All Environment
First LookThe last time this many cicadas emerged Thomas Jefferson was presidentCicadas by the trillions will emerge from the earth this April in numbers not seen in centuries. Two large broods will emerge at the same time, one from Georgia and the other from central Illinois, to serenade, mate, and lay eggs.
India鈥檚 sacred groves are home to forest god shrines 鈥� and endangered speciesSacred groves have become bastions of biodiversity in India, but relying on spiritual belief as a driver for conservation presents risks.
Brazil鈥檚 Lula is losing his war against illegal miners in the AmazonBrazil鈥檚 President Lula is backing expensive operations to combat illegal mining and other crimes in the Amazon.
First LookMassachusetts town had a plan to protect its shore. One storm took it away.Salisbury, Massachusetts trucked in 14,000 tons of sand to protect homes and roads 鈥� but a storm swept it out to sea. The incident exemplifies the challenges with shoreline restoration, a strategy to shield waterfronts as the climate crisis intensifies.
The last coal plant in New England is sputtering. What happens next?New England is on the verge of becoming the first region in the United States to go coal-free. What lessons does the last coal-fired plant in New Hampshire hold for the rest of the country?
Can electric vehicles keep Africa moving?As the world transitions to electric vehicles, African companies and governments face significant challenges.聽
First LookWinter gets the cold shoulder: 2023-24 winter was warmest ever in USSome are calling it 鈥渢he lost winter.鈥� Lake Erie and Lake Ontario were nearly ice-free, and parts of Vermont and Maine never fell below zero. The warmest-ever cold season is leading to concerns about natural repercussions.
Europe burns wood pellets. Impacts rise for US communities, forests.The wood pellet industry has surged under a clean energy label. Critics say the聽industry puts the environment and marginalized communities at risk.
Utah media competitors unite on Great Salt Lake projectLocal newsrooms in Utah are trusting collaboration over competition to shore up solutions for the critically low water levels of the Great Salt Lake.聽
A beaver project in England offers lessons in coexistenceBeaver populations are rebounding in Europe and North America. Communities are seeking balance between valuing the rodents鈥� benefits and managing conflicts with humans.聽
In Pictures: Indigenous women guard against illegal mining in EcuadorIndigenous peoples have long been stewards of their land. In Ecuador's Amazon, a group has mobilized to safeguard waterways and critical habitat.
First LookIceland volcano eruption sends lava toward pipeline, tourist spotsLava flow from a volcano in Southwestern Iceland has shut off heat and water for the people of聽Grindavik. The Blue Lagoon, a local tourist attraction, has shut its doors.
First LookUS soot pollution has been dropping. An EPA rule will drop it further.The amount of allowable soot pollution coming from smokestacks, tailpipes, and power plants will be lowered for the first time in over a decade when the Biden administration sets its new rules on Feb. 7.聽
First LookPineapple express? Mudslides? What鈥檚 happening in California.A pineapple express 鈥� a nickname for a long band of water vapor over the Pacific Ocean 鈥� pummeled Southern California with nearly half its annual rainfall in two days. The atmospheric river is causing deadly mudslides and overflowing rivers.聽
First LookRace against time: Icelanders build towering structures to stop lavaLong-dormant volcanoes near Reykjavik have become active again, threatening Icelanders who live on the country鈥檚 southern peninsula. The country is erecting dykes the size of three-story buildings to protect homes and vital infrastructure from lava flows.
From Bubba Gump to bust? American shrimpers face extinction.American shrimp boats are being made obsolete by foreign shrimp farms with dubious practices. To survive, boat captains聽will need to change.聽
First LookWhy are dolphins at the heart of a Mississippi lawsuit?Mississippi state leaders are suing the Army Corps of Engineers, alleging the corps鈥檚 decision to divert water from the Mississippi River as a flood prevention strategy for New Orleans led to countless dolphin deaths in the Mississippi Sound.
At Sahara鈥檚 edge, old habits protect crops from new climateA modern spin on an ancient African planting technique can double聽farmer鈥檚 yields and help them cope with a changing climate.聽
Northeast wind projects notch a win, despite industry strugglesThe first major offshore wind farms in U.S. waters聽have begun to generate power.聽It鈥檚 providing a sign of hope at a time of uncertainty for the industry.聽
The weather is wild. One meteorologist on why, and what we can do.The extreme weather that鈥檚 recently pounded much of the United States will likely occur more often. But there are ways to become more adaptable, according to a climate expert.聽
