All Environment
First LookHuge sea-life sculptures made from plastic waste shock, amazeIn an effort to raise awareness about plastic entering the ocean, an artist is transforming beach trash into sculptures of sea creatures ranging from great white sharks, made partly of bottle caps, to a jellyfish constructed of cut-up water bottles.聽
First LookAfter hurricane, Puerto Rico switches on to renewable energyA small number of buildings in Puerto Rico now rely on solar power after hurricane Maria left much of the island in the dark. Industry officials and environmentalists are closely watching the experiment to determine the possibilities of a larger-scale switch to off-grid power.
In Massachusetts, a big comeback for a little birdThe piping plover, a bird once down to 139 breeding pairs in the Bay State, has made a remarkable recovery, thanks in part to unorthodox approaches taken by conservationists.
First LookCaribbean islands rev up for electric car revolutionGiven the high costs of imported fuel for energy, several Caribbean islands are considering increasing the number of electric vehicles on their roads. But they face several barriers, including high initial costs and stiff import tariffs on vehicles.聽
ESA shakeups: Does protecting species have to be a zero-sum game?Proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act rocked the conservation world last week. At the heart of the debate lies a fundamental issue: how to balance the needs of people and nature.
First LookAmerican West rounds up wild horses threatened by droughtHarsh drought conditions have left vegetation and water scarce in the American West. Federal land managers have begun emergency roundups, while volunteers haul water and food to remote grazing grounds.聽
First LookSan Francisco considers outlawing small, one-use plastic itemsThe environmentally focused California city is proposing a ban on plastic items such as straws, stirrers, and fluorinated takeout containers by 2020. But opponents claim the ban would be discriminatory toward people with disabilities.聽
First LookAmid Bali trash crisis, local heroes fight to keep island cleanAs tourism rapidly increases in Bali,聽garbage collection services and infrastructure have failed to keep up. But citizens are making efforts with initiatives like self-funded apps, green camps for children, and volunteer cleanups, to counter the growing trash problem.
First LookMalawi turns to solar irrigation to counter harsh droughtsWith frequent droughts threatening the future of Malawi's farming industry, local farmers in the country's Zomba district have created sustainable solutions: solar-powered pumps and water storage dams.
US West learns to live with heightened threat of wildfireAn early wildfire season in the American West comes at a time when more people are building near fire-prone wildlands. These new realities have forced communities to rethink the way they prepare for wildfire.
From tree spotters to beach brigades: a golden age of citizen scienceThe push to find productive outlets for political dissatisfaction has spread to the environmentally inclined.聽Frustrated by the politicization of environmental policy, citizen scientists are taking action.
First LookIn global warming fight, new tactics to make cows burp lessScientists around the world are making strides in reducing methane emissions from belching livestock by developing probiotic supplements, breeding animals that emit less, and planting trees in pastures to absorb greenhouse gasses.
From new leadership to Clean Power Plan, subtle shifts ripple through EPATumult in the administrator's seat of the EPA has dominated recent headlines. But under the surface, modest shifts in tone and tactics could eventually pave the way for more constructive conversation about climate policy.
First LookPollution regulations decrease acid rain, spur red spruce reboundSince the 1960s Clean Air Act, and its reinforcement in the 1990s, air toxins that trigger acid rain have been reduced, resulting in positive ecological effects. Now, Northeast forests once scarred by acid rain are mostly green, with red spruce trees thriving.聽
First LookScientists brave dangers studying active Hawaii volcanoScientists have been in the field measuring Kilauea volcano's eruptions 24 hours a day, seven days a week since it first exploded two months ago, trying to discover warning signs for future eruptions.聽
Group effort rules the roost in Wyoming, then Washington intervenesThe tale of Wyoming鈥檚 greater sage-grouse is a rare one of collaboration between聽conservation and energy interests. A recent push from the US Interior Department threatens to upset that delicate balance.
'E-waste': Getting grip on a growing global problemThe consumer push to own the latest electronic device has left an ever-growing wake of electronic waste.聽Country after country is passing legislation to regulate 鈥渆-waste鈥� in order to protect their environments.
First LookKenyan farmers swap coffee for avocados to tap into global boomWhile a harsh drought has hindered progress for coffee farmers in Kenya and their thirsty crops, many farmers have switched to the avocado business 鈥� a crop that's proving to provide better earnings with less maintenance and resources.
First LookAndrew Wheeler to head EPA after Pruitt resignationPresident Trump's聽approval of Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, as the Environmental Protection Agency's new chief to replace Scott Pruitt has renewed partisan debate about climate change and the environment.
Closing the loop on plastic recycling?Conventional plastics recycling is really just 鈥渄owncycling鈥澛爐hat is, reusing the material in ever-lower-quality products before ultimately sending it to the landfill. But scientists inspired by nature are developing ways to remake plastic from the ground up, with almost no waste.