HowStuffWorks Newsletter
Conservation issues are a growing concern for most scientists. As humans continue to consume natural resources, many organisms are headed for extinction. Conservation issues include the protection of trees, animals and wetlands.
In the lead-up to U.N. Climate Change Conference, the Swedish activist talked about Biden's climate plan, the media's responsibility and what gives her hope.
The number of trees we are surrounded by in our daily lives affects our health, economic welfare and mental well-being. The fairness of their distribution is known as tree equity.
By Muriel Vega
An unprecedented 10-year-long study published in the journal Nature found that deforestation and fires have drastically reduced the Amazon rainforest's ability to absorb carbon emissions from the atmosphere.
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Critics warn that cryptocurrency networks, whose computers use enormous amounts of electricity to verify transactions, could be a factor in warming the planet. The industry is working to change that.
Scotland has a bold vision to rewild and restore its ecosystems to what they once were. How? By reintroducing native species, restoring degraded land and simply allowing nature to look after itself again. Will it work?
Methane emissions have been skyrocketing for years. A report just released by the United Nations says that's very bad news, and it's critical that overall methane emissions be lowered to slow climate change.
Riparian buffers are critical for protecting our local waterways from polluted runoff. So what exactly are they and how do they work?
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Every minute, the time to do something about global warming gets shorter. In a move reminiscent of the Doomsday Clock, a new art installation, ClimateClock, aims to show this crisis visually.
By Alia Hoyt
A startup is recycling tons of discarded fishing nets throughout Chile. Is this a template for tackling the global plastic waste problem?
It's been 51 years since the first Earth Day, and while progress has been made in some areas, humanity still has had a major impact on the planet.
A growing network of global activists is taking an alternative approach to saving the environment: Pushing to recognize natural ecosystems as having legal rights like humans.
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The rusty patched bumblebee (Bombus affinis) is on the verge of extinction and the state of Minnesota is doing something about it.
It may seem cool to stack rocks for fun or artistic purposes but moving rocks may inadvertently threaten small mammals and insects and contribute to soil erosion.
China has joined the more than 120 countries outlawing certain types of single-use plastics, those convenient but controversial plastics we've all become so used to. What exactly are they, though, and is banning them really necessary?
Ice stupas are artificial glaciers that store frozen water to be used for hydrating crops in the driest stretches of the year in the high desert of Himalaya.
By Mark Mancini
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California's largest inland lake has essentially become a ticking ecological time bomb. And the clock is running out — fast.
The city is planning to be 50 percent greenspace by 2050. Who says you can't take the Tube to a pub in the middle of a national park?
The tree that survived three major extinction events on Earth might be key in helping us understand the climate crisis ahead.
Not only do bug zappers mostly kill beneficial insects, they also can serve you up a side of bacteria with your burger.
By Chris Opfer
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Many scientists say that the response to climate change will require planting new trees. A whole lot of them.
Joshua trees can live for up to 300 years, but climate change is threatening their very survival.
Everyone loves foraging for seashells at the beach, but the true jackpot is finding a perfect unbroken sand dollar. However, taking one home may not be such a good idea.
By Alia Hoyt
In a devastating twist of irony, a warming climate in Norway is already damaging the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
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It's traditional for forests to surround churches in Ethiopia, and now they're providing the last tree canopies in a country that's been heavily deforested. But will they survive?
Believe it or not, despite all of the dire prognostications, there was some good news about the environment in 2018.
By Jamie Allen