All Environment
Backyard bird feeders prompting beak evolutionBackyard birders in Britain have welcomed songbirds into their yards for decades with bird feeders. And one bird appears to be evolving as a result.
As bird lovers rejoice the sandhill crane's return, hunters eye the 'ribeye of the sky'At its root, Michigan's debate over a proposed sandhill crane hunt stems from a fundamental clash of worldviews between people who see the natural world as something to be protected and preserved and those who view the land as a resource to be managed.
This year, as winter nears, residents of China's coal country turn to gasShanxi province's coal helped fuel China's economic boom. But as awareness about the risks of pollution grows, officials in the provincial capital are cracking down on heavy industry and shifting to natural gas – giving workers a cleaner, if uncertain, future.
- Bicycling biologist pedals 10,000 miles along the Monarch butterfly's migration route
Wildlife biologist Sara Dykman is pedaling her way from the mountainous forests of southwestern Mexico to Canada and back, stopping at schools and wildlife centers to raise awareness about the migratory insect.
First LookBooming US crude oil exports raises questions about infrastructure capabilityPort officials and exporters say current pipelines, ports, and shipping lanes will be unable to handle further growth. Since the export ban was lifted less than two years ago, shipments are hitting a record of 2 million barrels a day.
Las Vegas shines as a model for solar powerLong known for its extravagance, Vegas is quickly becoming a paragon of conservation, thanks to an upswing in solar energy.
Geese find sanctuary in citiesHumans have long shared urban environments with geese. New research is shedding light on what draws our feathered friends.
Climate scientist steps out of the lab and into the windAfter spending a career researching climate change, former NOAA scientist David Goodrich set on a cross-country bike trip to talk with everyday Americans about global warming.
Fire and floods: Did climate play a role in this fall's disasters?As wildfires rage in California and Puerto Rico struggles to restore basic utilities after getting socked by two hurricanes, many Americans worry that the disaster-filled fall may be a sign of things to come.
In Utah, major forest fire fuels push for state, not federal controlThe costliest fire in Utah's history came this summer, after locals had warned for years that the US Forest Service was mismanaging public land and making it more vulnerable to catastrophic blazes. Now state leaders are asking Washington to return that power to the states.
Evaporation: the overlooked alternative energy source?So-called evaporation engines could add another stream of renewable power to a diversified energy strategy, researchers say. But the technology has a way to go – and some questions to answer – before it can be deployed.
Quicker than expected, auto industry revs up for an electric-car futureSome experts project electric vehicles could make up more than half of car sales by 2040, projections that GM, Ford, Volkswagen, Chinese automakers, and others are taking seriously all of a sudden.
First LookConservationists say indigenous perspectives could aid global climate policiesA Swedish funded initiative hopes to include indigenous voices in the worldwide environmental discussion. The goal is to use the intimate environmental knowledge held by indigenous groups to create more effective climate policy worldwide.
Progress WatchConservation success: Buoyed hopes for sea turtlesAfter half a century of conservation efforts, scientists are seeing long-term growth in some populations of the globe’s seven species of sea turtles.
DIY do-gooders direct Caribbean disaster relief effortsWant to help Puerto Rico recover? Amateur analysts of satellite imagery around the world are pointing relief workers to where they are needed most. Anyone can do it!
EPA's big shift: Will Scott Pruitt fundamentally change environmental protection?The EPA administrator appears to be initiating a more dramatic overhaul of the agency than the typical course correction seen with changes in presidential administrations, historians say.
First LookUS solar companies ask for protection from foreign importsThe US International Trade Commission is hearing proposals from US based solar companies that would like tariffs imposed on foreign panel makers. While the cheaper foreign panels have benefited customers, the low prices have hit domestic solar manufacturers hard.
Using outer space to help cool buildings on EarthUsing a phenomenon known as radiative sky cooling, a team of Stanford researchers has developed rooftop panels that could be used to passively cool buildings.
Where Romulus suckled, wolves roam againRome's founder was suckled by a she-wolf, but Canis lupus has not been spotted there for a century. Now a small pack has made its home near the airport.
First LookChina sets ambitious goals for new energy vehicle salesChina takes another step toward reducing pollution and reaching its goal of a total ban on traditional fuel cars. China hopes that the new energy cars will make up 10 percent of all car sales by 2019, a goal that has been met with some support by automakers.
