All Environment
First LookZookeepers play nursemaid to hundreds of baby Monserrat tarantulasThe mysterious Montserrat tarantulas were bred in captivity for the first time at the Chester Zoo in England.
First LookWorld Elephant Day: Why does the world need elephants?Humans love elephants for their grandeur, human-like emotions, and cognitive capacity, but the majestic beasts offer the world and its ecosystems much more than charisma, ecologists say.
How state regulations can prevent man-made earthquakesWhen oil extraction companies inject waste water into the ground, the result can be rattling. Literally. State governments are now exploring regulations to reduce the number of earthquakes caused by injections each year.
Tests show significant improvement in Flint, Mich. water qualityVirginia Tech researchers said 45 percent of Flint, Mich., homes had no detectable lead levels in July, compared to 37 percent in March and 9 percent a year ago.
Will Rhode Island wind farm set course for offshore wind in US?Deepwater Wind's five-turbine wind farm off Block Island is set to be the first offshore wind farm in the United States.
First LookHow did one volcano confuse scientists, ocean research?Mt. Pinatubo erupted just before the first sea level temperature-gauging satellite was launched in 1991. Why that matters.
How a zoo in Oregon is helping to save a butterfly speciesOnce abundant throughout the Pacific Northwest, Oregon silverspot butterflies have dwindled because of habitat loss and extended drought. Zookeepers have been lending the species a hand.
First LookEarth Overshoot Day falls on earliest date yetEarth Overshoot Day – marking the point in the year when we've used up more natural resources than we can regenerate – falls on Aug. 8 this year, the earliest date yet.
First LookPanda-monium! Giant panda produces itty-bitty new resident at Vienna zoo.The Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna's Giant panda Yang Yang has given birth to her fourth cub. It's about 800 times smaller than mom.
New climate change policy: Republicans object, Democrats worryA new set of 'climate-smart' guidelines clarify how government agencies must weigh the environmental consequences of their actions.
How farmers can get to the root of climate response – literallySome agriculture experts say perennial plants can be domesticated or crossbred with annual plants, to help combat the soil erosion caused by droughts and floods. The plants' root systems are key.
Fewer Americans doubt climate change – but confidence is up on both sidesSixty-six percent of Americans believe that there is evidence that climate change is occurring, according to a new poll. Sixty-two percent are 'very' or 'fairly' confident in their view, regardless of their position.
Turbo-charged climate ushered in 'parade of shattered records' in 2015Last year the Earth saw dozens of record highs, from greenhouse gases to rising seas, according to the 2015 State of the Climate report.
GMO wheat found in Washington field: A big deal?Several Asian countries temporarily banned US wheat imports after genetically modified wheat was found in a field on an Oregon farm in 2013.
Low prices at the pump point toward domestic energy slumpUS officials are planning on speeding up the approval process for oil and gas drilling as the energy-rich states could see 40 percent drop in applications.
America's lone wolf: Scientists say US has just one true wolf speciesEastern wolves, red wolves, gray wolves, and coyotes are all members of the same species, says a new study – a claim which could affect lupine conservation status.
Florida updates regulations, permitting more toxic chemicals in waterIn the first update to the state’s water quality standards in 24 years, the state moved to allow more toxic substances to enter the water. Environmentalists decry, and businesses support, the proposal.
The latest regional drought isn't where you would expect to find itIn a Northeastern regional drought, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine are experiencing severe conditions.
First LookWill falling gas prices cause US to miss fuel-efficiency targets?A US government report warns that the US will likely fall short of its 2025 fuel-economy targets because low gas prices have prompted Americans to buy less-efficient cars and trucks.
How New Zealand aims to wipe out all rats and other invasive predatorsNew Zealand has released a plan that aspires to wipe out possums, rats, weasels and other invasive species that threaten native species.
