The Agonizing Death of the Aral Sea
After decades of environmental disaster, fish and wildlife may rebound to Central Asia's Aral Sea, but the lake will never be restored to its former glory.
How Should We Deal With Plastic Bags?
A proposed 5-cent plastic bag fee was just blocked in New York City. What can be done to effectively reduce plastic bag use?
The Unexpected Problem With Wind Power
While it can be an excellent source of clean power, wind power also kills a lot of wildlife, including bats.
Sea Level Rise Is Already Here
For the 44% of the world's population that lives near the coastline, global climate change is no longer abstract.
Fast Fashion Fills Our Landfills
Americans dispose of about 12.8 million tons of textiles annually. Fashion has a major impact on the environment. So what is the industry doing about it?
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.
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?
Why Do Animals Share?
Natural selection should weed out the do-gooders and leave only egoists, but animals share just the same.
Can You Hear It? The Cicadas Are Back
After 17 years quietly developing under the soil, 3 species of periodical cicadas emerged this summer. How do these insects coordinate?
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.