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

You can tell these adorable octopuses apart by their warts

Environment

You can tell these adorable octopuses apart by their warts You can tell these adorable octopuses apart by their warts

By Mary Beth Griggs

Environment

Bonding with a partner could have unexpected rewards—in your brain, that is Bonding with a partner could have unexpected rewards—in your brain, that is

By Aparna Nathan

Environment

A common sunscreen could help make better solar panels A common sunscreen could help make better solar panels

By Marlene Cimons

How to avoid bringing bed bugs home from vacation

DIY

How to avoid bringing bed bugs home from vacation How to avoid bringing bed bugs home from vacation

By Nancy Troyano / Working Mother

How the Galapagos cormorant forgot how to fly

Science

How the Galapagos cormorant forgot how to fly How the Galapagos cormorant forgot how to fly

By Mary Beth Griggs

The President’s decision to leave the Paris Agreement will likely hurt America even more than the environment

Environment

The President’s decision to leave the Paris Agreement will likely hurt America even more than the environment The President’s decision to leave the Paris Agreement will likely hurt America even more than the environment

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Shoreline of Lake Mono

Environment

Climate change will mean more rain for some—and none for others Climate change will mean more rain for some—and none for others

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Environment

Faceless fish aren’t the only absurd creatures emerging from Australia’s Eastern Abyss Faceless fish aren’t the only absurd creatures emerging from Australia’s Eastern Abyss

By Sara Chodosh

Early signs of mortality on bleached coral colony.

Environment

Hawaii’s most popular coral reefs are in big trouble Hawaii’s most popular coral reefs are in big trouble

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Replacing beef with beans could save the planet, because people farts are better than cow farts

Environment

Replacing beef with beans could save the planet, because people farts are better than cow farts Replacing beef with beans could save the planet, because people farts are better than cow farts

By Marlene Cimons

Hyalinobatrachium yaku glassfrog from beneath

Environment

This tiny frog has transparent skin to show its organs off to the world This tiny frog has transparent skin to show its organs off to the world

By Sara Chodosh

Los Angeles has enjoyed the same amazing climate for 50,000 years

Environment

Los Angeles has enjoyed the same amazing climate for 50,000 years Los Angeles has enjoyed the same amazing climate for 50,000 years

By Mary Beth Griggs

How one community rallied to save turtles from becoming roadkill

Environment

How one community rallied to save turtles from becoming roadkill How one community rallied to save turtles from becoming roadkill

By Mary Beth Griggs

Environment

Climate change might literally keep us up at night Climate change might literally keep us up at night

By Marlene Cimons

Snakes can actually hunt in packs

Environment

Snakes can actually hunt in packs Snakes can actually hunt in packs

By Sara Chodosh

No, menstrual blood does not attract sharks

Environment

No, menstrual blood does not attract sharks No, menstrual blood does not attract sharks

By Rachel Feltman

NOAA predicts an above average hurricane season for 2017

Environment

NOAA predicts an above average hurricane season for 2017 NOAA predicts an above average hurricane season for 2017

By Mary Beth Griggs

goats in a tree

Environment

These tree-climbing goats spread seeds by spitting These tree-climbing goats spread seeds by spitting

By Mary Beth Griggs

The Space Shuttle Endeavor above the Earth's atmosphere.

Environment

Global warming is not ‘leveling off,’ so stop saying it is Global warming is not ‘leveling off,’ so stop saying it is

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Recent flows of insanely hot lava show us just how dynamic Earth really is

Environment

Recent flows of insanely hot lava show us just how dynamic Earth really is Recent flows of insanely hot lava show us just how dynamic Earth really is

By Mary Beth Griggs

Whales today are bigger than ever before. Now, we know why.

Environment

Whales today are bigger than ever before. Now, we know why. Whales today are bigger than ever before. Now, we know why.

By Mary Beth Griggs

Why we have more and more days without frost

Environment

Why we have more and more days without frost Why we have more and more days without frost

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Turtle hatchling close-up, Texas

Environment

It’s World Turtle Day, so here are a bunch of adorable turtles It’s World Turtle Day, so here are a bunch of adorable turtles

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Turns out the Svalbard seed vault is probably fine

Environment

Turns out the Svalbard seed vault is probably fine Turns out the Svalbard seed vault is probably fine

By Mary Beth Griggs

Why cicadas are showing up in your yard four years early

Environment

Why cicadas are showing up in your yard four years early Why cicadas are showing up in your yard four years early

By Mary Beth Griggs

Jeremy the snail and baby

Environment

Jeremy the lefty snail has now been rejected by two other lefty snails Jeremy the lefty snail has now been rejected by two other lefty snails

By Sara Chodosh

These scientists made 2,879 tiny clay caterpillars and hid them all over the world

Environment

These scientists made 2,879 tiny clay caterpillars and hid them all over the world These scientists made 2,879 tiny clay caterpillars and hid them all over the world

Scientists tracked chickens and found they have their own daily routines, just like us

Environment

Scientists tracked chickens and found they have their own daily routines, just like us Scientists tracked chickens and found they have their own daily routines, just like us

Some orangutans breastfeed their babies for over eight years

Environment

Some orangutans breastfeed their babies for over eight years Some orangutans breastfeed their babies for over eight years

By Mary Beth Griggs

Trees might actually make summer air pollution even worse

Environment

Trees might actually make summer air pollution even worse Trees might actually make summer air pollution even worse

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

New Zealand’s yellow-eyed penguin is waddling towards extinction

Environment

New Zealand’s yellow-eyed penguin is waddling towards extinction New Zealand’s yellow-eyed penguin is waddling towards extinction

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

What to do if you get caught in an avalanche

Environment

What to do if you get caught in an avalanche What to do if you get caught in an avalanche

By Kate Baggaley

This remote island in the South Pacific is covered in 18 tons of our trash

Environment

This remote island in the South Pacific is covered in 18 tons of our trash This remote island in the South Pacific is covered in 18 tons of our trash

We may be closer to predicting the extreme rain events of the future

Environment

We may be closer to predicting the extreme rain events of the future We may be closer to predicting the extreme rain events of the future

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Science

19 of the coolest images from NASA’s Operation IceBridge 19 of the coolest images from NASA’s Operation IceBridge

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Historic floods are ravaging Canada

Environment

Historic floods are ravaging Canada Historic floods are ravaging Canada

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Neighborhoods subjected to deadly air quality can finally fight back

Environment

Neighborhoods subjected to deadly air quality can finally fight back Neighborhoods subjected to deadly air quality can finally fight back

By Marlene Cimons

Cage-free chickens keep winding up with broken bones, and scientists are looking for a solution

Environment

Cage-free chickens keep winding up with broken bones, and scientists are looking for a solution Cage-free chickens keep winding up with broken bones, and scientists are looking for a solution

Desert critters avoid noisy wind farm turbines

Environment

Desert critters avoid noisy wind farm turbines Desert critters avoid noisy wind farm turbines

By Mark D. Kaufman

Environment

A tunnel collapsed at the Hanford nuclear waste site on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know. A tunnel collapsed at the Hanford nuclear waste site on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know.

By Mary Beth Griggs

Lizards might lose their gut bacteria to climate change—and that’s not great

Environment

Lizards might lose their gut bacteria to climate change—and that’s not great Lizards might lose their gut bacteria to climate change—and that’s not great

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Low doses of weed may help old mice learn new tricks

Environment

Low doses of weed may help old mice learn new tricks Low doses of weed may help old mice learn new tricks

By Mary Beth Griggs

deer licking its lips

Environment

Forensic scientists caught a deer munching on a human carcass for the first time ever Forensic scientists caught a deer munching on a human carcass for the first time ever

Humans are infecting wild lands with our noises

Environment

Humans are infecting wild lands with our noises Humans are infecting wild lands with our noises

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

This is what New York City sounded like over 400 years ago

Environment

This is what New York City sounded like over 400 years ago This is what New York City sounded like over 400 years ago

By Mary Beth Griggs

Stephen Hawking says we have 100 years to colonize a new planet—or die. Could we do it?

Environment

Stephen Hawking says we have 100 years to colonize a new planet—or die. Could we do it? Stephen Hawking says we have 100 years to colonize a new planet—or die. Could we do it?

Yellow long-haired corgi mix at a dog park

Environment

Why corgi mixes look like adorable munchkin versions of other dogs Why corgi mixes look like adorable munchkin versions of other dogs

By Sara Chodosh

Genetically modified algae could soon show up in food, fuel, and pharmaceuticals

Environment

Genetically modified algae could soon show up in food, fuel, and pharmaceuticals Genetically modified algae could soon show up in food, fuel, and pharmaceuticals

By Marlene Cimons

These animal moms go to extreme lengths to feed their babies

Environment

These animal moms go to extreme lengths to feed their babies These animal moms go to extreme lengths to feed their babies

By Jennifer Verdolin

Artificial snow might save a glacier in the Swiss Alps

Environment

Artificial snow might save a glacier in the Swiss Alps Artificial snow might save a glacier in the Swiss Alps

Crossing the Muldrow Glacier on foot

Environment

In photos: 100 years of Denali National Park In photos: 100 years of Denali National Park

By Mallory Johns

western spotted skunk

Science

Ancient climate change drove the evolution of this adorable hand-standing skunk Ancient climate change drove the evolution of this adorable hand-standing skunk

By Mary Beth Griggs

Your air conditioning habit makes summer smog worse

Environment

Your air conditioning habit makes summer smog worse Your air conditioning habit makes summer smog worse

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

One in four Americans drink water that fails safety standards

Health

One in four Americans drink water that fails safety standards One in four Americans drink water that fails safety standards

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Wastewater injection played a role in Oklahoma’s largest earthquake

Environment

Wastewater injection played a role in Oklahoma’s largest earthquake Wastewater injection played a role in Oklahoma’s largest earthquake

By Mary Beth Griggs

Love eating chicken? Thank hungry Medieval Catholics.

Environment

Love eating chicken? Thank hungry Medieval Catholics. Love eating chicken? Thank hungry Medieval Catholics.

Female dragonflies feign death to avoid sex

Environment

Female dragonflies feign death to avoid sex Female dragonflies feign death to avoid sex

By Sara Chodosh

These conservatives want to convince you that climate change is real

Environment

These conservatives want to convince you that climate change is real These conservatives want to convince you that climate change is real

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Everything you need to know about the tornadoes (and blizzards) that struck this weekend

Environment

Everything you need to know about the tornadoes (and blizzards) that struck this weekend Everything you need to know about the tornadoes (and blizzards) that struck this weekend

By Mary Beth Griggs

How drone swarms could help protect us from tornadoes

Environment

How drone swarms could help protect us from tornadoes How drone swarms could help protect us from tornadoes

tomato and ketchup

Environment

7 ingenious ways to deal with food waste 7 ingenious ways to deal with food waste

By Eleanor Cummins

Why Hawaii is trying to ban a common sunscreen

Environment

Why Hawaii is trying to ban a common sunscreen Why Hawaii is trying to ban a common sunscreen

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Environment

Antarctica’s Blood Falls: not so mysterious, but still freaky as heck Antarctica’s Blood Falls: not so mysterious, but still freaky as heck

By Rachel Feltman

Yorkshire terrier pooping

Environment

All mammals poop in 12 seconds and there’s an equation for the ‘duration of diarrheal defecation’ All mammals poop in 12 seconds and there’s an equation for the ‘duration of diarrheal defecation’

By Sara Chodosh