These Oceanographers Want to Turn Marine Slime Into Drugs
A California team will use a robotic vehicle to study tiny seafloor creatures, hoping they might yield new compounds to fight viruses and cancer.
Pandemic Quiet Is Helping Humans Eavesdrop on Rare Dolphins
Researchers are hoping to use the opportunity to get a better handle on the language of Australia’s endangered Burrunan dolphins.
Russia’s Laptev Sea Should Have Started to Freeze by Now
Normally, the 'birthplace of ice' freezes by late October. For the first time in recorded history, it hasn't. That could have knock-on effects across the Arctic.
How the Venus Flytrap ‘Remembers’ When It Captures Prey
The carnivorous plant is believed to have something akin to a short-term "memory." A team of scientists has uncovered new details on how it works.
The Case for Reviving the Civilian Conservation Corps
If the US brought back the Great Depression’s massive worker program, it could put millions of Americans back to work—and help stave off disasters like wildfires.
Fish Form Social Networks—and They’re Actually Good
New models of coral reefs show how fish species communicate with one another. The findings may well help save these threatened ecosystems.
Some Cities Are Plotting a ‘Green Recovery’ After Covid-19
Cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, and New Orleans are aiming to tackle another, longer-term emergency: the climate crisis.
How the Pandemic Transformed This Songbird’s Call
When the San Francisco Bay Area locked down, urban noise levels plummeted. In response, the white-crowned sparrow changed its tune.
A Trump-Biden Debate Without Climate Change Is Inexcusable
The West is on fire, the Gulf Coast is under water, and voters want candidates to talk about the environment.
Where Was the Battery at Tesla’s Battery Day?
Elon Musk made big promises at Tesla’s highly anticipated event. But a prototype never appeared, and it was unclear what the company had actually achieved.