Three years after commercial salmon fishing vanished from California’s coast, the pause has finally lifted. Federal officials recently gave the green light for limited fishing to restart in 2024. The decision follows a boost in salmon numbers, thanks partly to wetter winters that ended a severe drou
A new study shows that the way local governments borrow money could help keep bats alive and improve county finances. When a fungal disease called white‑nose syndrome killed many North American bats, farmers lost an inexpensive natural pest controller. Without the insects that bats eat, farms
A man from Massachusetts worked a shadowy international trade, ordering skulls, skins, and bones of endangered animals through overseas partners. Between 2018 and 2021, he handled more than one hundred pieces including orangutan heads, tiger skulls, jaguar pelts, and pangolin remains. His buyers pai
A group of 34 saker falcons fluttered into the sky over Altyn‑Emel National Park, marking a hopeful step for a species that has faced severe decline. These birds are part of an ambitious plan to rebuild Kazakhstan’s falcon numbers, a symbol of freedom for its nomadic culture. The project is led by S
Zoos have long been a point of debate. Some people see them as cruel, others view them as important for saving species. The picture is more complex than it first appears. Recent changes in many zoos have shifted their focus from simply displaying animals to actively protecting endangered species.
A massive blue whale that drifted onto a southern Oregon beach in 2015 is about to reappear on land after an eleven‑year odyssey. The carcass, weighing roughly 200 tons and stretching nearly 70 feet, was found in a battered state. Scientists could not tell how long it had been dead, but tests reveal
The limestone caves that run across northwestern Cambodia are still a mystery. A recent field trip to the province of Battambang revealed several animals that science has never seen before. Among them are a bright turquoise pit viper, a snake that can glide through the air, new kinds of geckos, tiny
The planet is home to roughly ten million living kinds, from tiny fungi to giant whales. Every day, people around the world tap their phones and add a picture of something they spot to a free app that gathers this information. About six million people use it each month, giving scientists fresh data
Scientists have looked beyond the usual parks and reserves to find other lands that could help wildlife survive. They called these places “Other Effective Area‑Based Conservation Measures” or OECMs. The idea is that some areas, even if not officially protected, still play a key role in keeping speci
Scientists working behind the scenes aren’t waiting for politicians to act—they’re already using clever tricks to fix Earth’s big problems. One big issue they’re tackling is dirt. By 2050, some places might run out of healthy soil, which is like losing the foundation for growing food. Instead of jus
