LAUREN LEFFER

The Planet Is Undergoing an Ecological Transformation, Imperiling Biodiversity Everywhere

In a decade, 9 percent of all species worldwide could be at risk of total extinction, according to a new UN report on climate change.

Many Birds Are Shrinking and Growing Longer Wings as the World Warms. Why?

A growing body of research suggests a warming world could mean smaller birds with longer wings, but nothing about the findings is settled.

As Threats to Chile’s Birds Grow, a New Strategy Promises Stronger Protections

Advocates are optimistic that the just-launched bird conservation framework will catch on throughout Latin America.

Water Shortages Are Shrinking Great Salt Lake and Killing Off Its ‘Corals’

Reef-like structures called microbialites, exposed by receding waters, are dying en masse, raising concern for millions of birds that rely on them.

6 Unexpected Ways Birds are Important for the Environment (and People)

Birds play countless roles in healthy ecosystems—which is why preserving bird diversity helps everyone.

The Audubon Mural Project Brings Birdsong to Life in Washington Heights

An eye-catching and abstract new mixed media mural by artist Jessica Maffia is the first of the public-art project to focus on sound.

5 New Climate Books to Empower Teens and Help Turn Anxiety into Action

Climate change is happening—and it’s scary. But these nonfiction reads prove people all over can come together for a brighter future

New Study is First to Explore How Wildfire Smoke Derails Bird Migration

Last September, migrating geese wearing GPS tags encountered one of the worst wildfire seasons in U.S. history. Their movements give scientists their first clues about how growing wildfires alter bird behavior.

These Mighty Shorebirds Keep Breaking Flight Records– And You Can Follow Along

Bar-tailed Godwits regularly travel more than 7,000 miles non-stop. One enthusiast is spreading the word of their amazing migrations, with the help of a research project tracking 20 tagged birds in real-time.

As the East’s Songbird Epidemic Fades, the Cause Remains Unknown

Affected states recommended taking down feeders during the disease outbreak, but now all say feeders can go back up.

Scientists Just Discovered a Seabird Hotspot. It’s Already at Climate Risk.

Winter cyclones, responsible for killing seabirds every year, are projected to intensify right where millions of birds overwinter in the North Atlantic.

White-nose Syndrome Has Devastated Bats– But Some Are Developing Immunity (National Geographic)

A fungal disease has wiped out bats throughout North America, but hopeful research suggests one species may be developing resistance to this pandemic.

Welcome Back Monarch Butterflies (Sierra Magazine- Print)

Western monarch butterflies return to their California overwintering sites in full force, but the resurgence doesn’t mean a recovery for the species.

The Dangerous Way Tourism is Polluting Antarctica and Accelerating Melting (Inverse)

Even the most remote place on Earth isn’t safe from pollution.

This “Green” Solution Might Have Made Cars Even Worse for the Planet (Inverse)

Every time you fill up at the gas pump, 10 percent of that fuel comes from plants, not petroleum. But corn has consequences.

Chimps Use Crushed Bugs to Treat Wounds Like We Use Neosporin (Inverse)

Humans aren’t the only animals that get sick, and we’re not the only ones that play doctor either.

A New Study is Complicating the Idea that ‘Meat Made Us Human’ (Inverse)

The connection between carnivory and our crania may be less straightforward than researchers previously thought.

[Audio] Podcast Segment: The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week– “Superheated Falcon Poop, Banana Babies, Gross (But Delicious) Bug Goop”

An Urban Cemetery is a Surprising Sanctuary for Fantastic Fungi

Spaces for the dead are becoming stepping stones to wildlife discovery.

Your Compostable Cups and Containers Aren’t Reversing the Plastic Problem

Our waste systems just aren’t ready for compostable plastic.

A Probe Destined for Mercury Ended Up Rubbernecking Venus

The BepiColombo snapped a selfie during a rare double-flyby, when two spacecrafts passed near Venus within 33 hours.

How to Talk to Your Vaccine-Hesitant Friends and Family

Having the tough conversations is important.

Baby Brood X Cicadas are Headed Underground. What Lies Ahead is Still a Mystery.

Brood X will spend the next 17 years burrowing, eating, and growing. But the science isn’t completely settled on how the bugs wile away, or count, their time. 

The Elements that Make a Perfect Playground

Some of the most important elements may surprise you. 

10 Absolutely Wild Facts About Babies

We all may have started out as babies, but some things about them are absolutely alien.

The Debate Over ‘Dragon Man’ Shows that Human Origins are Still Kind of Messy

Scientists in the field disagree about whether this represents an entirely new species, but it’s exciting no matter what.

How Minerals and Rocks Reflect Rainbows, Glow in the Dark, and Otherwise Blow Your Mind

Nature’s imperfections make a feast for the eyes.

Elephants Can Add a Cuddly New Cousin to Their Family Tree

A new species of tree hyrax has been discovered.

Humans Have Become the Biggest Selection Force in Evolution

We’re shaping the distant future of biodiversity, as well as the present.

Worsening Droughts Could Increase Arsenic Exposure For Some Americans

But more testing, more awareness, and simple solutions could help solve the problem.

City Gardens Are Abuzz with Imperiled Native Bees

Even with non-native plants, backyard gardens are playing a crucial role for pollinators.

Why Some Bees and Wasps Are More Likely to Sting You

Not all bees and wasps can sting.

Even from inside their shells and wombs, embryos are listening

It’s surprisingly common for developing animals to listen and adapt to the outside world.

A Growing Flock of Farm Drones Could Help With Our Pesticide Problem

The U.S. is relaxing regulations on pesticide-spraying drones, and some experts believe their precision may help reduce overall chemical use.

Why Aren’t More US Farmers Using Sustainable Practices?

Financial, cultural and structural barriers stand in the way, but momentum is on the side of a changing agricultural landscape

How Reliable is ‘Cicadian Rhythm’ in a Changing World?

Brood X periodical cicadas come out every 17 years and are set to emerge this spring. One day, they might not

Excluding Visitors from Hospitals May Harm Patients, Families, and Providers, Say Healthcare Workers

Hospitals and staff have tried to adapt through multiple COVID-19 waves with changing practices and communication tools

[Interactive] Beyond the Mask: Communicating Emotions in the Era of COVID-19

Proper mask wearing helps us stay safe during the pandemic, but masks limit what we can see in other peoples’ faces. Test how well you can interpret masked emotions in the quiz at the bottom of the page

COVID-19 is Amplifying Abortion Access Disparities Across the US

Depending on where you live, abortion care this year may have become either harder or easier to access than ever before

[Audio] The Evolution of Ethnobotany

To save the plants, one scientific field highlights the importance of protecting Indigenous knowledge

A Flawed Number That Saves Lives

Millions of people rely on the Air Quality Index, but Experts Say It’s a Rough Measure at Best

Birds Might be Listening to Your Conversations

You’ve heard of the fly on the wall, but what about the crow in the city?