a plant

We can soon thank butterfly tongues for better cancer treatments and vaccines We can soon thank butterfly tongues for better cancer treatments and vaccines

The 160-year-old reason you’re obsessed with your lawn The 160-year-old reason you’re obsessed with your lawn

Inuit researchers are leading a scientific movement to understand life on the ice Inuit researchers are leading a scientific movement to understand life on the ice

By Matthew Halliday/Undark

eucalyptus flower

Planting invasive species could make our carbon problem worse Planting invasive species could make our carbon problem worse

Glacier mice have no feet, but they still move in herds Glacier mice have no feet, but they still move in herds

By Candice Wang

A male Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) perches atop a sunflower.

Migratory birds in the Eastern US are struggling to adapt to climate change Migratory birds in the Eastern US are struggling to adapt to climate change

By Kate Baggaley

A SpaceX rocket seen launching from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

The next era of space travel should include nuclear-powered rockets The next era of space travel should include nuclear-powered rockets

By Iain Boyd/The Conversation

two goats in a field leaning against each other

Goats get us. Or at least, our hand gestures. Goats get us. Or at least, our hand gestures.

By Candice Wang

New Zealands animals

New Zealand’s bold rat-control campaign sees its first wave of successes New Zealand’s bold rat-control campaign sees its first wave of successes

By Mara Johnson-Groh

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans let Marina, the African penguin, take a mini safari. Here she check out a hypomelanistic crocodile safely from the other side of the glass.

Zoos and aquariums are letting their animals go on adventures during the shutdown. But should they? Zoos and aquariums are letting their animals go on adventures during the shutdown. But should they?

By Sara Kiley Watson

Vets, farmers, and zookeepers can help prevent the next pandemic Vets, farmers, and zookeepers can help prevent the next pandemic

By Lynne Peeples/Undark

An inch-long bogong moth covers hundreds of miles of Australian terrain to return to its birthplace.

Animals have mysterious ways of finding their way back home Animals have mysterious ways of finding their way back home

By Purbita Saha

The Earth’s atmosphere

Wacky weather punched a new hole in the ozone—and it could happen again Wacky weather punched a new hole in the ozone—and it could happen again

By Jeremy Deaton/Nexus Media

overhead view of a coral reef

Lab-grown algae might help save corals from climate change Lab-grown algae might help save corals from climate change

A storm on Lake Michigan

The Great Lakes are higher than they’ve ever been, and we’re not sure what will happen next The Great Lakes are higher than they’ve ever been, and we’re not sure what will happen next

cheetah chasing an antelope

Twelve powerful images to remind us how weird and wild the world is Twelve powerful images to remind us how weird and wild the world is

By bioGraphic Editors

Adalatherium hui

This ‘crazy beast’ is unlike any mammal we’ve ever seen This ‘crazy beast’ is unlike any mammal we’ve ever seen

By Sara Kiley Watson

Peoples at a riverside beach

This summer’s severe temperatures could make the pandemic even more complicated This summer’s severe temperatures could make the pandemic even more complicated

By Jeremy Deaton/Nexus Media

A current view of the South Colwater Ridge Trail at Mount Saint Helens in Washington.

After Mount St. Helens erupted, scientists fought to preserve its devastation After Mount St. Helens erupted, scientists fought to preserve its devastation

A bull elk bugles in a field.

Ten shocking survival stories that real people lived to tell Ten shocking survival stories that real people lived to tell

By Field & Stream Editors

a map of temperatures across the US, showing very low temperatures in the northeast, mid-atlantic, and midwest

The polar vortex is bringing snow to the US this weekend, because chaos loves company The polar vortex is bringing snow to the US this weekend, because chaos loves company

By Rachel Feltman

Live hero shrew

This fuzzy little shrew has nature’s toughest backbone This fuzzy little shrew has nature’s toughest backbone

By Sara Kiley Watson

bats flying out of an abandoned gold mine

Why do so many diseases come from bats? Why do so many diseases come from bats?

By Kate Baggaley

a war propaganda poster

Carrots were once a crucial tool in anti-Nazi propaganda Carrots were once a crucial tool in anti-Nazi propaganda

By Popular Science Team

alaska permafrost lab

Inside a frozen tunnel hiding the galaxy’s biggest secrets Inside a frozen tunnel hiding the galaxy’s biggest secrets

By Madeline Ostrander/Undark

Calyptocephalella gayi frog.

How did ancient frogs move between America and Australia? Easy: They hopped across Antarctica. How did ancient frogs move between America and Australia? Easy: They hopped across Antarctica.

By Sara Kiley Watson

shark birth science

Why scientists are giving ultrasounds to 10-foot-long pregnant sharks Why scientists are giving ultrasounds to 10-foot-long pregnant sharks

By Hannah Verkamp/The Conversation

oil barrels petro canada

The environment won’t be helped by oil producers declaring bankruptcy The environment won’t be helped by oil producers declaring bankruptcy

A weather radar station in South Dakota with a thunderstorm in the background

The unexpected way COVID-19 is screwing up weather reports The unexpected way COVID-19 is screwing up weather reports

By Julie Boatman/Flying Magazine

a boy with his mouth open

You can totally sprain your teeth (and you’ve probably done it before) You can totally sprain your teeth (and you’ve probably done it before)

By Popular Science Team

Horny lemurs use body odor as a pick-up line Horny lemurs use body odor as a pick-up line

By Sara Kiley Watson

American woodcock in the leaves.

Weekend activity: watch (and listen) for this bird’s extraordinary sky dance Weekend activity: watch (and listen) for this bird’s extraordinary sky dance

By Tom Fegely/Field & Stream

fungus-colonized plants

The challenge of keeping science alive during the COVID-19 shutdowns The challenge of keeping science alive during the COVID-19 shutdowns

By Kasson, Lovett & Rio/The Conversation

a group of New Yorkers participating in the 1970 Earth Day demonstrations in New York City

Looking back on 50 years of Earth Days Looking back on 50 years of Earth Days

By John Kennedy

smog over shanghai

Air pollution has made the COVID-19 pandemic worse Air pollution has made the COVID-19 pandemic worse

a drawing of a large worm

Welcome to Earth, home to human-sized salamanders and skin-eating worms Welcome to Earth, home to human-sized salamanders and skin-eating worms

By Popular Science Team

Youth climate activists gathered online on a Saturday night in early April to make posters in preparation for the Earth Day march.

Will social distancing sidetrack the climate movement? Will social distancing sidetrack the climate movement?

English setter puppy works on basic retrieving with a pigeon.

‘Super puppies’ keep calm and carry on in the most stressful situations ‘Super puppies’ keep calm and carry on in the most stressful situations

By Brad Fitzpatrick/ Outdoor Life

Rhinos with oxpeckers on their back.

Rhinos pay a painful price for oxpecker protection Rhinos pay a painful price for oxpecker protection

By Sara Kiley Watson