conservation
National parks are great. Now, let’s create a World Park
To preserve biodiversity and ecosystems, protected areas should be connected into a gigantic World Park.
Is saving the panda a waste of time and money?
It is difficult to save a species that does not seem to care about saving itself.
Meet the world’s first ‘digital species’ for conservation
The Seychelles magpie-robin is up for sale – yes, for sale – as a digital nature collectible.
The suction speed of an elephant’s trunk is 330 miles per hour
That's as fast as a bullet train in Japan.
Sea cucumber crime is a thing, and this is where it’s happening
A "seafood mafia" is plying the waters between India and Sri Lanka to satisfy China's appetite for an increasingly rare delicacy.
The ‘Lost Forty’: how a mapping error preserved an old-growth forest
A 19th-century surveying mistake kept lumberjacks away from what is now Minnesota's largest patch of old-growth trees.
How your daily coffee can help tropical forests grow back
Researchers find that the coffee pulp is valuable in its own right.
Citizen scientists are filling research gaps created by the pandemic
Participation in community science programs has skyrocketed during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Finally, a world map for bees
First picture of worldwide bee distribution fills knowledge gaps and may help protect species.
Isolated island group is now one of the world’s largest animal sanctuaries
One of the world's most isolated island groups has just been made one of the world's largest ocean reserves.
9 of the most shocking facts about global extinction – and how to stop it
Across the world, wildlife is under severe threat.
Here are 3 main causes of wildfires, and 3 ways to prevent them
We're in an era of 'megafires'.
Study identifies animal species that may be susceptible to coronavirus
On the list of animals at risk are several endangered species.
Eyes painted on cow butts thwart lion attacks
An experiment in Botswana suggests a non-lethal deterrent for predatory lions.
The Anthropause is here: COVID-19 reduced Earth’s vibrations by 50 percent
The planet is making a lot less noise during lockdown.
Why the U.S. Space Force just hired this handsome horse
America's Space Force has acquired a horse for an important mission.
Stone stacking destroys the environment for clicks and likes
Stone stackers enjoy the practice as a peaceful challenge, but scientists warn that moving small stones has mountainous consequences.
The future of the Amazon may depend on tapir poop
Each pile of dung contains a cornucopia of seeds, perfect for reforesting.
Whale-watching is now bigger than whaling in Iceland
Two of Iceland's largest whaling companies are keeping their boats in port this summer. One of them permanently.
Climate change to make outdoor work more dangerous
Today's agriculture workers face 21 days of heat that exceed safety standards. That number will double by 2050.
Chemists develop fast-degrading plastic for cleaner oceans
The researchers hope to develop a no-trace plastic to curtail marine pollution and ghost fishing.
19th-century atlas offers glimpse of North Sea’s fish-rich past
O.T. Olsen's gorgeous 'Piscatorial Atlas' (1883) describes a world now destroyed and forgotten
Flamingos form long-term friendships and “cliques”
These pink feathered folk form complex social networks and are choosy about who they spend their time with, according to a new study.
Choosing new ‘umbrella’ species in Australia could save many others
Is the way we choose which animals to protect out of date?
Is it possible to have too many trees?
Thinning forests in the Western United States can save billions of gallons of water per year and improve conservation efforts.
Why there are reasons to be optimistic about coral reefs
Let's not kid ourselves: Coral reefs are in serious danger. But numerous ambitious projects are underway with the goal of keeping these ecosystems alive.
These 9 U.S. biodiversity hotspots urgently need protection
Project to map global 'species richness' highlights the variety of biodiversity itself
Has Jurassic Park fostered misunderstanding about extinction?
While the blockbuster franchise might have given us a distorted view of science's capabilities to address species extinction, new research might come close to "resurrecting" lost species' DNA.