Research into how well protected areas stop wildlife loss has grown a lot since 2000, but the picture is still unclear. Most studies use matching techniques to compare places with and without protection, focusing mainly on forest loss as the main measure. Only a single paper even used the Biod
Oil prices jumped when Iran’s military blocked the Strait of Hormuz after recent attacks. Many countries that normally buy oil from the Middle East rushed to find other energy sources. Instead of waiting for oil supplies to stabilize, they turned to China, the biggest maker of solar panels, batterie
Beekeepers in Southern California have noticed a surprising trend: local wild bees are thriving without much human help. Unlike bees bought from stores, these wild bees seem to handle the area’s hot, dry weather better. Scientists tested three methods—using only wild bees, only bought bees, or a mix
The ACUA Earth Day Festival carried on as planned this year, even when the sky opened up and rain turned the grounds muddy. Instead of calling off the event, organizers decided to embrace the challenge. Attendees bundled up in jackets and boots, still showing up in good numbers. Many seemed to enjoy
Rivers hide more than just fish and rocks. They also carry invisible chemicals from everyday products. One group, called PFAS, sticks around for years and mixes into water systems. Scientists recently tested a common underwater plant, Potamogeton crispus, to see if it could act like a warning sign f
In the waters off Dagestan, a silent crisis is unfolding. Local fishermen have turned to sneaky tactics to catch sturgeons, a species already pushed toward the brink. Researchers set out to uncover why these illegal hunts keep growing even as government rules tighten. They spoke with 53 fishe
Japan has sent a large force of 1, 400 firefighters and 100 Self‑Defense Force members to fight blazes that have been raging for five days on the northern coast. The flames now cover 1, 373 hectares and are spreading because of dry conditions and strong winds. The fire threatens the town of Otsuchi
Scientists tested what happens when tiny plastic fibers and a common insect killer show up together in the water where young tilapia live. Over six weeks, fish exposed to both pollutants grew less and ate food less efficiently than fish exposed to just one or none at all. Their guts showed damage to
The Southeast is burning—not with the dramatic wildfires of the West, but with a slow, relentless spread of flames fueled by extreme drought. Georgia now holds the grim record for the worst property damage from a single fire event in its history, with over 120 homes and buildings destroyed. Two mass
The wildfires in Iwate Prefecture have grown into a serious threat, with flames now close to homes in Otsuchi. The first blaze started on Wednesday afternoon in a mountain area, and two hours later another fire ignited just 10 kilometres away from the town’s residential zone. By Saturday, the fires
