Chinese Peasants Taught the USDA to Farm Organically in 1909
A hundred years later, we are still learning.
Pssst. Exotic Animals Don’t Make Good Pets
They might be cute, but animals like otters are difficult to take care of. Plus, there are ecological concerns inherent in removing them from the wild.
Why Forage Fish Conservation Matters
Small fish like herring and anchovies serve an important role in the ecosystem. If passed into law, a new act would protect these forage fish.
How Longleaf Pines Helped Build the U.S.
The dense, resin-saturated, rot-resistant timber of the longleaf pine helped build up U.S. cities. But most of the native stands have already been logged.
The Delicate Science-Art of the Blaschka Invertebrate Collection
The Cornell Collection of Blaschka Invertebrate Models includes hundreds of glass models of sea creatures, making it both a teaching tool and a metaphor.
How Trees Can Save Lakes From Algae Blooms
In addition to cleaning air pollution, trees absorb excess nutrients from soil, preventing algae blooms in waterways.
How to Clean Up After a Nuclear Disaster
Workers are still cleaning up after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant partial meltdown. There's a lot of contaminated material to contend with.
The Military Response to Poaching
Is militarizing rangers really the best way to cut down on poaching? It's more complicated than you might imagine.
The Downside to Renewable Energy
Rare earth elements are used in virtually all electronics, and mining them is a messy business.
Blaming Women for Infertility in the 1940s
In the early days of fertility treatments, some doctors theorized that women’s unconscious hatred of their husbands kept them from conceiving.