ENVIRONMENT

Pinpoint the perfect weekend for leaf-peeping.

Get Excited for Fall With the 2024 Peak Foliage Map

Can't wait for fall? Start planning the ultimate leaf-peeping expedition now with this interactive map showing peak foliage predictions for 2024.

Shiitake mushrooms (left) are edible, while fly agaric (right) is extremely toxic, causing serious symptoms like dizziness, confusion, and hallucinations.

Mushrooms vs. Toadstools: What’s the Difference?

The definitions of toadstools and mushrooms are a bit intertwined.

You don't want to come across a bearded fireworm on your beach day.

Beachgoers, Beware: Venomous Fireworms Have Been Spotted on Texas Shores

Texans should take special caution on beaches—these fireworms pack a powerful sting.

Make a pollinator’s life easier by providing it a place to stay.

How to Make a Bee Hotel in Your Yard

The solitary bee population is declining—here’s what you can do to help.

Say hello to the world's cutest research assistant.

Sea Lions With Cameras Collect Valuable (and Adorable) Footage of the Ocean Floor

Sea lion camera crews are helping scientists map uncharted waters.

Air pollution may keep these pollinators from doing their jobs.

Air Pollution May Prevent Bees From Smelling Flowers

Air pollution is making it hard for bees to pollinate flowers.

Climate Change Is Making Seafood Dangerous to Eat

Mercury in seafood is another growing concern thanks to global warming.

You don't have to travel to Manitoba to see these majestic creatures.

Beluga Livestream Captures the Whales' Epic Summer Migration

Beat the heat by tuning into these Arctic sea creatures.

A grove of mountain cedar releases clouds of pollen.

Watch: Mountain Cedar Trees ‘Sneeze’ Huge Clouds of Pollen

The allergy-inducing mountain cedar may be the most hated tree in Texas.

Meet the Joro Spider: The ‘Flying’ Arachnid That Could Soon Invade the Northeast

The invasive Joro spider is venomous and as big as your palm, but its taste for stink bugs means it could do more good than harm.

Watch: A Gorgeous Sea of Fireflies Synchronizes With LED Lights

These lightning bugs know how to coordinate.

The busy 2010 Atlantic hurricane season shows Hurricane Karl west of the Yucatan Peninsula, Hurricane Igor east of Puerto Rico, and Hurricane Julia in mid-Atlantic.

12 Powerful Facts About Hurricanes

The hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30 each year. Here’s what you need to know about these destructive storms.

A Hefty History of Fat Bear Week

Take a look at the origins of Fat Bear Week, an annual celebration of the brown bears at Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Reserve.

An aerial view of the rust-colored Kutuk River in Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska. Thawing permafrost is exposing minerals to weathering, increasing the acidity of the water, which releases metals like iron, zinc and copper.

Alaska’s Rivers Are Turning Orange, and Yeah, It’s Probably Climate Change

A new study shows that rusty discoloration in Alaska’s otherwise pristine streams and rivers is likely due to melting permafrost—and that’s a problem for Arctic animals and people.

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, at sunset, c26th century BC.

Egypt’s Giza Pyramids Might Have Been Built Next To A Now-Vanished River

A recent study claims that the pyramids of Giza were constructed alongside an almost 40-mile long artery of the Nile river that no longer exists today.

Don't let this sweet face fool you: Arctic foxes eat anything that moves.

What Do Arctic Foxes Eat?

Adorable Arctic foxes will eat anything they can catch on the snowy tundra.

Smokey Bear with Girl Scouts in front of the U.S. Capitol.

How Smokey Bear Helped Win World War II

Smokey Bear’s first ad slogan wasn’t quite as catchy as “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”

Raccoons are smart, dextrous, and in your garbage cans.

10 Clever Facts About Raccoons

Whether they’re scaling skyscrapers or digging through your trash, raccoons are fascinating. Discover more about their habits, diet, and intelligence.

9 Pointed Facts About Narwhals

Here’s what we know about these fascinating Arctic whales, including their life cycle, habits, and unique spiraled tusks.

The Fountain of Youth, painted in 1546 by German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Florida’s “Fountain of Youth” Could Be a Radioactive Water Spigot, Some Locals Claim

Punta Gorda locals have been swearing by the mystical properties of a radioactive water fountain for a century.

Sunrise on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park.

Watch a Stunning Time-Lapse of Grand Teton National Park

There are sparkling glacial lakes, breathtaking sunsets, and mountains disappearing into clouds in this high-def tribute to Grand Teton National Park.

11 “Eco-Horror” Movies that Shocked the 1970s

Mother Nature can be scary, as these films full of homicidal bunnies, pissed-off piranhas, and one mutated bear prove.

A photo of the Bayou Corne sinkhole taken shortly after it appeared on August 3, 2012.

When a Lake Swallowed the Earth: The Story of the Louisiana Sinkhole

The residents of Bayou Corne, Louisiana, woke up one morning in 2012 and found a gigantic sinkhole devouring their town.

100 Things We Learned in 2023

From record-breaking plants and incredible animal news to space superlatives and the awesome power of Taylor Swift fans, here’s the long list of things we learned in 2023.