SELECTED STORIES
reuters Amazon rainforest gold mining is poisoning scores of threatened species
Mercury contamination from informal gold mining in Madre de Dios, Peru, is making its way into the biodiversity hotspot's mammals — from rodents to ocelots to titi monkeys (2023).
REUTERS How the Hawaii wildfires spread so quickly
The wildfire that ripped through Lahaina on Aug. 8, reducing what had once been the jewel of the historic Hawaiian kingdom to rubble, was decades in the making, scientists say (2023).
REUTERS Indian glacial lake that flooded was poised to get early warning system
Scientists and government authorities were working on an early warning system for glacial floods at a Himalayan lake in northeast India when it broke its banks with deadly consequences (2023).
reuters Heat insurance offers climate change lifeline to poor workers
Some 21,000 self-employed women in India’s Gujarat state are now enrolled in one of the world's first insurance schemes for extreme heat (2023).
REUTERS Fears mount for the Arctic as cooperation with Russia stalls
Experts are asking whether the polar body's viability is at risk if it cannot cooperate with Russia, which controls over half of the Arctic coastline (2023).
REUTERS CLIMATE CHANGE THAWS THE WORLD’S NORTHERNMOST RESEARCH STATION
At Ny-Alesund research station, high above the Arctic circle on Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, scientific data is getting harder to access. And sometimes it’s vanishing before scientists can collect it (2023).
reuters the cutting edge
How new drone technology is helping scientists in the uphill battle against plant extinction (2022). (Gold Medal, Society for News Design Awards)
REUTERS the collapse of insects
The most diverse group of organisms on the planet are in trouble, with recent research suggesting insect populations are declining at an unprecedented rate (2022). (Gold Medal, Society for News Design Awards)
REUTERS why plants matter
They are the foundation of life on Earth, providing food, medicine, building materials and clean air but across the world, plant species are disappearing fast (2022). (Gold Medal, Society for News Design Awards)
reuters Why Arctic fires are releasing more carbon than ever
Arctic fires are responsible for a growing share of global carbon emissions from fires. In 2021, fires above 60°N were to blame for nearly a third of emissions, setting a new record. (2022)
REUTERS Glaciers vanishing at record rate in Alps following heatwaves
The Alps' glaciers are on track for their highest mass losses in at least 60 years of record keeping. Since last winter, which brought little snowfall, the Alps have sweltered through two early summer heatwaves (2022).
REUTERS Scientists look to solve ozone threat to Africa's food security
Ozone can cause substantial losses for farmers by quickly aging crops before they reach full production potential. (2022)
reuters In HOTTEST CITY ON EARTH, MOTHERS BEAR BRUNT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Women in southern Pakistan and millions like them around the world are at the searing edge of climate change. (2022)
REUTERS A hotter planet means a hungrier planet, climate report warns
Simultaneous crop failures in the world's breadbaskets and livestock deaths from extreme heat are just a few of the disasters that may befall the world's food system by 2050. (2022)
REUTERS ukraine conflict hurts russian science, as west pulls funding
Hundreds of partnerships between Russian and Western institutions have been paused if not canceled altogether, as the invasion has unraveled years spent building international cooperation. (2022)
reuters Tonga’s volcanic eruption may harm environment for years, scientists say
Tonga’s massive underwater volcanic eruption could deliver long-lasting damage to coral reefs, erode coastlines and disrupt fisheries. (2022)
REUTERS Global biodiversity deal to halt nature loss stalls in Nairobi
Efforts to draft an ambitious global agreement on halting nature loss ended Sunday with little progress made in the Nairobi negotiations, leaving limited time for brokering a biodiversity pact this year. (2022)
REUTERS 'Now or never': Only severe emissions cuts will avoid climate extremes -U.N. report
Global emissions are on track to blow past the 1.5 degrees C warming limit envisioned in the 2015 Paris Agreement and reach 3.2 degrees C by 2100. (2022)
reuters Ocean Cleanup struggles to fulfill promise to scoop up plastic at sea
The non-profit hopes to clear 90% of floating plastic from the world's oceans by 2040. (2021)
SCIENCE NEWS How AI can help forecast how much Arctic sea ice will shrink
IceNet can predict the future of Arctic sea ice months in advance with 95 percent accuracy. (2021)
MONGABAY scientists turn to vaccines to save endangered species
Vaccines developed for animals, including rabies or swine fever shots, have historically been aimed at protecting humans rather than the animals themselves. (2021)
hakai magazine the language of bears
New research reveals a curious connection between British Columbia’s Indigenous language families, and the genetic variability of bears. (2021)
Science news pOLAR BEARS BLUDGEON WALRUSES TO DEATH WITH STONES OR ICE
It’s long been said that a piece of ice is the perfect murder weapon. (2021) PDF
COLUMBIA JOURNALISM REVIEW THE WORLD’S NORTHERNMOST ALT-WEEKLY HEADS SOUTH
Mark Sabbatini, the editor of IcePeople , has been expelled from Svalbard. (2021)
tHE gUARDIAN Climate crisis behind drastic drop in Arctic wildlife populations
Native shorebirds and caribou among species at risk as survival strategies are upended (2021)
scientific american MAGAZINE the POLAR CRUCIBLE
Climate change is bringing tourism and tension to Longyearbyen on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. (2021) Featured on Longform & Next Draft PDF
Mongabay Arctic biodiversity at risk as world overshoots climate planetary boundary
The Arctic Ocean biome is changing rapidly, warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world. (2021)
The WALRUS NORTHERN INROADS
While Canada ignores the Arctic’s economic potential, China is poised to invest. (2020) PDF
THE GUARDIAN hOW coLD WAR’S MONSTER CRABS CAME TO the RESCUE OF AILING ARCTIC VILLAGE
Known locally as ‘Stalin’s Red Army,’ an invasion of king crabs from Russia created a lucrative industry, and difficult choices. (2020) PDF
scientific american Struggling Koalas Get Help from a Bold Breeding Program
Australia’s bushfires hammered koala populations, but a first-ever mix of capture and genetics could aid a comeback. (2021)
The Guardian The Arctic is in a death spiral. how much longer will it exist?
The region is unravelling faster than anyone could once have predicted. Is there still time to act? (2020)
Scientific american Physician-Politicians Tout Medical Credentials in Key U.S. Races
Amid the pandemic, candidates in tight contests in Arizona and Kansas contrast their understanding of science with opponents’ disregard. (2020)
reuters Remote Canadian town programs radar to spot approaching polar bears
Scientists in Churchill, Manitoba, are training a military radar system to spot bears before they get too close. (2020)
Scientific american wHY THE POLLS WERE MOSTLY WRONG
Princeton’s Sam Wang had to eat his words (and a cricket) in 2016. He talks about the impacts of the pandemic and QAnon on public-opinion tallies in 2020. (2020)
science news Large-scale changes in Earth’s climate may originate in the Pacific
A new study suggests that the melting of Alaska’s glaciers into the North Pacific could have far-ranging effects on ocean circulation and the climate. (2020)
Adventure JOURNAL MAGAZINE Ursa Major
With backcountry use booming and bear incidents on the rise, Washington’s North Cascades face a key question: Can recreation and grizzlies coexist? (2020) PDF
THE GUARDIAN MOST POLAR BEARS TO DISAPPEAR BY 2100, STUDY PREDICTS
Melting Arctic sea ice could cause starvation and reproductive failure for many as early as 2040, scientists warn. (2020)
Scientific american GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY IS IN FREE FALL
A U.N. report reveals that countries worldwide have failed to meet key conservation targets set for 2020. (2020)
beside magazine svalbard’s seeds of hope
A doomsday bunker at the end of the world is safeguarding global food security. But for how much longer? (2020)
The New York Times India Fears the Coronavirus May Stalk Its Tigers
The country is home to most of the world’s wild tigers, and wildlife authorities announced steps to protect them. (2020)
Wired Magazine The Final Frames
In 2004, when a tsunami devastated communities in southern Asia, videos shot by tourists and locals became a new tool for analyzing the deadly waves. (2019) PDF
The Guardian Wildlife rescue centers struggle to treat endangered species in coronavirus outbreak
Shortages in funds, medicines and masks threaten charity work around the world. (2020)
science news Tapirs may be key to reviving the Amazon. All they need to do is poop
A Brazilian ecologist is determined to understand the role of tapir dung in forest restoration. (2020)
National geographic how to make peace with the world’s deadliest bears
Sloth bears feed on ants and termites, but often attack people when startled. As human populations in India grow, violent conflict is rising. (2020)
The Walrus The Seedy World of Plant Poaching
A miraculous cure-all, endangered wild American ginseng is being stolen and sold for thousands of dollars on the black market. (2019) PDF
InsideCLIMATE NEWS A Drop in Sulfate Emissions During the Coronavirus Lockdown Could Intensify Arctic Heatwaves
Lower greenhouse gas emissions slow climate change, but declines of sulfate aerosols that reflect heat away from the planet may bring short-term warming. (2020)
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Trump vs. Biden: How COVID-19 Will Affect Voting for President
Republicans’ and Democrats’ distinct responses to the pandemic could influence in-person and mail-in voting—and who wins. (2020)
EHN Climate change creates camouflage confusion in winter-adapted wildlife
Twenty-one species molt from brown to white to survive the winter season. But climate change has created a mismatch between their snowy camouflage and surroundings. (2020)
HuffPost Politicians and CEOs Could Face Criminal Charges For Environmental Destruction
Campaigners are pushing the International Criminal Court to recognize “ecocide” as a crime against peace. (2019)
BioGraphic Green Glove, Iron Fist
As China prepares to unveil its brand-new national park system, the country—and the world—holds its collective breath to see how conservation will play out under an authoritarian government. (2019)
The Counter Locally Foraged Piñon Nuts are Cherished in New Mexico. They’re Also Disappearing
A seasonal staple of Southwestern cuisine, piñons are both cultural tradition and economic lifeline. Thanks to climate change, they face an uncertain future. (2020)
PRI’s The World These Scientists Created a 'Cloud Curtain' in Peru’s Tropical Forests to Mimic the Future
At Wayqecha Biological Station, a research site deep in the cloud forests of southern Peru, a giant “cloud curtain” hangs over the canopy to intercept clouds. (2020)
Al Jazeera The Norwegian Town Caught in a Spy War With Russia
The Arctic town of Kirkenes near the Russia border feels the chill as tensions between NATO and the Kremlin rise. (2019)
Pacific Standard A Proposed Railway in the Arctic Has Investors Excited—and Indigenous Groups Terrified
Many Scandinavians are hoping that disappearing Arctic ice will lead to an economic boom—but the Sámi people are worried multinational infrastructure projects will eliminate their livelihood. (2019)
Scientific American Will Elizabeth Warren’s Stance against “Junk Science” Matter to Voters?
The presidential candidate wants new limits on government use of biased studies pushed by industry. (2020)
Science News Nepal is Reeling From an Unprecedented Dengue Outbreak
Climate change may be making the Himalayan nation more hospitable to disease-carrying mosquitoes. (2019)
HuffPost The Surprising Ways Cities Are Good for the Environment
How urban living can cap population growth and help conserve natural resources. (2019)
Science News Hitchhiking Oxpeckers Warn Endangered Rhinos When People Are Nearby
Shouty and shrill oxpeckers can serve as an alarm bell, alerting black rhinos to the presence of people. That could help the endangered animals evade poachers. (2020) PDF
Ensia Traditional Herders are Sharing Knowledge to Cope with a Changing Climate
Yak, reindeer and entire ways of life in the “Third Pole” and Scandinavia face new threats in a warming world. (2019)
Yale E360 As Polar Bear Attacks Increase in Warming Arctic, a Search for Solutions
With sea ice reduced, polar bears in the Arctic are spending more time on land, leading to increased attacks on people. (2019)
THE ATLANTIC Iceland’s Glacier Keepers
Icelandic citizens have served as glacier trackers — and witnesses to climate change — for generations. Will it last? (2018)
BioGraphic Fighting for a Foothold
White abalone are both critically endangered and crucial to their coastal ecosystems, so scientists have launched a Hail Mary effort to save them. (2017)
The Walrus Bear Market
Why some Indigenous communities in British Columbia won't rejoice over the NDP's decision to ban the grizzly hunt. (2018) PDF (LISTED: The Walrus’ Favourite Environment Stories from 2010-2019)
BioGraphic Maggot Revolution
Agricultural entrepreneurs want to solve the planet’s livestock-feed crisis by farming insect larvae. Will their scheme fly? Winner of the 2017 Thomson Reuters Food Sustainability Media Award (2017)
The Guardian The American Wilderness at Risk in the Trump Era
A new study reveals the vast extent of public lands being opened up to the energy industry. The Guardian heard from three communities on the frontlines. (2018)
Science News Noise Pollution from Ships May Disturb Arctic Cod
As shipping traffic increases in the Arctic, fish are racing to get out of the way. (2020) PDF
Air Canada EnRoute Adventures in Pandaland
A new national park in Sichuan gives the bears a home to call their own – and gives Chinese panda tourism a major boost. National Magazine Award finalist (2018) PDF
National Geographic Inside the World’s Largest Farm
A Japanese company's futuristic approach to farming could revolutionize how we grow our food. (2014)
The Revelator Koalas on the Decline
The Australian icon could lose its fight against climate change, disease, habitat destruction and cars — but not if dedicated conservationists get the tools they need to protect the species. (2019)
The Narwhal Canada’s Last Wild Places
To meet one of its most critical conservation targets by 2020, Canada must protect a massive amount of land — roughly the size of Alberta — over the next year and a half. (2018)
High Country News Magazine Pay for Prey
When cattle go missing in wolf territory, who should pay the price? A program to reimburse Oregon ranchers for livestock killed by wolves is in trouble. (2018) PDF
Pacific Standard The Online Community Tracking Arctic Sea Ice Melt
Arctic sea ice is more unstable than ever, and the ice may be melting toward a record in 2017, or not; one place to find out for sure is on the Arctic Sea Ice Blog and Forum. (2018)
Modern Farmer The Last Tree Standing
For thousands of years, breadfruit grew in the Pacific Islands, where it was a staple in locals’ diets. It’s time to give it another look. (2018)
Canadian Geographic Fighting for their Coastline
As ship traffic increases off the coast of British Columbia, so will accidents. The Heiltsuk Nation intends to be ready. (2018)
Science News Brazil’s Amazon has burned this badly before. This year’s fires are still bad
Are these fires in the Brazilian Amazon unprecedented? (2019)
Hakai Magazine The Mysterious Decline of Iceland’s American Invader
In Iceland, imported mink escaped fur farms and feasted their way through the food web—until nature bit back. (2018)
Canadian Geographic As Banff's Famed Wildlife Overpasses Turn 20, The World Looks to Canada for Conservation Inspiration
The innovative structures are heralded for having opened migration corridors and saved countless animals from vehicle collisions. (2017)
Outside Yellowstone Grizzlies Return to the Endangered List
A ruling to stop the trophy hunt was a big win for conservation groups and may impact grizzlies across the country. (2018)
Vice Peer Inside the Alaskan Permafrost Tunnel that Doubles as a Science Lab
Beginning in 2011, engineers began to expand the Permafrost Tunnel, citing an increased need for understanding how permafrost will respond to global warming. (2016)
High Country News How to Tell the Story of the West
A residential library for readers, poets, and naturalists take shape. (2016) PDF
Quartz The US is the only country that hasn’t signed on to a key international agreement to save the planet
The 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty designed to address international conservation concerns, such as mass extinctions and ecosystem degradation. (2016)
Vice Ocean Babies are Hard to Track, So Scientists are Bringing in the Bots
Researchers hope the information the robots collect on where larvae move will improve monitoring of ocean health and better inform the design of future Marine Protected Areas. (2016)
High Country News To Bee or Not to Bee: Beekeepers vs. Invasive Species Rules on Federal Lands
Should apiarists be allowed to place hives of non-native honeybees on public lands? (2015) PDF
National Geographic Site Challenges Theory of Where New World Culture Began
At a Mexican site known as the End of the World, archaeologists have unearthed a Native American first: the bones of two extinct elephant-like animals that sported four tusks apiece, surrounded by 13,400-year-old spear points. (2014)
Outside These Adventurers Took the (Really) Long Way to the Climate Talks
During a year-long journey to Paris for the UN Climate Summit, they witnessed a changing environment firsthand. (2015)
High Country News Grizzly Face-Off
The Yellowstone grizzly population is poised to lose its endangered status, leaving protection in the hands of the states. (2016) PDF
adventure journal locked out
Ten million acres of public land are inaccessible in the American West. But uncommon allies are fighting to open them. (2018) PDF