ENVIRONMENT

The Cut River off Higgins Lake in Roscommon, Michigan.

You Can Plant Trees and Paint Like Bob Ross as Part of Michigan’s 'Happy Little Getaway' Vacation Package

The happy little program includes Bob Ross painting classes and tree-planting around Michigan state park lands.

For years, a silent, deadly danger lurked beneath the surface of Lake Nyos.

How a West African Lake Killed 1800 People—And How It Could Happen Again

Lake Nyos was once known by locals as the “good” lake. But one night in 1986, it was responsible for one of the deadliest natural disasters in African history.

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Recycle Your Giant CVS Receipts

You can blame that glossy finish, which comes from a mysterious, potentially harmful chemical called BPA.

Watch Scientists in Iceland Cook Hot Dogs on Lava From an Active Volcano

When the long-dormant Geldingardalsgos volcano erupted in Iceland this month, scientists took the opportunity to have a lava-fueled barbecue.

Those potato peels are ready for a glow-up.

Make the Most of Your Food Scraps With IKEA’s Free New Cookbook

IKEA is helping you cut down on food waste with 50 free chef-developed recipes for everything from banana peels to broccoli stems.

The Quest for the North Pole, Episode 9: The North Pole Today

Global warming is changing the Arctic—and explorers of the past would barely recognize its green tundra, diminished glaciers, and ice-free seas. Our final episode looks at the North Pole’s many legacies.

A Walrus Was Spotted In Ireland for the Very First Time After Falling Asleep on an Iceberg

A 5-year-old girl and her dad were the first people to see the walrus when it made a rare appearance on Ireland's shores.

Why Are Deserts So Hot During the Day and Cold at Night?

Deserts either want to broil you alive or force you to put on layers. It's a fascinating ecological condition with a simple explanation.

Christian Frausto Bernal, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0

This Magical Hidden Beach in Mexico Was Uncovered by Military Bombs

The Marieta Islands in Mexico are home to Playa del Amor—a hidden beach uncovered by military test bombings in the 1900s.

Sea turtles in Israel are being saved by mayonnaise.

How Mayo Is Being Used to Save Sea Turtles

The popular condiment is good on sandwiches but even better for turtles. It's a major tool in an ecological disaster.

An 'ice volcano' erupts along Lake Michigan.

'Ice Volcanoes' Are Forming—Here's Why

The peculiar mounds of ice that 'erupt' with water are popping up near the Great Lakes and as far away as Kazakhstan.

Sea Cucumbers on One Coral Reef Drop Several Eiffel Towers’ Worth of Poop Each Year—and That’s a Good Thing

Slow clap for sea cucumbers, whose excretory achievements could help slow climate change damage to the Great Barrier Reef.

This Startup Makes Eco-Friendly Utensils Out of Discarded Avocado Pits

The Mexican startup Biofase has found a way to convert avocado pits into disposable utensils that are easier on the environment than the plastic kind.

Compostable and biodegradable mean different things.

Compostable vs. Biodegradable: What's the Difference?

Both kinds of products are good for the environment, but they have a few differences that are important to keep in mind.

Billions of Brood X Cicadas Are Ready to Emerge After 17 Years Underground

In the summer of 2021, the cicadas of Brood X will emerge by the billions for the first time in 17 years.

The Alfred Wegener Institute research ship Polarstern reached the North Pole on August 19, 2020, during the year-long MOSAiC expedition to study climate change in the Arctic.

11 Frosty Facts About the North Pole

For most of history, the North Pole was the stuff of legends and wild theories. Now people run a marathon there every April. Here are more unexpected facts about the top of the world.

This Online Tool Transports You to Forests Around the World

Click a button and tree.fm will play you recordings from the rainforests of South America, the temperate forests of Europe, and beyond.

Make a Great Drink and Stay Sustainable With These Reusable Coffee Filters and Tea Bags

Paper coffee filters and tea bags can have harmful effects on the environment, so ReFlow wants to reimagine these caffeine staples with the help of recycled cotton.

A young beaver with all four feet firmly on the ground.

Watch: In 1948, Idaho Officials Sent 76 Beavers Parachuting Into Idaho’s Wilderness

“It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a parachuting beaver!” —Something you probably thought you’d never say.

Wildfires have reached historic proportions this year.

What Exactly Is a Gigafire?

The August Complex fire ravaging California is being called a "gigafire," and it's every bit as imposing and destructive as the name implies.

A look at the Global Safety Net's online map application.

Which Places Should We Protect First to Stop Climate Change? This Interactive Map Tells You

Certain lands can store large quantities of carbon (though we also need to cut carbon emissions in the first place).

Thailand National Park Officials Mailed Trash Back to Litterbugs

A group of inconsiderate campers recently received a package from Khao Yai National Park filled with their own trash and a note that said, "Please let us return these to you."

Smoke fills the sky on Harbor Island in Seattle, Washington on September 12, 2020.

Smoke From the West Coast Wildfires Has Been Reported As Far Away As the Netherlands

The combination of the raging fires and a jet stream has led to smoke from the West Coast wildfires moving across the Northeast and has even tinted the sky in Europe.

Take a Virtual Fall Foliage Tour With These Nature Webcams

You can appreciate the foliage in states like New Hampshire, Vermont, and Colorado from your computer this autumn.

PREV NEXT