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.
How to Watch Tesla’s Battery Day Event—and What to Expect
After months of delays, Tesla’s much-hyped Battery Day is finally upon us. Here’s what the company might reveal.
Does a Millipede Have a Penis? Well … Define ‘Penis’
From gonopods to pedipalps, nature has a lot of ways to get gametes where they need to go.
The Anthropause: How the Pandemic Gives Scientists a New Way to Study Wildlife
A group of scientists argue that the Covid lockdown, what they're calling the “anthropause,” is an unprecedented opportunity to study how humans affect animal behavior.
The Debate Over Burning Dead Trees to Create Biomass Energy
Critics worry about the risks of overcutting and wood smoke. But supporters say the practice will prevent megafires—which release even more carbon dioxide.
Why Massive Saharan Dust Plumes Are Blowing Into the US
Every summer, an atmospheric event propels desert dust thousands of miles across the Atlantic. This year is particularly bad, and timed terribly with Covid-19.
‘Carbon Farming’ Could Make US Agriculture Truly Green
Today a Senate committee will hear about a bill that would help farmers adopt practices to release less carbon from the soil, reducing planetary warming.
Why the Arctic Is Warming So Fast, and Why That’s So Alarming
When permafrost thaws, sea ice disappears, and wildfires rage in the north, the consequences extend to the rest of the world.