People across the country, from different backgrounds and political views, agree on one thing: our public lands are precious and need protection. This was clear when millions of acres of public lands were almost sold off in a recent budget proposal. The public spoke up, and the sale was stopped. But
Droughts are getting worse. They're lasting longer and hitting harder. Scientists have been studying how this affects grasslands and shrublands all over the world. They looked at 74 different places and found some interesting things. First, most ecosystems can handle droughts for a while. They migh
The Trump administration is taking a hard stance against climate change policies. They recently proposed to cancel a 16-year-old finding that carbon dioxide emissions are harmful to public health. This move could prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating emissions from cars and pow
The U. S. Department of Energy recently released a lengthy report on the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. The report, however, has been heavily criticized for its questionable approach to climate science. The energy secretary, Chris Wright, claimed that the media misrepresents climate science an
A dangerous bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus, is making a comeback. It's a germ that loves warm, low-salt water and can cause a serious illness called vibriosis. This bacteria is not new, but it's becoming more common, and experts are worried. Vibrio vulnificus is often found in brackish waters, where f
In the early 1900s, a scientist named Trofim Lysenko had some odd ideas. He thought he could teach plants to grow in winter by soaking them in cold water. He also believed that if you treated crops right, they could thrive anywhere, even in places like Siberia. These ideas were not based on solid sc
In recent times, heavy rainfalls have been causing significant problems in the mountainous areas of India and Pakistan. These sudden and intense downpours, known as cloudbursts, have led to flash floods, landslides, and mudflows, resulting in loss of life and destruction of property. In one such in
A recent Supreme Court decision has changed the rules for protecting wetlands across the United States. The ruling in Sackett v. EPA has made it harder for wetlands to qualify for protection under the Clean Water Act (CWA). This is because the new rule says wetlands must be directly connected to lar
For over ten years, a strange sickness has been wiping out starfish along the Pacific coast. Now, scientists have finally figured out what's been happening. It turns out, a sneaky bacteria called Vibrio pectenicida is to blame. This bacteria has been causing something called sea star wasting diseas
The EPA's recent proposal to undo a crucial climate policy is raising eyebrows. Back in 2009, the EPA made it official: greenhouse gases are a threat to our health and the environment. But now, they're thinking of taking that back. This could mean big trouble for our planet. Some folks argue that c
