All Environment
- Everyone’s least favorite climate fix? Nuclear power gets fresh look.
New technology and a rising group of climate pragmatists may be changing long-held wariness of nuclear power as a fossil fuel alternative.
- First LookCoral reef, found deep in the pacific, untouched by climate change
Off the coast of Tahiti, scientists found a 2-mile rose-shaped coral reef unaffected by climate change or human activities. Between 2009 and 2018, coral reefs were depleted by 14% globally. Scientists hope to unlock this pristine reef's secret to climate resilience.
- Tackling climate change is art, not just science
Artists often help people make sense of the world. As climate change impacts daily life, art is more often raising awareness and offering support.
- First LookSnowy owl, on a bird's eye tour of DC, captivates urban watchers
Native to the Arctic, a snowy owl has been spotted in Washington D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Snowy owls seldom migrate south of the Great Lakes.
- Cover StoryMeet the scientist moms fighting climate change for their children
Amid climate “doomerism,” what can be done to fight global warming? A lot, it turns out. And female scientists are at the forefront.
- Difference MakerGrowing shade: An epic quest to plant a tree for every home in Senegal
Tree-planting projects come with big promises that prove hard to keep. One activist has found a recipe for success by taking it one tree at a time.
- First LookFlorida-sized glacier is melting. Scientists ask, how fast?
On Thursday, 32 scientists will set sail on a research ship headed for Antarctica. As part of the crew, robot ship Boaty McBoatface will explore beneath Thwaites. Studying the widest glacier in the world could help the team predict the rate of global sea rise.
- Coyote-like golden jackal is laying claim to Europe. Why now?
The golden jackal was once found mostly east of the Balkans. But now it is appearing across Europe, including Italy, and ecologists aren't sure why.
- Save at-risk owls by culling rivals? Tough choices in US Northwest.
Spotted owl populations have continued to decline in the Pacific Northwest as the invasive barred owl becomes more prevalent in old-growth forests.
- First LookWhy it takes a Mexican village to bring a fish back from extinction
With the help of a Mexican community, scientists have succeeded in reintroducing a small, extinct fish, called the “tequila splitfin,” into its native habitat.
- The ExplainerDon’t pitch those peels, recycle them: California’s new food-waste law
In January, California will require food waste to be recycled. Instead of going into landfills, it must be composted or made into biofuel or energy.
- Climate worry meets gas-price anxiety. Can US really ditch fossil fuels?
The long-mighty oil industry is under pressure due to climate change. Yet concerns about energy-price inflation reveal public ambivalence.
- France’s textile capital tries eco-friendly fashion to get back in style
Fashion-forward France wants to become a leader in eco-friendly clothing production. Part of that strategy is promoting items that are made locally.
- First LookHow high schoolers in Mississippi are restoring oyster reefs
Students at a Mississippi high school are volunteering to help raise oysters. Their goal? Protect the local ecosystem. These oysters help restore depleted reefs, critical to coastal ecosystems, providing shelter for species and filtering water.
- First LookPollution is starving Florida manatees. Can this plan feed them?
Manatees in Florida are facing starvation due to man-made causes, which has prompted the government to think of innovative ways to feed the beloved animals. One limited proposal is to feed them using a conveyor belt along a specific route in Cape Canaveral.
- First LookReefs are in serious trouble. Can lab-raised corals help?
At the Coral Resilience Lab in Hawaii, researchers have figured out how to genetically breed corals that are more resistant to climate change. Despite concerns about over-meddling in nature, they plan to plant them in the ocean in a process known as “assisted evolution.”
- Plastic as fuel? Why ‘advanced’ recycling gets mixed reviews.
“Advanced recycling” is an industry label for turning old plastics to new uses. Critics say it does little to address problems of waste and emissions.
- Wings and a prayer: Monarch surge brings hope for butterfly recovery
Thousands of monarch butterflies have migrated to California, after a stark showing last year. Conservationists are thrilled but not yet relieved.
- In Pictures: These women used to cut trees. Now they save them.
Conserving Kenya’s Kirisia Forest is no easy task. Involving local communities – and women – is helping.
- Climate change is expensive. How should the world pay to fight it?
The whole world is heating up. So who should pay for that? That fundamental question of fairness lies at the heart of countries’ wrangling over justice and climate change.