All Environment
- Points of ProgressFault, justice, and firsts in court, nature, and the newsroom
In our progress roundup: no-fault divorce spreads in the U.K., data on exonerations aids advocates, Nepal and British Columbia preserve species, and more.
- First LookLos Alamos lab helps fight fires, now it's threatened by one
From nuclear bombs to climate change the Los Alamos National Laboratory specializes in existential threats, including predicting and preventing wildfires. But now a massive wildfire threatens the historic New Mexico lab itself.
- First LookBuried treasure: Divers surface trash and data at Lake Tahoe
Scuba divers at Lake Tahoe spent a year retrieving 25,000 pounds of trash from off its shores and sorting it by type and location. It’s a first-of-its-kind effort to learn more about the potential harm caused by plastics and other pollutants found in its waters.
- Can country living and a new EV plant coexist? Some Georgians say no.
In rural Georgia, building a better future can be hard to define – much less agree on – even when 7,500 good jobs are on the line. What’s the right balance between conservation and progress?
- First Look‘Tilos is a pioneer’: Small Greek island makes big green shift
The remote Greek island of Tilos, like many islands in the Aegean sea, has long struggled with electrical outages, overflowing landfills, and a lack of reliable drinking water. Now, Tilos is going green, offering a blueprint for other islands to follow.
- ‘If our animals survive, we will.’ Somaliland grapples with drought.
As the Horn of Africa faces its worst drought in 40 years, conflict and climate change have made the situation worse. Locals hope climate-smart agriculture can mitigate future crises.
- The ExplainerOfficial climate reports pile up. But do they connect with the public?
What do IPCC reports on climate change really mean? Their acronyms can overwhelm, but the message from their scientific consensus is important.
- Puerto Rico seeks clean-energy revolution. It is getting blackouts.
After Hurricane Maria upended its electricity grid, Puerto Rico has a huge clean energy ambition – but ongoing power outages, too.
- Points of ProgressOcean surprises: Get out your microscope and headphones
In our progress roundup, scientists used sound to confirm a healthy coral reef, found two new phytoplankton, and tested an anti-malaria mosquito net.
- Meet the nurdle hunter combing the beach for hidden pollution
Mark McReynolds’ nurdle hunters scour the sands for a tiny pollutant most beachgoers don’t even know exists.
- Grounded, and loving it. Can giving up air travel bring joy?
A small but growing number of people have given up flying because of climate concerns. What surprised them, they say, is the joy they gained from the journey.
- Cover StoryDemand for oil is spiking. So why are North Dakota rigs lying idle?
Demand for oil is surging, but rigs in North Dakota are lying idle as the U.S. tries to figure out the future of its energy supply.
- How a war in Europe brings climate urgency home
Climate scientists now look to individuals to limit their carbon emissions. Many Europeans say they are ready to start by doing without Russian gas.
- FocusHow Navajo are turning on taps – even in remote, dry areas
Taking a severe toll on the Navajo Nation, the pandemic also highlighted how many residents lack running water – spurring ingenuity-based solutions.
- Roads broke up an endangered monkey's habitat. Can bridges fix it?
Jo Leen Yap’s upcycled canopy bridge has helped thousands of animals cross the road safely, including the dusky langur.
- First LookEarth needs climate action, not climate 'doomism,' scientists say
The latest report from U.N. climate experts shows that without drastic action soon, the Earth could become unlivable in many places. But many scientists are pushing back on the idea that the planet is doomed, saying there is still room for hope.
- Points of ProgressHome again: Bison in Oklahoma and anteaters in Argentina
Our progress briefs include species reintroductions, restitution for Latvian Jewish communities, and an overturned anti-transgender law in Kuwait.
- Ice shelf collapse: ‘Unknown’ Antarctica still holds surprises
Antarctica holds mysteries with big implications for Earth’s environment. A recent ice breakup is just one sign of larger climate changes underway.
- Quest for nuclear fusion is advancing – powered by scientific grit
Recent breakthroughs make energy from nuclear fusion look increasingly achievable. But it’s a tale of decadeslong persistence with hurdles still to come.
- FocusIs Texas Hill Country in danger of being ‘loved to death’?
In the Hill Country, Texas’ fastest-growing region, questions about how to manage growth – from water supply to school commutes – are rising.