ENVIRONMENT

An aerial view of the rust-colored Kutuk River in Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska. Thawing permafrost is exposing minerals to weathering, increasing the acidity of the water, which releases metals like iron, zinc and copper.

Alaska’s Rivers Are Turning Orange, and Yeah, It’s Probably Climate Change

A new study shows that rusty discoloration in Alaska’s otherwise pristine streams and rivers is likely due to melting permafrost—and that’s a problem for Arctic animals and people.

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, at sunset, c26th century BC.

Egypt’s Giza Pyramids Might Have Been Built Next To A Now-Vanished River

A recent study claims that the pyramids of Giza were constructed alongside an almost 40-mile long artery of the Nile river that no longer exists today.

Don't let this sweet face fool you: Arctic foxes eat anything that moves.

What Do Arctic Foxes Eat?

Adorable Arctic foxes will eat anything they can catch on the snowy tundra.

Smokey Bear with Girl Scouts in front of the U.S. Capitol.

How Smokey Bear Helped Win World War II

Smokey Bear’s first ad slogan wasn’t quite as catchy as “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”

Raccoons are smart, dextrous, and in your garbage cans.

10 Clever Facts About Raccoons

Whether they’re scaling skyscrapers or digging through your trash, raccoons are fascinating. Discover more about their habits, diet, and intelligence.

9 Pointed Facts About Narwhals

Here’s what we know about these fascinating Arctic whales, including their life cycle, habits, and unique spiraled tusks.

The Fountain of Youth, painted in 1546 by German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Florida’s “Fountain of Youth” Could Be a Radioactive Water Spigot, Some Locals Claim

Punta Gorda locals have been swearing by the mystical properties of a radioactive water fountain for a century.

Sunrise on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park.

Watch a Stunning Time-Lapse of Grand Teton National Park

There are sparkling glacial lakes, breathtaking sunsets, and mountains disappearing into clouds in this high-def tribute to Grand Teton National Park.

11 “Eco-Horror” Movies that Shocked the 1970s

Mother Nature can be scary, as these films full of homicidal bunnies, pissed-off piranhas, and one mutated bear prove.

A photo of the Bayou Corne sinkhole taken shortly after it appeared on August 3, 2012.

When a Lake Swallowed the Earth: The Story of the Louisiana Sinkhole

The residents of Bayou Corne, Louisiana, woke up one morning in 2012 and found a gigantic sinkhole devouring their town.

100 Things We Learned in 2023

From record-breaking plants and incredible animal news to space superlatives and the awesome power of Taylor Swift fans, here’s the long list of things we learned in 2023.

The bigger the goldfish, the bigger the problem.

Tiny Goldfish Are Ballooning Into Football-Sized Predators in the Wild

The Great Lakes are being overrun by jacked goldfish. Scientists are worried they could cause long-term damage to the ecosystem.

The ATOMIK grain spirit features a wild boar on its label, which the distillers say is a symbol of nature’s resilience.

From Disaster to Distillery: A New (Non-Radioactive) Vodka is Being Made in Chernobyl

Sales of the ATOMIK vodka-like spirit support Ukraine’s recovery from the world’s worst nuclear disaster and from the current war.

Watch This Carnivorous Plant Consume an Unlucky Insect

Watch up close as one Cape sundew plant uses its tentacles to trap and entomb an insect.

There's no shame in dragging it to the car on a tarp.

These U.S. National Forests Let You Chop Down a Christmas Tree for $10 or Less

Here's how to get a national forest Christmas tree permit.

A group of volunteers separates trash they’ve collected from the sea.

Watch as Ocean Trash is Turned Into Sustainable Art

Gyrecraft, a project from the design firm Studio Swine, shows how one person’s ocean trash is another’s sustainable art.

7 Majestic Facts About Devils Tower

There's much more to the Wyoming landmark than what you saw in ’Close Encounters of the Third Kind.’

This Eco-Friendly, Wearable Sleeping Bag Will Keep You Cozy on Chilly Nights

The best sleeping bag is one you can walk around in, and VOITED’s Slumber Jacket proves it.

15 Surprising Facts About Winter Weather

Whether you like bundling up in your coziest gear or are counting the days until spring, you’ll enjoy these facts about winter weather.

10 Chilling Facts About Permafrost

About 11 percent of the Earth’s surface is perpetually frozen, though that will surely change as global warming continues.

4 Eco-Friendly Ways to Dispose of Halloween Pumpkins

Looking for something to do with your rotting Jack-O'-Lanterns? Here are some tips for recycling, upcycling, and responsibly disposing of old Halloween pumpkins.

An aerial view of icebergs in Greenland.

10 Fascinating Facts About the Arctic

It’s more than ice and polar bears.

Biltmore’s formal gardens are augmented with fall foliage from nearby forests.

Watch a Time-Lapse Video of the Changing Seasons at Biltmore Gardens

Spring isn't the only time of year the gardens are worth visiting.

9 Animals That Have Invaded Florida

Pythons, peacocks, and monkeys have all made the Sunshine State their home.

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