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Climate

Making It Rain

Los Angeles Just Proved How Spongy a City Can Be

As relentless rains pounded LA, the city’s “sponge” infrastructure helped gather 8.6 billion gallons of water—enough to sustain over 100,000 households for a year.
Climate Change

Tech Still Isn’t Doing Enough to Care for the Environment

Infectious Disease

All That Rain Is Driving Up Cases of a Deadly Fungal Disease in California

Regulations and Solutions

Metal Prices Are Soaring. So Is Metal Theft

It’s a multi-billion-dollar global problem, and in a rapidly electrifying world, the profits—and ease—of stealing metals is only going to increase.

The Transport Companies Leaving Fossil Fuels Behind

Hydrogen-powered planes, more fuel-efficient aircraft designs, and all-electric parcel delivery services are just some of the ways in which the transport sector is looking to decarbonize.

Ocean Temperatures Keep Shattering Records—and Stunning Scientists

Sea surface temperatures have been skyrocketing beyond expectations. That may be a bad sign for hurricane season—and the health of ocean ecosystems.

Fake Caviar Invented in the 1930s Could Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution

An alternative to environmentally-harmful plastic is already within reach: seaweed.

Oceans and Waterways

Is There Lead in Your Reusable Water Bottle?

Stanley says it uses some lead in its “industry-standard” manufacturing process, so we asked if other brands do the same.

The City of Tomorrow Will Run on Your Toilet Water

Researchers are finding better ways to extract drinking water, compost, and even energy from wastewater. It’s not gross. It’s science.

Countries Are Building Giant ‘Sand Motors’ to Protect Their Coasts From Erosion

As sea levels rise, engineers are using massive Dutch-inspired sand sculptures to protect shorefront settlements.

Those 'Bottles Saved' Counters on Water Filling Stations Are Way Off. Does It Matter?

Many factors—from the size of your bottle to the age of the filter—can contribute to the count being wildly inaccurate. But even bad math shows that we’re using fewer plastic bottles.

Extreme Heat

Texas Is Already Running Out of Water

Parts of the state are starting the year with low reserves. With light winter rains failing to replenish supply, and a scorching summer predicted, key areas may be pushed to the brink.

This Radical Plan to Make Roads Greener Actually Works

Using embankments, channels, and dikes, so-called “green roads” help control floods, harvest excess water for irrigation, and slash maintenance costs. A movement to retrofit existing roads is gathering steam.

Dust Is So Much More Than You Realize

In her new book, Dust, Jay Owens charts a fascinating history of the tiny particles floating all around us.

California’s Giant Sequoias Are in Big Trouble

Ancient sequoias are facing an existential threat from increasingly intense wildfires linked to climate change. The question of how to save them has sparked a fierce debate.