All Environment
Points of ProgressFairy circles and electricity from air: Inclusive and innovative scienceProgress roundup: In Australia, a research collaboration incorporated Indigenous expertise. In the U.S., engineers found a secret to harvesting energy from air 鈥� nanopores.
First LookEarth鈥檚 daily temperature reached a record high for two days. Why?After the planet set a record-high average temperature on Tuesday, Earth鈥檚 average temperature remained the same on Wednesday. With heat waves from Peru to Canada, climate experts caution against an ever-warming world.聽
Could battery boom change South鈥檚 views of green energy?Alabama could be the buckle of a new manufacturing 鈥渂attery belt鈥� across the South. The economic activity is putting green energy in a new light.聽
Proposed power plant emission cuts: Can US keep the lights on?A鈥� 鈥媎ebate over how fast to transition to clean energy 鈥媔s gaining urgency, as 鈥媋 proposed 鈥婨PA 鈥媏missions rule stirs concerns about electric grid reliability.
Cover StoryExtinct or elusive? Why birders aren鈥檛 giving up on the ivorybill.Experts say the ivory-billed woodpecker is probably extinct. Others think they鈥檙e wrong 鈥� and that the natural world still holds some surprises.
First LookSmoky haze: Air quality warnings persist as Canada's fires continueCanada鈥檚 wildfires have yet to be contained, and cities across the United States are seeing hazy skies as a result. Experts say Americans from the Midwest to the Southeast聽should remain prudent in poor air quality conditions.
In Thailand, conservation drive and Indigenous traditions collideResidents of Thailand鈥檚 Ban Sop Lan village are pushing back against efforts to expand the boundaries of a nearby national park.
First LookWhat鈥檚 a heat dome? Here鈥檚 why Texas heat is expected to spread.Scorching temperatures from a heat dome are taxing the Texas power grid, threatening to bring record highs to the state before expanding to other parts of the United States. Experts say more than 46 million Americans are under heat alerts.
Points of ProgressFor children in east Africa, the dignity of hairstyles and better healthProgress roundup: Rastafarians end hair discrimination in Malawi, and an opponent of female genital mutilation wins the Templeton Prize in Somaliland.
First Look3M to pay $10.3B for leaking 'forever chemicals' into water systemsChemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay $10.3 billion to settle lawsuits over the contamination of many public drinking water systems with harmful compounds. Known as 鈥渇orever chemicals,鈥� PFAS don鈥檛 degrade and have been linked to health problems.
First LookMonstrous mustard? California chefs, artists target invasive species.California is blooming with wild mustard this year. The invasive species smothers native plants and serves as tinder for wildfires in a state already ravaged by blazes. In response, artists are using the plant as dye and chefs are cooking with it.聽
First LookWho should fund clean energy? IEA calls on rich nations.The International Energy Agency聽said that affluent nations must regain trust by financing clean energy in developing countries. In poorer nations, the implementation of net-zero goals faces significant financial hurdles.
Why this Indian village has fought a steel plant for 18 yearsA village鈥檚 enduring resistance against a massive steelworks project highlights gaps in India鈥檚 environmental protections and human rights.
First LookCould this generation end climate change? Youth take fights to court.A United Nations resolution declared the right to a healthy environment a human right in July 2022. Now, youth in India and Indonesia are suing their governments, reflecting a global trend of climate litigation based on human rights violations.
First LookAmid soaring energy demand, Vietnam eyes transition to renewablesVietnam has released a long-awaited energy plan that aims to transition the country to renewables while meeting soaring demand. However, continued reliance on fossil fuels, experts warn, could make it hard for the country to meet its ambitious goals.
Lithium mining boom in Argentina sparks hope 鈥� and sacrificeLithium is in high demand as the world moves toward green energy to meet climate targets. But the benefits of lithium are still up for debate in local mining communities.
Do children have a right to a healthy climate? Montana case is a test.A lawsuit in Montana marks the first time that young people in the U.S. have gotten a chance in court to demand the right to a stable climate 鈥� part of a larger global effort by children to demand government action.
Points of ProgressGreek beaches and Moroccan holidays: Two signals of acceptanceProgress roundup: In Greece, wheelchair users have an easier way to enjoy the ocean. And in Morocco, a holiday recognizes the Berbers, 40% of the population.
The ExplainerWhere there鈥檚 fire, there鈥檚 smoke: Public safety lesson for Eastern USThe severity of Canadian wildfire smoke has startled the United States and may prompt Eastern communities to draw safety lessons from the fire-prone West.
First LookSouthern farmers search for new strategies against warmer wintersWith climate change driving warmer winters, farmers across the southern United States find new and creative ways to ensure their fields yield enough crops. This includes employing new agricultural techniques and growing crops once rare in the region.