Environment

  1. An opaque photo of a wildfire overtop an opaque satellite image of Africa.
    Climate

    Climate ‘teleconnections’ may link droughts and fires across continents

    Far-reaching climate patterns like the El Niño-Southern Oscillation may synchronize droughts and regulate scorching of much of Earth’s burned area.

    By Nikk Ogasa
  2. An illustration of gardens in a courtyard, including green space on the roof of a walk way between glass buildings.
    Science & Society

    Many plans for green infrastructure risk leaving vulnerable people out

    Green infrastructure is one way to help combat climate hazards like flooding. But without equitable planning, only some communities will benefit.

    By Jude Coleman
  3. A photo of a small hand reaching out with an index finger to touch the long green leaf of a plant near the ground.
    Life

    How plant ‘muscles’ fold up a mimosa leaf fast

    A mimosa plant revs up tiny clumps of specially shaped cells that collapse its leaflets, though why isn’t clear.

    By Susan Milius
  4. An underwater photo of a juvenile dugong swimming in the Red Sea not too far from the surface.
    Life

    A new metric of extinction risk considers how cultures care for species

    Conservation efforts should consider relationships between cultural groups and the species important to them, researchers argue.

    By Jude Coleman
  5. A line of wind turbines disappearing into the distance with an out of focus wheat field in the foreground.
    Climate

    It’s possible to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Here’s how

    Cutting carbon dioxide emissions to curb climate change and reach net zero is possible but not easy.

    By Alexandra Witze
  6. a pile of hard disk drives on a white background
    Environment

    Recycling rare earth elements is hard. Science is trying to make it easier

    As demand grows, scientists are inventing new — and greener — ways to recycle rare earth elements.

    By Erin Wayman
  7. orange water flows from a mine drain in in Pennsylvania
    Environment

    Rare earth elements could be pulled from coal waste

    The scheme would provide valuable rare earth metals and help clean up coal mining’s dirty legacy.

    By Erin Wayman
  8. A satellite view of an arctic cyclone taken in August 2012.
    Climate

    Cyclones in the Arctic are becoming more intense and frequent

    Over the last 70 years, boreal storms have steadily grown stronger. And climate change may make them worse, threatening both people and sea ice.

    By Nikk Ogasa
  9. An aerial view of Mountain Pass rare earth mine in southeastern California,
    Earth

    Rare earth mining may be key to our renewable energy future. But at what cost?

    We take you inside Mountain Pass, the only rare earth mine in the United States.

    By Carolyn Gramling
  10. A photo of President Joe Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law with a group of four men and one women standing around him.
    Climate

    2022’s biggest climate change bill pushes clean energy

    Experts weigh in on the pros and cons of the United States’ first major climate change legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, signed this year.

    By Nikk Ogasa
  11. On the left a white dog eating from a food bowl and on the right a smaller brown cat eats from a food bowl
    Animals

    Dry pet food may be more environmentally friendly than wet food

    The environmental cost of wet pet food is higher than dry food, scientists say. That may be because wet food gets most of its calories from animals.

    By Meghan Rosen
  12. Health & Medicine

    Pollution mucks up the lungs’ immune defenses over time

    A study of immune tissue in the lungs reports that particulate matter buildup from air pollution may impair respiratory immunity in older adults.

    By Aimee Cunningham