Welikia Manhattan map

What Did Manhattan Look Like in 1609?

The Welikia Project recreates a lost vision of Manhattan, one composed of marshes and forest surrounded by wide, meandering rivers.
recycling plastic bottles

One Way to a Cleaner Ocean? Plastics!

A new technology allows ships to dredge the ocean for plastic, then compress it into bricks. But plastic recycling has proved difficult in the past.
Southern Alps in New Zealand

How to Make It Rain

The United Arab Emirates is looking into building an artificial mountain in order to stimulate rain. Will it work?
Sleeping dog

Extreme Napping in the Animal Kingdom

Although sleep is ubiquitous for animals with brains, differences in how, why, and for how long animals sleep remain unexplained.
American Bison

The Bison Is America’s New National Mammal

The American bison joins the bald eagle as the second national animal. What will the designation mean for its conservation status?
private beach

Can Anyone Own the Beach?

The perennial battle of beach access: who owns the beach front? 
altruistic marmot

Why Do Animals Share?

Natural selection should weed out the do-gooders and leave only egoists, but animals share just the same.
Kakamega rainforest

The Crucial Role of Women in Conservation

Conservationists need to do a better job involving women, according to a recent Nature Conservancy report.
American Eel

For the Endangered American Eel, A Long, Slippery Road to Recovery

The endangered American eel, once abundant along the U.S. East Coast, is critically important in keeping rivers ecologically sound.
Cecil the Lion

No, Trophy Hunting Won’t Protect Wildlife

Killing wildlife to save it isn't a viable strategy. We can create diverse, self-sustaining ecosystems without trophy hunting.