Beech Trees Are Masters of Coordination
Spread across hundreds of miles, they all drop their fruit at the same time.
American Environmentalism Just Got Shoved Into Legal Purgatory
The Supreme Court’s decision to overrule the long-standing Chevron doctrine could be used to undo environmental progress.
California Is 150 Years Overdue for a Massive Earthquake
The quest to predict major earthquakes before they happen
The Deep Connection Between Life and Fire
How wildfire defines the world
India Is Building a Mega-River
It could bring water to parched land—but scientists aren’t sure it’s worth the risk.
America’s Doublethink on Working Through the Heat
Heat can be deadly; no federal rules currently exist to protect workers against that danger.
We Ruined Rain
Water is a cosmic gift. Climate change is turning it into a weapon.
Miami Is Entering a State of Unreality
No amount of adaptation to climate change can fix Miami’s water problems.
The New Calculus of Summer Workouts
Summer extremes are making exercising outdoors so much more gross.
The Koala Paradox
Can Australia find a way to protect its most beloved animal?
Most Life on Earth Is Dormant Right Now
Cells can go from wide awake to fast asleep in an instant.
Stingrays Are a Bigger Threat Than Sharks
But scientists have found a way to step on them without getting stung.
You Have Every Reason to Avoid Breathing Wildfire Smoke
The hazards are only becoming clearer; what the U.S. will do to protect people is not.
One Satellite Crash Could Upend Modern Life
The Big One in orbit might take many forms. All of them could be disastrous.
A Wild Plan to Avert Catastrophic Sea-Level Rise
The collapse of Antarctica’s ice sheets would be disastrous. A group of scientists has an idea to save them.
Cruise Ships Aren’t Ready for Instant Tsunamis
Landslides can cause sudden, powerful tsunamis—and no one really knows how to navigate them.
How Much Worse Would a Bird-Flu Pandemic Be?
The world has been through multiple flu pandemics. That doesn’t mean it’s any more prepared.
Animal Behavior’s Biggest Taboo Is Softening
Anthropomorphism, long considered a cardinal sin among researchers, is making a slow comeback.
The Cars Always Win
New York’s stalled congestion-pricing plan was a rare chance to try something different in American transportation.
NASA Finally Has an Alternative to SpaceX
After years of complications, Boeing has launched astronauts to space for the first time.