Ecosystems

Animals

Changing people’s behavior can make bear life better

Black bears don’t always live life on the wild side. More and more, they live near people. Here’s how people and bears can get along.

Climate

Changing climate now threatens northern lakes year round

Lakes in northern climes are getting warmer, and that’s not good for people, plants or animals.

Animals

More playtime and meatier meals might reduce kitty kills

Keeping cats indoors is the best way to prevent them from killing wildlife. But small changes to diet and play can help, too.

Agriculture

Healthy soils are life-giving black gold

Scientists explain why everyone needs to value the soils beneath our feet — and why we should not view them as dirt.

Agriculture

Soil (and its inhabitants) by the numbers

Teeming with life, soils have more going on than most of us realize.

Environment

What you can do to improve soils

Soils are the life-sustaining structures under our feet. Here are some tips for keeping soils healthy. First rule of thumb: Give more than you take.

Animals

Newfound technique allows some tree snakes to climb wide trees

When a tree is too wide to climb, brown tree snakes use a lasso-like trick to slowly ascend up to snacks.

Ecosystems

Can people protect as much space as nature needs?

To save biodiversity, nations are drafting a plan to protect 30 percent of Earth by 2030. Up for debate is how best to do that.

Animals

Scientists Say: Lachryphagy

Some insects land on the eyeballs of larger animals. They are seeking out the salt and proteins in the animal’s tears.

Oceans

Analyze This: Shipwrecks provide a home for bottom-dwelling fish

Fish have found a habitat in a submarine and freighter that sunk to the seafloor during World War II.

Animals

Around the world, birds are in crisis

Human activities around the world are threatening bird species. Numbers of even some of the most common species are starting to fall.

Genetics

Scientists Say: Evolution

Evolution is how species change over time. Individuals in the group vary, and some will pass on their genes. Over time, the whole species changes.