All Environment
First LookHow the release of Pruitt’s emails to the fossil fuel industry does and doesn’t matterMore than 7,500 pages of emails from the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office show a chummy relationship between Scott Pruitt and energy companies. But the release of the emails came after Pruitt's confirmation as EPA administrator.
First LookFracking led to more than 6,000 spills in 10 years, study findsA new study looks at fracking sites in four states, finding 6,648 spills between 2005 and 2014. Their research, the study's authors say, highlights a need for better data collection – and may help prevent future incidents.
Manatee population rebounds: is it ready to come off the endangered species list?A recent survey found a record 6,620 manatees in Florida, but opinion remains divided as to whether the species has truly made a comeback.
First LookSeven new tiny frogs are discovered in India. Are they the world’s smallest?The difference comes down to millimeters. But this new discovery will likely intensify calls for further research and conservation.
First LookWhat will it take to keep elephants safe?A new study says that the elephant population in a key Central African sanctuary is diminishing rapidly.
- In Africa, how trees can help both climate and incomes
In this edition: Morocco's lessons on climate-smart agriculture; managing dams gets tougher as more precipitation falls as rain not snow; the great bird count.
TransCanada refiles Keystone XL application in Nebraska, the next anti-pipeline battlegroundNative groups say they'll mobilize against the Keystone XL like they did with the Dakota Access pipeline. But Nebraska landowners are at the forefront of legal challenges.
First LookGreat Backyard Birdcount begins Feb. 17: how citizen-scientists can participateAmid concerns about climate change and habitat destruction, thousands of citizen-scientists look to the skies to track the progress of birds as the Great Backyard Bird Count begins.
First LookWhere is Zealandia? Eighth continent discovered, underwaterA new study makes the case that a mostly submerged landmass about two-thirds the size of Australia meets all the usual criteria for a continent.
First LookActing EPA head urges calm amid fears of possible course changeWhat's next for the EPA? Some fear nominee Scott Pruitt's intentions, but others say the green revolution's momentum will limit damage.
First LookClimate change may be sucking oxygen out of the sea. Here's why that matters.Warm air and warm water bring more bad news for marine life.
First LookWhy California's eroding coast is a problem – and what the government can doEl Niño brought unprecedentedly powerful waves to the Pacific Coast in 2015-2016, while droughts starved beaches of sediment, according to a new study.
First LookWildlife more threatened by climate change than previously thoughtA new comprehensive study of previous research has grim conclusions, but could bolster efforts to protect species from climate change.
First LookRepairs to Oroville dam continue as residents await next major stormThousands of residents have returned home since the evacuation order was lifted on Tuesday, while others are waiting to see how the dam handles this week's storms before making the journey.
First LookMore evidence of global melt: Antarctic sea ice hits record lowThe daily data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) shows that the sea ice extent on Monday shrunk to 883,015 sq miles.
First LookEvery day counts: Group sues Trump for stalling rusty patch bumblebee protectionThe rusty patch bumble bee had been granted endangered species protections under the Obama administration.
- Solar power, even if you don't have a roof of your own
In this edition: Community-size projects aim to democratize solar energy; big-name Republicans push 'carbon dividends' for all; man-made pollinators.
An Oroville message: As climate shifts, so will water strategiesSafety concerns at the Oroville Dam center on engineering and maintenance. But dams also face new challenges in managing water in an era when rains can be heavier, and less precipitation is falling as snow.
Is there a lesson in problems at the Oroville Dam?It's unclear why swollen lake waters in northern California proved too much for spillways to handle. But regulators' actions are already getting scrutiny.
- First LookFederal judge denies request to block Dakota pipeline
US federal judge James Boasberg rejected a request by two Native American tribes to halt construction of the remaining section of the Dakota Access oil pipeline until their lawsuit over the project is resolved.
